Mount Auburn is a village in Christian County, Illinois, United States.

It was seriously considered as possibility for the state capital at the time the center of government was moved from Vandalia to Springfield.

Auburn was founded in 1839, located on an elevation about fifty feet above the surrounding country.

In the "Springfield Journal" of September 18, 1839, the new village was described as follows: "This elevation is most beautiful and commands an extensive view, overlooking the country for some ten or fifteen miles, and embracing within the limits of vision the towns of Allenton, Stonington, and but for an intervening skirt of time Edinburg, and part of Sangamon and Logan counties.

"This tract of country, for beauty, fertility and health, we do not believe is exceeded in any location in the state.

The land is gently and agreeable undulating, such as any eastern man would select for a farm, every foot of which seems capable of cultivation."

Auburn Post Office is reputed to be the oldest now in existence in Christian County.

Auburn had its beginning in 1843 with the organization of a church class by six people at a meeting held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. John Benson.

Mrs. Gregg, a cousin of Harry Bottrell's mother, gave the ground where the church stands and also the Mt.

In 1866 the congregation of the Church of Christ which had been holding services in the Brush Schoolhouse, some three miles northeast of Mt.

When the Indianapolis-Decatur and Western Railroad extended its line from Decatur to Springfield in 1901, village commerce moved to the south side of the hill, causing a building boom for both businesses and residential property.

Auburn had a great building boom in the spring of 1905, both in the business and residential districts.

Every business house but one decided to move from the top of the hill to the south end of town.

Commerce in 1906 included the railroad station, livery stable, hardware and implement stores, lumber yard, barber shop, saloons, elevator, hotel, harness shops, opera house, bank, restaurants and drug stores, to name a few.

In 1911 Oliver Hardy, Edward L. Smith, S. R. Shepherd and F. B. Mulberry formed a partnership and took over the business of the First National Bank that was first opened in 1901.

A serious fire in 1922 destroyed many businesses along the west side of Broad Street, but shortly new construction replaced those that were lost.

The construction of the munition plant near Illiopolis during World War II was a boom to the local economy.

The election was canceled by the State Superintendent due to a Supreme Court ruling invalidating the law under which the petition was filed.

Auburn Community High School began classes with twenty-two pupils and two instructors.

After one unsuccessful referendum, the voters approved a proposition on October 10, 1925, to purchase a site and construct a high school.

Auburn High School was built in 1926 on what was then known as the D.C. Armstrong site, twelve lots one block east of the village park.

On March 1, 1949, an architect was employed to design an addition to the building which would house the library, agriculture class room and shop area.

The present elementary school was built in 1952, with a cafeteria and gymnasium, as well as a large playground and an agricultural experiment acreage.

In August 1994, a twelve-foot-square, patio-style, brick memorial was dedicated in the village park during the Mt.

With agriculture and ag-related industries the biggest of the community, today approximately twenty businesses are located in Mt.

Though shopping malls, discount groceries and interstate highways have ended some of the commercial trade in Mt.

Auburn, construction of such new enterprises as the new three-hole golf course and new fire station, both completed in 2000, new gas station built three years ago and the recently acquired village hall, along with about thirty-five building permits issued for new homes or major remodeling projects, indicate the growth in the village of approximately 550 people and the commitment of these residents to their home on the hill.