History of the Fox River

First called buffalo river on the early French maps The Name “Fox River” First called buffalo river on the early French maps

First settlers called it “river of the rocks” The Name “Fox River” First settlers called it “river of the rocks”

The Name “Fox River” Renamed Fox in honor of the Native American tribe that once lived on its banks in 1784

Fox River – Main Features Formed during the last ice age

Fox River – Main Features Begins 15 miles north west of Milwaukee and enters IL around the Chain of Lakes

Fox River – Main Features Runs 185 miles and drops 470 feet

Fox River – Main Features Joins Illinois River in Ottawa

Fox River – Main Features 150 feet at narrowest, 1000 feet at widest – usually 300-600 feet

Fox River – Main Features 13,038 gallons per second flow rate

Battle of 1730 Fox Indians (Native Americans) were attacking French and allied Native American tribes

Battle of 1730 1400 French and allies fought Fox Native Americans, captured 300 warriors, women and children

Battle of 1730 September 9 – Fox Native Americans escaped but were captured, tortured and killed

War is thought to have taken place in Maramech Hill (Plano) Battle of 1730 War is thought to have taken place in Maramech Hill (Plano)

Several settlers killed by Pottawatomie, Sac and Fox Native Americans Black Hawk War - 1832 Several settlers killed by Pottawatomie, Sac and Fox Native Americans

What happened? The Fox were forced to leave their territory by land-hungry American settlers and when President Andrew Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act of 1830. This authorized the removal of eastern Native Americans to lands west of the Mississippi River. Following this - through a series of land cessions under the name of “Sac & Fox” - the Fox tribe lost all their lands. Soon after, the U.S. government forced the Fox to an Indian Reservation in Oklahoma. The Fox who successfully fled west of the Mississippi without being captured or killed are known to other Native American tribes as the "lost people".