Farming in Lisle

Farming in Lisle. . , Farming has been an important part of Lisle's history since the beginning. , , In the 1830s, Lisle's residents grew their food, raised animals and benefited from the products of that labor. Family farms were intended to feed their occupants. Most farms in 1850 averaged 160 acres in size. Farmers cultivated anywhere from 25 to 40 acres, growing enough to sustain their family. , , This changed with the construction of the Southwest Plank Road (today Ogden Avenue), which allowed easier access to markets in Chicago. Farmers focus slowing changed from subsistence to commercial farming. This change increased rapidly when the railroad was built through town in 1864. Lisle's farmers and ranchers could sell their products even more easily than before. Lisle was predominantly a dairy farm community. , , In 1870, Illinois' total agricultural production was second only to New York. Illinois, however, ranked number one in corn, wheat and swine production. Illinois was second only to Texas in beef cattle production and third to New York and Pennsylvania in the production of dairy cattle. In 1912, Lisle was the biggest producer of milk along the Chicago-Aurora Line. The Yender's dairy farm was a typical Lisle farm, they had dairy cows, 10 working horses, sheep, pigs, ducks, chicken, and geese. They grew corn, oats, barley, and hay. , , Lisle stayed quite rural until the 1950s. Innovative new machinery arrived via the railroad. Please walk through to see what's growing and view our equipment up close.