[4][5] Lacon was established in 1831 and is the oldest town in Marshall, Putnam, Bureau, and Stark counties.

[7] The town grew in population after the Black Hawk War.

[7] A newspaper called The Lacon Herald published in December 1837.

[7] On June 27, 1842, President Martin Van Buren paid a brief visit to the town.

Illinois Route 26 also runs through the center of Lacon, following Prairie Street.

It leads northeast up the Illinois River valley 19 miles (31 km) to Hennepin and south along the river 28 miles (45 km) to East Peoria.

[1] As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 1,979 people, 797 households, and 540 families residing in the city.

28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.