The first election for village officers was held September 10, 1899, and the first set of officers elected were: Robert McXulty, St., president; Mike Finn, clerk; Walter Ferguson, treasurer; Charles McLean, constable; William Walker, street commissioner; Levi Simms, police magistrate, and William Purdy, Martin Ferrero.

The family of Mr. Gibson Simpson were the first to locate at South Wilmington, moving into a house taken there from Braidwood that had belonged to Ed Blandey.

The second family was that of Patrick Corrigan, who came to take charge of the hotel which was built by the C. W. and C. Coal Company, it being the first to be put in South Wilmington.

A meeting of the citizens was held in the fall of 1899 and donations were asked for the commencement of a school for the benefit of the few children here.

The people responded so generously to the request for funds that by the fall of 1900, a 4-room schoolhouse was ready in District 74, and in May 1902, four more rooms were added.

[4] The first religious services held in South Wilmington were by the Baptist Sunday School in the fall of 1900.

Louis Bottino (1907–1979), Illinois state representative and educator, was born in South Wilmington in 1907.

[5] According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, South Wilmington has a total area of 0.49 square miles (1.27 km2), all land.