Dixon has a great history, particularly concerning the settlement of northern Illinois. When John Dixon established his postal route from Peoria to Galena, little did he know that at the time he purchased Ogee’s Ferry, he would establish a city that would play a significant part in Illinois history. 

The location of Dixon on the Rock River provided a gateway for hundreds of miners moving north to Galena to find their fortune in lead mining, which actually preceded the California gold rush. Dixon, unlike many other Rock River Valley area traders, treated the local Indians with respect and tried to provide the best quality goods he could find for trade.

As the kernel of the developing area, Dixon’s Ferry, established in 1828, would play a significant role in the Black Hawk War and the construction of Fort Dixon on the north bank of the Rock River. It would play an important role for military strategies and protection for the nearby settlers.