The history of Red Bud dates back to 1820 when Preston Brickey constructed a little log cabin in the northern party of the city. The first school was held in an abandoned pole cabin in 1824, and the first teacher was Samuel Crozier, the father of one of the founders of Red Bud.
A store was opened in 1841, and soon other businesses began to operate as more settlers came to the area.
R.D. Durfee, Samuel Crozier and William Simmons, along with other prominent settlers, laid out additions for a town in 1847. The first lots were sold at a public auction. At that time, its site was partly covered with Red Bud trees, from which the town derived its name.
Rapid development occurred in the next 20 years as the population grew. Homes and businesses were constructed mainly of brick from the brick, lime kilns and stone quarries located in the city. The city became an important station on the stagecoach route between St. Louis, Belleville, Kaskaskia and Chester.
The first brick building was a public school. The stone inscription read, “Red Bud Publick School, 1854” and this stone was built into the present Red Bud Elementary School.
Red Bud received its charter in 1867 and was incorporated as a city in March of 1875. The business of the city government has been conducted in the city hall since it was built in 1894. The city hall was designed by Louis Hormann, an architect from St. Louis. The exterior of the city hall as remained basically the same while the interior of the building underwent a major renovation project beginning in September of 2005. Final touches were put on the first and second floors of the building in December of 2006. It houses the city offices, police department and council chambers and an elevator for handicap accessibility. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The city owns and operates a municipal power plant. In 1904, the original generating plant for electricity was built, and this plant has been continuously improved and expanded to meet the needs of the residents. The city is interconnected with Southern Illinois Power Cooperative, so it can either produce or purchase its own power. The most recent addition is the installation of two engines that can produce up to 5600 KW. Red Bud’s first sewage system was installed between 1934 and 1936. Natural gas was installed in 1972.Its water source is from two deep wells near the Kaskaskia River.
Red Bud is the center for three state highways, Illinois 3, 154 and 159 which meet at the city’s four way stop. The city has an aldermanic form of government. Along with the mayor, city clerk and treasurer, there are eight council members who are elected to four-year terms. An administrative assistant is employed to provide assistance to the mayor.