Founded on the frontier in 1803, Troy, Illinois, began as an early American settlement named Columbia in Jarvis Township. It was officially platted and renamed “Troy” in 1819 by James Riggin. As one of Madison County’s oldest communities, Troy was built by pioneers and grew slowly before becoming a critical stagecoach stop along the National Road in the 1830s, connecting St. Louis and Terre Haute, Indiana.

With the arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s, Troy’s population expanded, driving further growth in local industry, farming, and coal mining. Several smaller settlements, including Mechanicsburg and Brookside, were eventually annexed into the town. The community was officially incorporated as a town in 1857 and a city in 1892.

In the 20th century, Troy transitioned from a rural town to a thriving suburb of St. Louis, offering a small-town charm with modern conveniences. Notably, it was home to Paul Simon, who bought and edited the Troy Times Tribune before his storied political career as a U.S. Senator. Today, Troy continues to balance its historic roots with its prosperous future as a community committed to growth and opportunity.