Manteno Illinois is located approximately 40 miles south of Chicago's loop and has approximately 7,000 residents. I-57 runs north and south along the west side of Manteno for easy access to Chicago or south to any number of shopping or attraction sites. Manteno is considered one of Kankakee County's fastest growing communities with a combination of industrial and agricultural occupations. The are also home to Sears and K-Mart Distribution Centers, and Diversatech Industrial Park on the east side of town which contains many diversified industrial plants and warehousing complexes.
Manteno was named after a half-indian maiden, daughter of Francois Bourbounnais, Jr., one of this regions earliest settlers. You can find out more information on this gentleman by visiting 
Oliver W. Barnard, an early settler in this area, spells her name *Mantenau* in one of his books. Other 19th century books spell it *Mawteno* and *Manteno*. Because of her indian blood Manteno (spelled *Monteno* in the treaty, but considered incorrect, as the clerk also misspelled *Bourbonnais* was given a section of land, now part of northeastern Kankakee County, by the treaty of Camp Tippecanoe of december 20th. 1832.
Incorporation as a village came in 1869, and progress quickly followed. Postal service arrived in 1870, telephone communication was added in 1883 and the Village Hall and a water works building were constructed in 1895.
As the 1900's arrived, Manteno's identity as a railroad/agricultural town was established. At that time, the village boasted 932 inhabitants. By 1920 the population had reached 1,182; there was a Businessmen's Association; Main Street was paved and the Manteno State Hospital, later to become the largest in the world, was begun.
Stop by and visit Manteno Illinois. It's a growing community but still has the small town feel. There are currently 52 active Residential listings in Manteno priced from $139,000 to $439,000.
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