Cabery, Illinois

Cabery is a village located in Ford and Kankakee counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 231 at the 2020 census down from 266 in the 2010 census.

History

Cabery was founded around 1878 after the Kankakee and Southwestern Railroad (now KBSR) was built through the area. It was named after John R. Caberry, an early settler and merchant from Chicago. The community was incorporated as a village in 1881.

File:Cabery, Illinois Fire.jpg|The smoldering debris of Cabery's business district.

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The settlement had one early setback when a fire broke out on May 3, 1885, that consumed the south side of Main Street. (Ford County side) It was believed to have started in a millinery shop and went on to destroy 24 businesses as well as 14 homes. Resulting in an estimated $100,000 in damages. Unbelievably, no injuries or deaths were reported.

The Cabery High School served the community from 1912 until 1946 in which their football team the Cabery Cardinals would become state-wide stars. They were said to have once even played against inmates from the Joliet Correctional Center.

The village saw a peak population of 385 individuals in the 1900 Census and despite a small uptick in the 1980s has since seen a gradual decline.

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Cabery has a total area of , all land.

The county line between Kankakee County and Ford County runs right through the middle of town on Main Street.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census