The village was originally known as Hill's Station or Hill's Crossing until the name was changed on February 28, 1871 to Hillsdale. The village was named after one of the first families to settle here in the late 1850's. James Hill was the first Postmaster of the newly established Post Office on February 1, 1870. James dispatched the mail from his home until his death in 1875. The railroad was completed in the late 1860's and Hillsdale was the shipping point for Canoe Creek Township, parts of Zuma Township, as well as some of Henry and Whiteside Counties. Hillsdale boomed for a time after the railroad was built, however by 1932 the rail trips were reduced, passengers were few and the trains no longer carried the mail.

Before dikes were built to controll the Mississippi and Rock Rivers much of the land surrounding Hillsdale was often under water. The area was a haven for duck hunters who came from all over to hunt here. When the dikes were built this too changed.

The village was incorporated in 1950 and the first board meeting was held on July 21, 1950. The minutes from that meeting appear as follows:

The first special meeting of the newly created Village Board was held at Moore Memorial Library on July 21, 1950.

Order declaring the result of first election of Village Officers and certificate's of election where presented to each of newly elected Village Officers. The following Officers were sworn in by Mr. John W. Mathew in the order in which their name's appear as follow:

• Rollin Quade - President
• Howard "Peewee" Dillin - Village Clerk
• Buell Young - Treasurer
• Fred Howard - Village Police Magistrate
• Lyle Dillin - Trustee
• William Sutton - Trustee
• William McDonnell - Trustee
• Robert Ward - Trustee
• Harold Cole - Trustee
• Charles Hugart - Trustee

A informal discussion was held after the Officers were sworn in, with reference to appointment of Village Attorney. With the approval of the Board of Trustee, the President appointed Mr. J. M. Lytton of the Law Firm of Steward & Lytton as Village Attorney for the period of one (1) year.

The oathe's of office as notorized by Mr. Mathew were given to the President of the Board who in turn gave them to Mr. Lytton for presentation to the County Clerk of Rock Island County for filing in the County Clerk records. Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:45 pm.

Signed - Howard Dillin, Village Clerk

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