The Pioneers described it as a swamp with slough grass so tall it would hide a man on horse back. Especially the north and west areas which were called Polywog and this is where they purchased land. It was the richest farm land in this area after drain tile was laid.

In the mid eighteen hundreds hints that a railroad would be built connecting Pekin, Lincoln and Decatur, this inspired prospectors who became interested in investments in large tracts of land.

In 1841 Zachriah Boughn and the real estate firm of Warren, Durfee and Ott purchased land. Mr. Warren being a large investor, his name was suggested to be a part of the name of the village and burg was added, thus Warrensburg was the name of the village.

In 1863 Joseph P. Ferry purchased land North East of the village on a hill over looking Polywog. In a section across the road from Mr. Ferry's farm was a natural spring and water was piped across the road to his water tank for stock to drink.

In 1861 during the civil war and the year of the Chicago fire; the Illinois Central Railroad was built through this area which is the village of Warrensburg.

In 1882 the Charter was issued to the village. Joseph P. Ferry saw the first house that was built in the village. Improvements in the village came slowly; the village board had wells drilled, one in the center where East and North Main Streets join in the Southeast corner and one at the corner of North Main and Hamilton Street to supply water for residents who didn't have wells. From the well in the center of town a row of trees was planted and along the row of trees was a long hitching rack where farmers tied their horses while doing their marketing and shopping. Board sidewalks were an added improvement to the town. Those who planned the town no doubt had the future generations in mind when they planted so many soft and hard maples as well as white birch trees.

Due to the slow modes of transportation many businesses began to be established to supply the needs of the growing population in the village and country side.

Samuel Ritchie, Publisher and Mrs. Samuel (Clara M.) Ritchie, Editor published the first newspaper named the Warrensburg Times, a weekly paper in 1885.

William Ritchie (brother of Samuel Ritchie) was owner and operator of the Northside Grain Elevator.

In 1893 C.J. Off of Peoria who owned several sections of land, built a sweet corn canning factory and warehouse.

A creamery began operation in 1893 but closed after a few years of operation.

A brick and tile yard began operation in the early eighteen hundreds and was destroyed by fire in 1898.

In 1896 the State Bank of Warrensburg was organized with Guy Randolph as President. On January 11, 1907, A. Hawkyard and son George bought the State Bank of Warrensburg. George was then President. A group of local men bought the Bank from A. Hawkyard and son George and continued banking services until the mid nineteen twenties. Warrensburg had been without a bank since 1931, when a group of interested business men saw the need and applied for a charter to establish the Community Bank of Warrensburg. The charter was issued November 26, 1974 by the State Commissioner of Banks. The bank of officially opened for business on May 30, 1975 at 9:00 a.m. with a ribbon cutting ceremony. The school emblem, "the cardinal," was chosen for the logo of the bank.

Warrensburg was a thriving village and served the community with the following businesses and professional services operating; two mercantile stores, two hardware stores, a barber shop, two restaurants, a bowling alley, two black smith shops, horse shoeing, a harness shop, two hotels, an opera house, a milliner shop, a post office, rural mail carrier, three medical doctors, one veterinary, one dentist office, a bank, a music teacher, an undertaker, two livery stables, a shoe cobbler, a stock yards, two carpet weavers, a dressmaker, and a cider mill.

The first Warrensburg Village Board meeting was held on July 8, 1880. The Board of Trustees: President: J.J. Binkley, Trustees: W.J. Workman, D.E. Ritchie, William Beall, A.W. Searitt, Fred Keppler, Village Clerk: S.S. Monntz with Constable: W.W. Williams.

According to the Census of 2000, population: 1289, Estimated population in July 2002: 1,249. Males 628, (48.7%) Females 661 (51.3%)

There are 500 households out of which 35.8% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.6% are married couples living together, 10.2% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.2% are non families. 7.8% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.56 and the average family size is 3.03.

In the village the population is spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 31.1% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64 and 8.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village is $45,708 and the median income for a family is $51,458. Males have a median income of $40,341 versus $22,688 for females. The per capita income for the village is $19,041. 3.7% of the population and 2.4% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.5% of those under the age of 18 and 2.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.