Pontiac

Pontiac: Livingston County Courthouse

Pontiac, city, seat (1837) of Livingston county, central Illinois, U.S. It lies on the Vermilion River, about 90 miles (145 km) southwest of Chicago. It was laid out in 1837 and named for the famous Ottawa Indian chief (see Pontiac). Settlement began soon afterward, and industry developed with the establishment of a sawmill in 1838. Located along the railway line connecting Chicago and St. Louis, Pontiac was a regional trading centre. A state reformatory, established there in 1871, is now the Pontiac Correctional Center. The economy is based on agriculture (corn [maize], soybeans, and livestock), manufacturing (including engine components and storage racks), the prison, and commercial printing. Notable local attractions include the Catherine V. Yost Museum, located in a home built in 1898. Inc. 1857. Pop. (2000) 11,864; (2010) 11,931.