With July 4th Approaching, Here’s What Fireworks are Illegal and Legal in Illinois

With July 4th Approaching, Here’s What Fireworks are Illegal and Legal in Illinois

Clément M.

Cookouts, cold beer, family and friends, and the random fireworks injury...The 4th of July will be here soon, God bless the USA.

There was a 4th of July many years ago, when myself and Double T ran through an entire box of illegal fireworks (I think about $1000 worth) in a matter of minutes. At the time it seemed like a great idea, because they did not belong to us...good times. Bottle Rockets, Roman Candles, firecrackers, etc...we had all the good stuff and a fridge full of liquid encouragement to help us. Absolutely brilliant I tell ya...

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So what is "legal" and what is "illegal" when it comes to fireworks in the state of Illinois? When it comes to LEGAL fireworks in Illinois, it's not a whole lot:

  • snake or glow worm pellets
  • smoke devices
  • trick noisemakers known as "party poppers"
  • sparklers

Those are completely legal, folks. Thrilling right? Basically all the "fun" stuff, is ILLEGAL:

  • Bottle rockets
  • Firecrackers
  • Hand held fireworks
  • Roman Candles
  • Ground Items
  • Missiles

The law states "Illinois Pyrotechnic Use Act" that if caught with these illegal items in Illinois, you could face $2500 fine and up to a year in prison. Source: PATCH

I'm just sharing the info, just the messenger...don't go shooting my eye out with a Bottle Rocket!

If you have DIY July 4th celebration planned, just be safe...all I ask. The number of 4th of July fireworks hospital visits goes up every stinking year. Plus there's the whole dog thing, most of our four legged friends are freaked out and do not do well with fireworks going off.

Iowa's Island City

There is something unique about every town, but there is really something special about Sabula, IA. Known as "Iowa's Island City," Sabula is the only town in the state of Iowa that is entirely on an island. While not a lot of people have been to, or live in Sabula, it is a quaint little town nestled right on the Mississippi River.

Before we show you around "Iowa's Island City," let me give you the history of Sabula. Sabula was established in 1835, according History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 1 by James Whitcomb Ellis. Isaac Dorman and a man named Hinkley crossed the river from the Illinois side on a log and decided to settle on what is now Sabula. An Ohio couple, James and Margaret Woods would settle on Sabula about a year later in April of 1836. Their son, Dr. E. A. Woods would purchase Hinkley's interest in the claim. Charles Swan and W. H. Brown would soon purchase Dorman's interest. The three men, Woods, Swan and Brown later had the land plotted in 1837.

The idea behind plotting the land was because there was no town between Lyons (north Clinton) and Bellevue. The plot of the new town was recorded in Dubuque as this area was part of Dubuque county at the time, according History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 1 by James Whitcomb Ellis.

According to Island City Harbor's website, Sabula went through a few names before landing on the official town name. In 1837, Sabula was first called Carrollport. Residents of the town didn't like the name because there was a man's name who was Carroll who had a bad reputation. The town changed its name to Charleston, after early settler Charles Swan. The only issue was that there was already a town called Charleston in Iowa which caused much confusion.

In 1846 the settler’s decided to find a name. Island City Harbor's website says that because of it’s sandy soil, William Hubble suggested the town be called "Sabulum" which is Latin for sand. A party was being held around the time the town name was being discussed, when a woman, supposed to be Miss Harriet Hudson, suggested the town be called Sabula as it was easier to pronounce and sounded more elegant, according History of Jackson County, Iowa, Volume 1 by James Whitcomb Ellis.

Sabula did not actually become an island until 1939. According to Wikipedia, in the 1930's, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed the lock and dam system. In 1939, Lock and Dam No. 13 between Clinton, IA and Fulton, IL was built which caused the bottomlands west of the town permanently flooded. With the Mississippi River east of the town, this created the "Island City." A levee was built around Sabula in 1957 for protection, according to Island City Harbor's website. This also allowed for the south sand pit to be turned into a boat harbor.

I would like to thank my mom Beth, her fiancé Matt, my brother Nolan and my wife Ellie for accompanying me to Sabula. We always have a blast on our trips and this one was no exception.

It's now time to introduce you to Sabula, Iowa, Iowa's Island City.
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