A Division Point Chosen for Its Water Supply
When the Frisco railroad rebuilt Villa Grove as a division point after 1902, the site was picked partly because the Embarras River offered ample water for railroad operations -- the same river that runs past the town today. The original 1887 townsite and the 1902 Frisco rebuild sit close together in Camargo Township, Douglas County.
Two Townsites, Two Basement Stories
Because Villa Grove was effectively platted twice -- once in 1887 and again after 1902 near the Embarras -- basements in the older and newer sections can face different water exposure depending on which platting they belong to. That's worth establishing before comparing drainage problems across the town.