Streator grew rapidly due to a number of factors: the need for coal in Chicago, the desire of European immigrants to come to America, and the investments made by East Coast capitalists willing to invest in coal operations. Plumb needed laborers for his mines, but the Vermilion Coal Company was unable to afford European employment agents. Instead, it alerted steamship offices of the new job opportunities and convinced local railroads to carry notices of Streator's promise. Land was sold to incoming miners at discounted prices as another enticement, but the company retained mineral rights to the land. In 1870, Streator's population was 1,486, but by 1880 its population tripled. Scottish, English, Welsh, German and Irish immigrants came to the area first, followed later by scores of mostly Slovaks; Czechs, Austrians and Hungarians came in lesser numbers. Today many of the residents are direct descendants of these original miners.
Streator grew rapidly due to a number of factors the need for coal in Chicago the desire of European immigrants to come to America and the investments made by East Coast capitalists willing to invest in coal operations Plumb needed laborers for his mines but the Vermilion Coal Company was unable to afford European employment agents Instead it alerted steamship offices of the new job opportunities and convinced local railroads to carry notices of Streator's promise Land was sold to incoming miners at discounted prices as another enticement but the company retained mineral rights to the land In 1870 Streator's population was 1486 but by 1880 its population tripled Scottish English Welsh German and Irish immigrants came to the area first followed later by scores of mostly Slovaks; Czechs Austrians and Hungarians came in lesser numbers Today many of the residents are direct descendants of these original miners