eventually cross the Wabash River to Vincennes, crossing through the easternmost tier of Illinois counties. Sometime before October 1869, the track was laid through the future Village of Beecher. By January 1870, there was complete rail service to Chicago. The railroad assured Beecher's future. Chicago was just 37 miles to the north by rail, and from there, connections could be made to any part of the country. Then in 1870, Mr. Miller asked George Dolton to lay out the future village, with a business section on both sides of the railroad, and beyond that, twelve blocks on each side for future development of homes and other businesses. Beecher Depot With efficient rail service running through the new village, further development began to build up near the railroad. By the end of the century, there was a thriving business section in the heart of the village. The depot became the center of activity. It was located on Reed Street, between Hodges and Penfield and was built in 1881 by the Chicago, Danville & Vincennes (CD&V) RR. The Chicago & Eastern Illinois (C&EI) RR took it over and operated it until the 1960s when it closed. The depot was sold and moved to Monee, Illinois to Thompson's Winery where it was used as a gift shop until the 1980s. It was returned to its original site in Beecher in 2000, and renovated to its present state. It is a standard wooden depot and one of the last of its kind left on the former C&EI route. It is the home of the local historical society and is open on Saturdays from 10 a.m. until noon. Geography According to the 2010 census, Beecher has a total area of , all land. The majority of the village is in Section 16 of Washington Township. A branch of Trim Creek flows through Beecher, but this carries very little water most of the year. Beecher is located in the center of a primarily agricultural township. Beecher Consolidated School District provides educational services for Washington Township and of the neighboring, entirely rural, Will Township. The nearest towns are Crete, Illinois, north; Grant Park, south; Peotone, west and Cedar Lake, Indiana, east. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 2,033 people, 830 households, and 590 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 876 housing units at an average density of .