around the university campus a village, which, in 1854, they named Evanston after one of their leaders. The founding of the university and the extension of a railroad line that served it spurred rapid development in the Evanston community. In February 1855, the Post Office Department changed the name of the post office from Ridgeville to Evanston. An Act of the Illinois General Assembly, on February 15, 1857, changed the township's name to Evanston Township, and redefined its boundaries. The township was split; and, for a short time, expanded to the north. The portion south became Lake View Township, and eventually part of Chicago. The part to the north remained as the renamed Evanston Township, and had added to it Archange Ouilmette's reservation on the north; but that reservation was detached and put into New Trier Township in 1859. A new Ridgeville Township was created by an enabling act approved on May 23, 1877 and amended on May 15, 1903; the new township was coterminous the city limits of Evanston, leaving the remainder of Evanston Township outside the City of Evanston. Eventually this newer Ridgeville Township came itself be named Evanston Township. Following special legislation enacted by the Illinois General Assembly in 2013, the electors of Evanston Township voted 5,065 to 2,889 on March 18, 2014 to abolish the township. On May 1, 2014, the city of Evanston assumed the duties and obligations of Evanston Township. Only twice before in Illinois history, and not since 1932, had a township been dissolved by public referendum. A park district in the south part of Evanston retains the name Ridgeville. References Further reading Kelley, Michael I., Winter in Ridgeville, 1850-51, Evanston Historical Society Newsletter (Jan.-Feb. 1981) 2014 disestablishments in Illinois Populated places disestablished in 2014 Evanston, Illinois Former townships in Illinois Former populated places in Illinois Townships in Cook County, Illinois