DeKalb is a city in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. The population was 39,018 at the 2000 census. The city's name (as well as the name of DeKalb County, where it is located) is IPA: /dɨˈkælb/ "di-KALB" with the L sound, unlike similarly spelled locations where the L is silent, such as DeKalb County, Georgia.

History

Founded in 1837, DeKalb remained a small community until the arrival of the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad in 1853. DeKalb's central location brought easier shipping of crops and access to larger markets. Agriculture was the primary economic activity until 1873-4 when farmer Joseph Glidden developed barbed wire and began commercial mass production of his new invention. Glidden sold half of his interest to hardware merchant Isaac L. Ellwood and together the two formed the Barb Fence Company.

Two months after Glidden filed his application for a patent, lumber salesman Jacob Haish also applied for a patent and on June 25, 1874 ran interference papers against Glidden's patent. After several years of legal wrangling, in 1877 Glidden's patent won and Glidden was declared the "Father of Barbed Wire".^[1] The industry gave DeKalb a place in history and the nickname "Barb City".

In 1865 H. B. Gurler moved to DeKalb, and later attempted to create high-grade milk. Gurler began shipping his "Pure Milk" to Chicago in 1895. The founding of Northern Illinois State Normal School in 1895 added education to DeKalb's landscape. It later became Northern Illinois University which is known for its business, nursing, education, engineering, and music programs.

Agriculture again came to the forefront with the creation of the DeKalb County Farm Bureau in 1912, one of the first organizations of its kind. In the 1930s the DeKalb AgResearch Corporation (today MONSANTO) marketed its first hybrid seed corn. Emmy winning actress Barbara Hale was born in DeKalb. Supermodel Cindy Crawford was born here and graduated as a valedictorian from DeKalb High School in 1984.

Actor Richard Jenkins was born and raised in DeKalb. L.A. Rams linebacker Mel Owens graduated from DeKalb High School in 1976. 1990s hardcore punk/power violence thrash band Charles Bronson was formed in DeKalb. Author Richard Powers graduated from DeKalb High School in 1975. Black Metal musician Andrew Harris grew up & graduated in DeKalb.