BELVIDERE

city, seat (1837) of Boone county, northern Illinois, U.S., on the Kishwaukee River. Founded in 1836 by settlers from the state of New York, it was important as a stopping place on the Chicago-Galena stage route and developed as an agricultural trading centre, shipping milk and grain to Chicago. With the building of a large Chrysler Corporation automobile plant there in 1965, Belvidere became an important industrial community. Also in Belvidere are the Boone County Historical Museum and the grave of the Potawatomi Indian chief Big Thunder. Inc. 1852. Pop. (1991 est.) 16,114.