Ottawa, Illinois

{{use American English|date=August 2019}}
{{use mdy dates|date=August 2019}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                     = Ottawa, Illinois
| official_name            = 
| native_name              = 
| native_name_lang         = 
| other_name               = 
| settlement_type          = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline            = Ottawa IL Downtown1.jpg
| imagesize                = 
| image_alt                = 
| image_caption            = Downtown Ottawa in May 2008
| image_flag               = Flag of Ottawa, Illinois.png
| image_seal               = Seal of Ottawa, Illinois.png
| etymology                = 
| nicknames                = Radium City, The Friendly City, The Town of Two Rivers, The City On Sand, The Town of Stovepipe hats
| motto                    = 
| anthem                   = 
| image_map                = File:LaSalle County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Ottawa Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                  = 
| map_alt                  = 
| map_caption              = Location of Ottawa in LaSalle County, Illinois.
| pushpin_map              = Illinois#USA
| pushpin_label          = Ottawa
| pushpin_relief           = yes
| coordinates              = {{coord|41|21|20|N|88|49|35|W|region:US-IL_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint            = 
| coordinates_footnotes    = <ref name=gnis/>
| grid_name                = 
| grid_position            = 
| subdivision_type         = Country
| subdivision_name         = United States
| subdivision_type1        = State
| subdivision_name1        = [[Illinois]]
| subdivision_type2        = County
| subdivision_name2        = [[LaSalle County, Illinois|LaSalle]]
| subdivision_type3        = Townships
| subdivision_name3        = [[Ottawa Township, LaSalle County, Illinois|Ottawa]], [[South Ottawa Township, LaSalle County, Illinois|South Ottawa]], [[Dayton Township, LaSalle County, Illinois|Dayton]], [[Rutland Township, LaSalle County, Illinois|Rutland]], [[Wallace Township, LaSalle County, Illinois|Wallace]]
| subdivision_type4        = 
| subdivision_name4        = 
| established_title        = Incorporated
| established_date         = 1853
| founder                  = 
| named_for                = 
| seat_type                = 
| seat                     = 
| government_footnotes     = 
| government_type          = [[Mayor–council]]
| governing_body           = 
| leader_party             = 
| leader_title             = Mayor
| leader_name              = 
| leader_title1            = 
| leader_name1             = 
| total_type               = 
| unit_pref                = Imperial
| area_footnotes           = <ref name="gaz2021" />
| area_total_km2           = 40.19
| area_total_sq_mi         = 15.52
| area_land_km2            = 37.96
| area_land_sq_mi          = 14.66
| area_water_km2           = 2.22
| area_water_sq_mi         = 0.86
| elevation_footnotes      = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft             = 472
| population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes     = 
| population_total         = 18840
| population_density_km2   = 494.98
| population_density_sq_mi = 1281.98
| timezone1                = [[Central Time Zone (Americas)|CST]]
| utc_offset1              = &minus;6
| timezone1_DST            = [[Central Time Zone (Americas)|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST          = &minus;5
| postal_code_type         = ZIP code
| postal_code              = 61350
| area_codes               = [[Area codes 815 and 779|815, 779]]
| geocode                  = 
| iso_code                 = 
| blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info               = 17-56926
| blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info              = 2396106<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2396106}}</ref>
| blank2_name              = 
| blank2_info              = 
| blank_name_sec2          = 
| blank_info_sec2          = 
| blank2_name_sec2         = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2         = Ottawa, Illinois
| website                  = {{URL|https://cityofottawa.org/}}
| footnotes                = 
}}
'''Ottawa''' is a [[List of municipalities in Illinois|city]] in and the [[county seat]] of [[LaSalle County, Illinois]], United States. It is located at the confluence of the navigable [[Fox River (Illinois River tributary)|Fox River]] and [[Illinois River]], the latter being a conduit for river barges and connects Lake Michigan at [[Chicago]], to the [[Mississippi River]], and North America's 25,000 mile river system. The population estimate was 18,742, as of 2020.<ref name="USCensusEst2019">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|access-date=May 21, 2020}}</ref> It is the principal city of the [[Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
[[File:La Salle Street, Looking North, Ottawa, IL.jpg|thumb|left|La Salle Street {{circa|1912}}]]
Ottawa occupies a place on the Illinois River that has long been one end of a portage trail between the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan.<ref name = CPHS/> Here the river was reliably deep enough for canoes.<ref name = CPHS>{{Cite web|url=http://drupal.library.cmu.edu/chicago/node/132|title=The Chicago Portage - Historical Synopsis {{!}} Chicago Portage|website=drupal.library.cmu.edu|language=en|access-date=2021-04-17}}</ref> The North Portage Trail connected the site over land and water to the Chicago River.<ref name = CPHS/>

Ottawa was the site of the first of the [[Lincoln–Douglas debates]] on August 21, 1858. During the Ottawa debate, [[Stephen A. Douglas]], leader of the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]], openly accused [[Abraham Lincoln]] of forming a secret bipartisan group of Congressmen to bring about the abolition of [[slavery]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nps.gov/liho/learn/historyculture/debate1.htm |title=First Debate with Stephen A. Douglas at Ottawa, Illinois  |access-date=2008-11-01 |work=Lincoln Home National Historic Site |publisher=National Park Service }}</ref>

The [[John Hossack House]] was a "station" on the [[Underground Railroad]], and Ottawa was a major stop because of its rail, road, and river transportation.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/travel/underground/states.htm |title=List of Sites for the Underground Railroad |access-date=2008-11-01 |work=Aboard the Underground Railroad |publisher=National Park Service }}</ref> Citizens in the city were active within the [[Abolitionism in the United States|abolitionist movement]]. Ottawa was the site of a famous 1859 extrication of a runaway slave named Jim Gray from a courthouse by prominent civic leaders of the time. Three of the civic leaders, John Hossack, Dr. Joseph Stout and James Stout, later stood trial in Chicago for violating the [[Fugitive Slave Act of 1850]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.johnhossack.com/jimgray.htm |title=The Jim Gray Case |access-date=2008-11-01 |work=John Hossack website |publisher=Jay W. Preston }}</ref>

Ottawa was also important in the development of the [[Illinois and Michigan Canal]], which terminates in [[LaSalle, Illinois]], 12 miles to the west. In 1838, workmen from the canal project were causing public unrest.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=http://libsysdigi.library.uiuc.edu/OCA/Books2010-01/historysignifica00spra/historysignifica00spra.pdf|title=History, Significance, and Feasibility for Adaptive Use of the William Reddick Mansion at Ottawa, Illinois|last1=Sprague|first1=Paul E|last2=Dring|first2=William B.|publisher=University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign|year=1975|location=Ottawa Illinois|pages=1–150}}</ref> During a citizens' meeting, a local political leader, Washington Armstrong, suggested that farmer [[William Reddick (politician)|William Reddick]] be elected [[Sheriffs in the United States|sheriff]].<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|url=http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/PDFs/124473.pdf|title=Reddick's Library|last=Catlin|first=Betty|publisher=Illinois Historic Preservation Agency|year=1971|pages=3–8}}</ref> Reddick was a popular choice due to his large stature and courageous manner.<ref name=":0" /> Reddick was [[Elected government|elected]] by a large majority and held the office of sheriff for four consecutive two-year terms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://lasallecounty.org/lasalle-county-sheriff-william-reddick/|title=LaSalle County Sheriff William Reddick|date=August 2016|website=LaSalle County Genealogy Guild|access-date=3 December 2019}}</ref> In 1855, while serving in the [[Illinois Senate|Illinois State Senate]], Reddick commissioned the construction of a large [[Italianate architecture|Italianate]] house for the then-large sum of $25,000 (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=25000|start_year=1855}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}).<ref name=":1" /> [[William Reddick (politician)|Reddick Mansion]] is now one of the largest surviving homes in Illinois to predate the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. In 1973, the mansion was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]], as part of the [[Washington Park Historic District (Ottawa, Illinois)|Washington Park Historic District]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/28893395|title=Illinois SP Washington Park Historic District|date=1973|website=National Park Service|access-date=3 December 2019}}</ref>

On February 8, 1910, [[William D. Boyce|William Dickson Boyce]], then a resident of Ottawa, incorporated the [[Boy Scouts of America]]. Five years later, also in Ottawa, Boyce incorporated the [[Lone Scouts of America]]. Boyce is buried in [[Ottawa Avenue Cemetery]]. The Ottawa Scouting Museum, on Canal Street, opened to the public on December 6, 1997. The museum features the history of Boy Scouting, Girl Scouting and Camp Fire.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ottawascoutingmuseum.org/ |title=Ottawa Scouting Museum |access-date=2008-11-02 |work=Ottawa Scouting Museum website |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081106124926/http://www.ottawascoutingmuseum.org/ |archive-date=2008-11-06 }}</ref>

In 1922, the [[Radium Dial Company]] (RDC) moved from [[Peru, Illinois]] to a former high school building in Ottawa. The company employed hundreds of women, the 2017 book Radium Girls by Kate Moore reveal that one of these employees were only 11 years of age. These women painted watch dials using a paint called "LUMA", which contained a compound of Zns(Ag) (Silver activated Zinc Sulfide) and powdered Radium, for watch maker [[Westclox]]. RDC went out of business in 1936, two years after the company's president, Joseph Kelly Sr., left to start a competing company, Luminous Processes Inc., a few blocks away. The employees of the company suffered radiation toxicity, as chronicled in the 1986 documentary, ''Radium City''.

==Geography==
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Ottawa has a total area of {{convert|15.516|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|14.657|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 94.46%) is land and {{convert|0.859|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 5.54%) is water.<ref name="gaz2021">{{Cite web   |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
| location = Ottawa 5SW, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1890–present)
| single line = Y
| width = auto
| Jan record high F = 68
| Feb record high F = 73
| Mar record high F = 85
| Apr record high F = 93
| May record high F = 106
| Jun record high F = 107
| Jul record high F = 112
| Aug record high F = 107
| Sep record high F = 103
| Oct record high F = 94
| Nov record high F = 83
| Dec record high F = 71
| year record high F = 112
| Jan high F = 30.7
| Feb high F = 35.1
| Mar high F = 47.6
| Apr high F = 61.2
| May high F = 71.7
| Jun high F = 79.9
| Jul high F = 82.9
| Aug high F = 81.6
| Sep high F = 76.4
| Oct high F = 64.0
| Nov high F = 48.5
| Dec high F = 35.9
| year high F = 59.6
| Jan mean F = 22.9
| Feb mean F = 27.0
| Mar mean F = 38.3
| Apr mean F = 50.3
| May mean F = 61.3
| Jun mean F = 70.2
| Jul mean F = 73.7
| Aug mean F = 71.9
| Sep mean F = 65.3
| Oct mean F = 53.3
| Nov mean F = 40.0
| Dec mean F = 28.5
| year mean F = 50.2
| Jan low F = 15.2
| Feb low F = 18.9
| Mar low F = 29.0
| Apr low F = 39.4
| May low F = 50.9
| Jun low F = 60.5
| Jul low F = 64.4
| Aug low F = 62.3
| Sep low F = 54.2
| Oct low F = 42.6
| Nov low F = 31.5
| Dec low F = 21.1
| year low F = 40.8
| Jan record low F = −26
| Feb record low F = −23
| Mar record low F = −9
| Apr record low F = 12
| May record low F = 26
| Jun record low F = 35
| Jul record low F = 39
| Aug record low F = 33
| Sep record low F = 25
| Oct record low F = 13
| Nov record low F = -6
| Dec record low F = −23
| year record low F = -26
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.78
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.54
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.29
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.53
| May precipitation inch = 4.48
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.40
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.63
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.72
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.23
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.10
| Nov precipitation inch = 2.50
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.99
| year precipitation inch = 36.19
| Jan snow inch = 9.2
| Feb snow inch = 5.2
| Mar snow inch = 3.3
| Apr snow inch = 0.4
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 0.8
| Dec snow inch = 4.8
| year snow inch = 23.7
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 8.7
| Feb precipitation days = 7.5
| Mar precipitation days = 9.0
| Apr precipitation days = 11.6
| May precipitation days = 12.2
| Jun precipitation days = 10.6
| Jul precipitation days = 8.4
| Aug precipitation days = 8.8
| Sep precipitation days = 8.2
| Oct precipitation days = 9.4
| Nov precipitation days = 8.6
| Dec precipitation days = 8.6
| year precipitation days = 111.6
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 5.0
| Feb snow days = 3.4
| Mar snow days = 1.6
| Apr snow days = 0.3
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.6
| Dec snow days = 3.4
| year snow days = 14.3
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=lot
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 11, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00116526&format=pdf
| title = Station: Ottawa 5SW, IL
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 11, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Industry==
[[File:VetsMemBridgeOttawaIL.jpg|thumb|[[Veterans Memorial Bridge (Ottawa, Illinois)|Veterans Memorial Bridge]] over the [[Illinois River]] in Ottawa]]
Because of numerous silica sand deposits (Ottawa sand was on board the ill-fated Columbia space shuttle for experimental purposes) Ottawa has been a major sand and glass center for more than 100 years. Transportation of the sand is facilitated by the navigable Illinois river and the [[Illinois Railway]] Ottawa Line. One of its largest employers is Pilkington Glass works, a successor to LOF (Libbey Owens Ford). Formerly concentrated in automotive glass, the plant now manufactures specialty glass and underwent a $50 million (~${{Format price|{{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=50000000|start_year=2006}}}} in {{Inflation/year|US-GDP}}) renovation in 2006. Ottawa sand continues to be extracted from several quarries in the area, and is recognized in glass-making and abrasives for its uniform granularity and characteristics.

Sabic recently purchased GE Plastics, a successor to Borg Warner automotive glass manufacture, operates a large plastics facility in Ottawa, and is a major employer.

Ottawa sand is a standard testing medium in [[geotechnical engineering]] (laboratory demonstrations and research into new technologies).

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 7736
|1880= 7834
|1890= 9985
|1900= 10588
|1910= 9535
|1920= 10816
|1930= 15094
|1940= 16005
|1950= 16957
|1960= 19408
|1970= 18716
|1980= 18166
|1990= 17451
|2000= 18307
|2010= 18768
|2020= 18840
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1756926 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> there were 18,840 people, 7,764 households, and 4,658 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|1,214.23|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 9,014 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|580.95|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 86.36% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.45% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.44% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.04% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.55% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 7.13% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 9.50% of the population.

There were 7,764 households, out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.70% were married couples living together, 15.38% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.01% were non-families. 34.31% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.95% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 2.36.

The city's age distribution consisted of 24.1% under the age of 18, 8.6% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.5 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $53,544, and the median income for a family was $64,128. Males had a median income of $39,677 versus $26,514 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $28,365. About 13.5% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Tourism==
[[File:Ottawa IL Washington Park Historic District Site of first Lincoln-Douglas debate.jpg|thumb|The site of the first [[Lincoln–Douglas debate]] in Washington Park]]
[[File:Ottawa Il Washington Park Historic District Lincoln-Douglas Statues1.jpg|thumb|Statues of Lincoln and Douglas]]
Ottawa has many historic homes and registered historic landmarks. Recent additions to Ottawa have included renovations to its historic mansion, the [[William Reddick (politician)|Reddick Mansion]], and artistic murals throughout the central business district. Ottawa is known as the scenic gateway to [[Starved Rock State Park]], the most popular state park in Illinois, with some 2 million visitors per year.  The [[Fox River (Illinois River tributary)|Fox River]], which flows through communities like [[Elgin, Illinois|Elgin]] and [[Aurora, Illinois|Aurora]], empties into the [[Illinois River|Illinois]] in downtown Ottawa. Ottawa is also home to one of the largest skydiving operations in the country, Skydive Chicago.<ref>[http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/i&m/east/starve/park.htm ''Starved Rock State Park'' (Illinois Department of Natural Resources)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100927223102/http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/Parks/i%26m/east/starve/park.htm |date=2010-09-27 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.reddickmansion.com/directions2.html |title=''Reddick Mansion'' (The Reddick Mansion Association) |access-date=September 23, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110124174926/http://www.reddickmansion.com/directions2.html |archive-date=January 24, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum honors Ottawa resident, [[William D. Boyce]], founder of the [[Boy Scouts of America]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa Historical and Scouting Heritage Museum |url=https://pickusottawail.com/attractions/scouting-museum/ |publisher=Ottawa Visitors Center |access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref>

Jacob C. Zeller founded the Zeller Inn and Court Place Tavern in 1871, at 615 Columbus Street. The original Zeller Inn was demolished in 1982. The Zeller Inn tavern, originally known as the Court Place, still remains, now called Zeller Inn. The courtyard patio area on Columbus street is where the original Zeller Inn stood. The tavern contains the original mahogany bar built by the Sanders Bros in Ottawa, marble counters, tiled floors and walls, stained glass door and light fixtures. It also was known for its Gilded Age brilliance — tiled mahogany bar, carved gargoyles, pressed-tin ceiling and solid oak backbar. The mirror on the bar is the same since its establishment in 1871, which was brought over from the 1800s era European Worlds Fair. Zeller's initials, JCZ, are still visible in a tiled mosaic on the side of the bar and in the glass light domes that hang from the ceiling. This is one of the oldest taverns in Illinois, with original features which remain intact and displays the architectural details prominent in the late 1800s.

==Media==
Ottawa was served by two local newspapers. The older of the two, ''The Times'', was formed in 2005, when the [[Streator, IL|Streator-based]] ''Times-Press'' merged with ''The Daily Times'', based in Ottawa. It is now an [[online newspaper]]. The second was a weekly newspaper called ''Ottawa Delivered'', which closed in 2012.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://mywebtimes.com/contacts.php | title = About Us | access-date = 2011-05-04 | work = The Times (Ottawa) | publisher = Small Newspaper Group Inc. | quote = The Times, based in Ottawa, Illinois, is owned by the Small Newspaper Group Inc. In September 2005, The Daily Times, based in Ottawa, merged with its sister paper, The Times-Press, based in Streator. The paper is now called The Times. | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120711015226/http://mywebtimes.com/contacts.php | archive-date = 2012-07-11 | url-status = dead }}</ref> Ottawa is also served by the ''NewsTribune'' of [[La Salle, Illinois]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.newstrib.com/about/ | title = About Us | access-date = 2011-05-04 | work = NewsTribune | quote = In 1946, Mr. & Mrs. Peter Miller purchased the Peru News-Herald and shortly after also purchased the La Salle Post-Tribune. In 1946 these papers were merged into the Daily News-Tribune. Peter Miller III joined the newspaper operation in 1982 and later changed the name of the publication to the NewsTribune.}}</ref>

Ottawa also has two local radio stations, [[WCMY]]-AM at 1430 and [[WRKX]]-FM at 95.3.

==''Radium City'' documentary==
In 1986, documentary film maker [[Carole Langer]] made a film that covered the plight of the so-called "[[Radium Girls]]" who worked in the watch dial industry. The young women, who had been told the paint was harmless, ingested deadly amounts of radium after being instructed to lick their paintbrushes to sharpen them; as a lark, some even painted their faces and fingernails with the glowing paint.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilmington |first1=Michael |title=Movie Review: 'Radium City' Paints Incredible Horror Story of the Atomic Age |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-01-09-ca-8748-story.html |access-date=5 October 2020 |work=Los Angeles Times |date=9 January 1988}}</ref> Over time, many of the women developed [[anemia]], [[bone fracture]]s, sarcomas, and [[necrosis]] of the jaw, a condition now known as [[radium jaw]]. Many of these women died young.

The documentary interviews survivors from the industry who relate their experiences of the poisoning and the bureaucratic hurdles they met in seeking compensation and justice. ''[[Radium City]]'' outlines the aftermath of these events with a focus on the social and political consequences as well as the medical ones.

According to the film, after Radium Dial Company opened in 1918, workers began to get sick, and a lawsuit was brought against the company. With the looming lawsuit, Radium Dial closed in 1936, but then re-opened in 1937, under the name Luminous Processes in another part of town. Luminous Processes remained in operation until 1978.

The film shows the dismantling of the empty building where Luminous Processes was housed as well as the hot spots from where the Radium Dial Company was dismantled and buried throughout the city.  After the plant closed and before it was dismantled, many residents took items from the factory for their homes. This spread the contamination even further. The building materials from the Luminuous Processes building were eventually turned into landfill. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency began removing contaminated material in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa Radiation Areas |url=http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/npl/illinois/ILD980606750.htm |publisher=U.S. EPA Region 5 |access-date=5 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090512103727/http://www.epa.gov/R5Super/npl/illinois/ILD980606750.htm |archive-date=12 May 2009}}</ref> The work continues.

===Areas still affected by radiation===
Sixteen areas of Ottawa are still radioactive.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa radiation areas |url=http://www.toxicsites.us/site.php?epa_id=ILD980606750 |publisher=ToxicSites |access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref> The [[United States Department of Health and Human Services]] released a study,<ref>{{cite web |title=Ottawa Radiation Areas |url=http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/pha/OttawaRadiationAreas/OttawaRadiationAreasPHA072506.pdf |publisher=United States Department of Health and Human Services |access-date=5 October 2020 |date=25 July 2006}}</ref> outlining areas where contamination by radium-226 (Ra-226), as well as emissions of [[radon-222]] (Rn-222), are at or above normal levels. These areas include homes, public areas, schools, and even a car sales lot that is housed directly over the old [[Radium Dial Company]] site. A score of 28.5/100 or higher qualifies an area for the Superfund National Priority List, and Ottawa's hazardous ranking score is 50/100.

The radium in Ottawa's water supply occurs naturally in water from deep wells across northern Illinois.<ref>{{cite web |title=Illinois State Water Survey |url=http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/IEM/ISWSIEM2006-04.pdf |publisher=Illinois Department of Natural Resources |access-date=5 October 2020 |date=July 2006}}</ref> A reverse osmosis water treatment plant removes the radium so the city's tap water complies with federal regulations.<ref>{{cite web |title=Water Treatment Plant History |url=https://cityofottawa.org/water-treatment-plant-history/ |publisher=City of Ottawa |access-date=5 October 2020}}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Ottawa, Illinois}}

==See also==
[[File:Ottawa IL Fisher-Nash-Griggs House1.jpg|thumb|Fisher–Nash–Griggs House]]
* [[Fisher–Nash–Griggs House]]
* [[Jeremiah Strawn House]]
* [[Knuessl Building]]
* [[Marquette Academy]]
* [[Andrew J. O'Conor III House]]
* [[Ottawa Commercial Historic District]]
* [[Ottawa East Side Historic District]]
* [[Ottawa Station (Rock Island Line)]]
* [[Ottawa Township High School]]
* [[Starved Rock]]
* [[Summit View Cemetery, Ottawa|Summit View Cemetery]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website|https://cityofottawa.org/}}
* [http://www.reddicklibrary.org/ Reddick Public Library]
* [http://www.experienceottawa.com Ottawa Visitors Center, Ottawa, Illinois]

{{LaSalle County, Illinois}}
{{Lincoln–Douglas debates}}
{{Fox Valley}}
{{Illinois county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ottawa, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in LaSalle County, Illinois]]
[[Category:County seats in Illinois]]
[[Category:Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1853]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Underground Railroad]]