The History of the Land
The history of this land - in geologically recent times - begins with the retreat of the glaciers to the north about 13,000 years ago. Since that time, different ecological communities have developed in this place - grasslands, savannas, woodlands - as the communities co-evolve through the process of ecological succession.
Geology and Topography
The land of Oakton's Natural Areas has been shaped by gradual geological processes like the movement of glaciers and more recent human activities, from Indigenous land use practices to present day restoration and ecological management. Click here for a more detailed explanation of the history of the land.
People and Land Use
This land is Native land. Indigenous people have inhabited this land for thousands of years, with evidence for human presence in the Chicago Region as far back as 10,000 years ago. Indigenous people continue to live in the Chicago Region today, as the greater metropolitan area has the third-largest urban Native population in the United States, with more than 65,000 Native Americans in the metropolitan area and 175 different tribes represented. Click here for a more detailed treatment of the story of this land and its people.
Conservation and Restoration
The biodiversity in Oakton's Natural Areas is preserved and enhanced by ecological management activities that include prescribed burns, invasive species removal, native seed collecting, habitat enhancement, and native plant propagation. Click here for more details on the ecological management of the campus.
