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Stronghurst, Illinois

Stronghurst is a village in Henderson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 883 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Burlington, IA–IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Stronghurst is located in southern Henderson County. Illinois Route 94 passes through the village, leading north 9 mi to Biggsville and south 15 mi to La Harpe. Burlington, Iowa, is 15 miles to the northwest.

According to the 2010 census, Stronghurst has a total area of 0.89 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 896 people, 353 households, and 236 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,009.8 PD/sqmi. There were 380 housing units at an average density of 428.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.22% White, 0.11% African American, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.11% of the population.

There were 353 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.9% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $32,054, and the median income for a family was $46,375. Males had a median income of $30,885 versus $20,096 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,269. About 2.6% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
Amtrak’s Southwest Chief, which operates between Los Angeles and Chicago, passes through the town on BNSF tracks, but makes no stop. A station is located in Fort Madison, 27 mi to the southwest. The California Zephyr has a stop located in Burlington, which is 18 mi to the west.

Community activities
Community activities include the Henderson County Fair, the Henderson County Old Tyme Farm Show, and the holiday merchants' walk. An annual Easter egg hunt has been held at the city park for the last few years.

title: Stronghurst, Illinois


text:
Alpha, Illinois

Alpha is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 671 at the 2010 census, down from 726 in 2000.

History
On June 1, 1872, Anson Calkins laid out the village of Alpha. Alpha was created as a railroad town and replaced the town of Oxford, which was located about three miles west of current day Alpha. It was located at the junction between two lines of the Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad, and a since-razed depot was located at the junction. The north-south branch between Galesburg and Savanna crossed an east-west branch between Galva and New Boston. The east-west line has been abandoned and the north-south line is in operation as the BNSF Barstow Subdivision. The village was named Alpha (the first letter of the Greek alphabet), because Calkins believed it to be the beginnings of a great city. It was incorporated on January 11, 1895. In the early 1980s, director Barry Levinson looked at Alpha's railroad car diner as a possible location for filming scenes for his 1982 film Diner.

Geography
Alpha is located at 41.19222°N, -90.38083°W (41.192203, -90.380943).

According to the 2010 census, Alpha has a total area of 0.32 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 726 people, 305 households, and 216 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,254.7 PD/sqmi. There were 318 housing units at an average density of 987.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.48% White, 0.55% from other races, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.

There were 305 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.82.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $31,548 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,407. About 4.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

license: Creative Commons - Attribution Share-Alike - https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/

title: Alpha, Illinois


text:
Andover, Illinois

Andover is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 578 at the 2010 census, down from 594 in 2000.

History

Andover is the oldest community in Henry County. Andover was the first area to be settled as a town within the county and the first mill was built in 1836-37. Andover some became a hub of wagon trails.

Andover was founded in September 1835 by the Reverend Ithamar Pillsbury, as an agent for the Andover Colony. Pillsbury, who had been a corporal in the War of 1812 attached in the New Hampshire military, narrowly escaping death in the war which had convinced him to become a Presbyterian minister.

Lars Paul Esbjörn, a Swedish Lutheran minister in the United States, and a group of Swedish immigrants arrived in Andover during 1849. Together they built Jenny Lind Chapel, which became the "mother church" of the Swedish Lutheran community. The church was built with funding provided mainly by the Swedish singer, Jenny Lind, while she was at that time on a concert tour in the eastern United States. The cemetery adjacent to the Chapel is the resting place of Jonas Swensson, the second president of the Augustana Synod.

After remodeling in 1948, Jenny Lind Chapel was dedicated as a shrine of the Augustana Evangelical Lutheran Church. In 1975, Jenny Lind Chapel was declared to be a National Historic Site and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography
Andover is located at 41.295°N, -90.29056°W (41.295011, -90.290658).

According to the 2010 census, Andover has a total area of 0.99 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 594 people, 220 households, and 174 families residing in the village. The population density was 594.8 PD/sqmi. There were 226 housing units at an average density of 226.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.48% White, 0.17% Native American, 0.84% Asian, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.84% of the population. 27.8% were of Swedish, 26.8% German, 10.2% Irish, 7.7% English and 5.7% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 220 households, out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.9% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 16.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 27.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $46,944, and the median income for a family was $49,821. Males had a median income of $40,000 versus $26,625 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,439. About 4.1% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 17.8% of those age 65 or over.

title: Andover, Illinois


text:
Annawan, Illinois

Annawan is an incorporated town in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 878 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Annawan is located at 41.39722°N, -89.90889°W (41.397094, -89.908893).

According to the 2010 census, Annawan has a total area of 1.98 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 868 people, 354 households, and 238 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,273.6 PD/sqmi. There were 373 housing units at an average density of 547.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.88% White, and 0.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.15% of the population.

There were 354 households, out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.5% were married couples living together, 6.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $38,571, and the median income for a family was $46,563. Males had a median income of $37,237 versus $20,673 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,839. About 9.0% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.0% of those under age 18 and 2.8% of those age 65 or over.

History
Daniel Morton came to the area in 1846 and built the first log cabin. Gilbert Morton was the first child born here that year to Daniel and his wife Sarah. The following year a schoolhouse was built on the Morton property. The land the Mortons found was a swampy marsh to the north with higher ground to the south. Mud Creek meandered through the area and Green River paralleled the current Interstate 80 to the north.

In 1850, a survey of the right-of-way for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad was made through Henry County. The selected route passed through the area inhabited by the Mortons and a few fellow pioneer families. In 1853, when the railroad was almost complete, Charles Atkinson and James Grant, owners of the land adjoining the railroad, plotted the town of Annawan. The town of Annawan, which some say was named after a Winnebago Indian Chief, was born.

At the turn of the twentieth century, a new channel of Green River was developed, drainage ditches were completed and tile installed. This allowed the marsh north of Annawan to become productive farmland.

With the completion of Interstate 80 through Henry County in the 1960s, Annawan began to grow at a steady pace, with various services such as restaurants and gas stations appearing along the interstate. By the dawn of the 21st century, several projects were planned in Annawan. The North Meadow subdivision was completed in the early 2000s as a community for retirees with a community center at the center of the development. A new interstate side hotel was also completed just off Canal Street adjacent to Interstate 80. Midway through the decade plans for an ethanol plant were made.

Present day
Today, Annawan supports a variety of different businesses that serve Henry County and Interstate 80 travelers. As of 2013, the North Meadow retirement community development has been discontinued; however, the subdivision remains one of the newer housing developments in town. The library and the town offices have made their home in the former North Meadow community center. The aforementioned ethanol plant, Patriot Renewable Fuels, opened in 2007, providing Annawan with around 100 jobs. Annawan supports one hotel, two gas stations, five restaurants/taverns, a grocery store, and a gift shop, to name a few different services available in the community.

From 2000 to 2012, retail sales in Annawan have increased 123%. In addition, 48 businesses were open in Annawan in 2009, while 66 operate in the town today. On November 27, 2013, ground was broken for a new 5 million gallon biodiesel plant to be built adjacent to the existing ethanol plant in eastern Annawan.

Past mayors
(In order of past to present) F. H. Slater, James Bice, S. C. Carpenter, W. S. Knowlton, Elmer Fitzkee, John Lamont, J. P. Paine, Dr. W. H. Webster, Dr. Robert White, Seth Moo, C. H. Mason, O. W. Nowell, George Dow, Hugh White, Dr. J. M. Young, Edward Doubler, Charles Verdick, Robert Pont, Arthur Quaife, Raymond Bollengier, Henry Nowers, Wilbur Hodgett, Dennis DeSplinter, and Kennard Franks (2001–2015), Scott Smith (2015–2016), Tim Wise (2016–present)

Parks and recreation
Nearby Annawan is Johnson Sauk Trail Park, which includes a 60-acre lake with a maximum depth of 21 feet, and a small pond. The park is just 5 minutes south on Illinois 78. It also has a camper store and a campground. Annawan is also home to Howes Park, which hosts the Annawan-Wethersfield Titans baseball team. The park also offers Youth soccer, Grades K through 5. About a mile west of Annawan is Mud Creek, which serves as the midpoint for the Carol M. Guthrie 5 Kilometer (3.5 mi) run.

Rolle Bolle
Annawan's Rolle Bolle courts are located in Howe's Park, the location of the annual Rolle Bolle World Tournament, which is typically held in July. The yard game originated in Belgium (where it is known as krulbollen) and was brought over by Belgian immigrants to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century. The game is also played in the nearby towns of Moline, Atkinson, Manlius, Geneseo, Kewanee, and Hooppole.

Municipality type dispute
Annawan claims to be a village; however, per the Illinois Secretary of State, which has the duty of keeping track of incorporated municipalities in Illinois, Annawan is an incorporated town, not a village.

title: Annawan, Illinois


text:
Atkinson, Illinois

Atkinson is an incorporated town in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 965 at the 2020 census, down from 972 in 2010.

Geography
Atkinson is located at 41.41889°N, -90.01472°W (41.418770, -90.014626).

According to the 2010 census, Atkinson has a total area of 1.596 sqmi, of which 1.58 sqmi (or 99%) is land and 0.016 sqmi (or 1%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,001 people, 432 households, and 276 families residing in the town. The population density was 663.2 PD/sqmi. There were 453 housing units at an average density of 300.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 98.5% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 432 households, out of which 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,750, and the median income for a family was $47,422. Males had a median income of $34,500 versus $22,083 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,732. About 5.6% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

title: Atkinson, Illinois


text:
Bishop Hill, Illinois

Bishop Hill is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States, along the South Edwards River. The population was 128 at the 2010 census, up from 125 in 2000. It is the home of the Bishop Hill State Historic Site, a park operated by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency.

Geography
Bishop Hill is located at 41.20083°N, -90.11833°W (41.200711, -90.118327).

According to the 2010 census, Bishop Hill has a total area of 0.53 sqmi, all land.

Erik Jansson
The village was founded in 1846 by Swedish immigrants affiliated with the Pietist movement, led by Erik Jansson. Prior to founding the Bishop Hill Colony, Jansson preached to his followers in Sweden about what he considered to be the abominations of the Lutheran Church and emphasized the doctrine that the faithful were without sin. As Jansson's ideas became more radical, he began to lose support from many of his sympathizers and was forced to leave Sweden in the midst of growing persecution. Jansson had previously sent Olof Olsson, a trusted follower, as an emissary to the United States to find a suitable location where the Janssonists could set up a utopian community centered on their religious beliefs. According to Jansson, this community would become the "New Jerusalem", and their beliefs would soon spread across the world. As a result, 1400 colonists emigrated from Sweden to their new home in western Illinois.

The colony struggled early on after its founding. Many of the first 1000 colonists died from disease on the way to Bishop Hill (named for Eric Jansson's birthplace, Biskopskulla ), while others became disillusioned and stayed in New York. The quarters in Bishop Hill were cold and crowded and food was scarce. After the first winter, life at the colony began to improve. In the next few years housing was upgraded from dugouts to brick living areas, and crops were planted on 700 acre of land. By 1849, Bishop Hill had constructed a flour mill, two sawmills, a three-story frame church, and various other buildings. The Bishop Hill Colony was communistic in nature, as dictated by Jansson. Thus, everything was owned by everyone and no one had more possessions than another. Work in the colony was highly rigorous and regimented. It wasn't uncommon to see hundreds of people working together in the fields or large groups of laborers engaged in other tasks.

After Jansson and today
The Bishop Hill colony underwent a major upheaval in 1850 after the murder of Erik Jansson. Jansson was assassinated by a former colony member, John Root, who was upset with Jansson for interfering with his marriage to one of Jansson's cousins. After their leader's death, the people of Bishop Hill appointed a group of seven trustees to run the affairs of the colony. Among the trustees were Jonas Olsson and Olof Johnson, who would become the primary leaders of the colony as they had been two of Jansson's closest aides. Under these two men and the rest of the trustees, the colony continued to grow and flourish. The workforce was reorganized to become more efficient and more buildings were erected. However, despite Bishop Hill's success, in 1857 financial problems arose in the midst of accusations of mismanagement against Olof Johnson. Johnson had made several large investments, without colony approval, that had turned out to be disastrous. As Bishop Hill headed for financial ruin, colonists voted to end the communal system. In 1861 the formal dissolution of the colony was official, and many of its people would soon be forced to move away.

The Janssonist emigrants were a significant group of men and women to move from Sweden to the United States. Letters home from Janssonists to their friends and family, telling of the fertile agricultural land in the interior of North America, stimulated substantial migration for several decades and contributed to the formation of the Swedish-American ethnic community of the American Midwest.

Descendants of Erik Jansson still lived in the colony until December 20, 2004, when Erik's great-great-grandson and Bishop Hill volunteer fireman Theodore Arthur Myhre Sr. died south of the Colony while on a fire service call. Other known descendants remain in Illinois.

Surviving buildings built by the Janssonists are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Bishop Hill is interpreted as a living community of Swedish-American heritage. Due to state budget cuts the Bishop Hill State Historic Site was closed for nearly 5 months from December 1, 2008, to April 23, 2009. Today the Site is open Wednesday to Friday during normal business hours.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 125 people, 56 households, and 38 families residing in the village. The population density was 232.0 PD/sqmi. There were 59 housing units at an average density of 109.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population. 26.9% were of Swedish, 15.1% American, 14.3% English, 14.3% German, 7.6% Italian and 5.9% Polish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 56 households, out of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.69.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 18.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 16.0% from 25 to 44, 38.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $47,083, and the median income for a family was $50,000. Males had a median income of $38,214 versus $18,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $26,145. None of the population and none of the families were below the poverty line.

2010 Census
According to the 2010 Census, the population was 128, all of which were White, none of whom were Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

Notable person

 * Hick Cady, catcher for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies
 * Roy Magnuson, composer and professor of music at Illinois State University

title: Bishop Hill, Illinois


text:
Cambridge, Illinois

Cambridge is a village and the county seat of Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,160 at the 2010 census, down from 2,180 in 2000.

History
Before 1843, the land where Cambridge is currently located was the private property of a man named Rev. Ithamar Pillsbury, who was very well known amongst the Yankee settlers (migrants from New England and upstate New York who were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s) who were moving to Henry County in large numbers at that time. Reverend Pillsbury deeded a large portion of his land to the town council and they immediately agreed it was a good place to lay out a town. Lots were sold to incoming migrants and on June 9, 1843 (after some quarreling among the town founders about how to finance it) construction began on the town. Roads were laid out, post routes established, public buildings erected and people were invited to move there. The original settlers were almost entirely of New England origins or were Yankees from upstate New York whose families had moved to that place from New England only one generation earlier, in the aftermath of the Revolutionary War. This resulted in Henry County being culturally very contiguous with early New England culture.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Cambridge has a total area of 2.154 sqmi, of which 2.14 sqmi (or 99.35%) is land and 0.014 sqmi (or 0.65%) is water.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 2,180 people, 856 households, and 595 families in the village. The population density was 1,540.2 PD/sqmi. There were 896 housing units at an average density of 633.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.17% White, 0.78% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46%.

Of the 856 households 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.2% of households were one person and 14.0% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.

The age distribution was 24.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.

The median household income was $38,636 and the median family income was $46,786. Males had a median income of $31,442 versus $20,129 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,842. About 8.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over. 2010 Census According to the 2020 census, the population was 2,086. Of this, 2,077 (96.16%) were White, 35 (1.62%) were black or African American, 26 (1.20%) were two or more races, 13 (0.60%) were Asian, 7 (0.32) were American Indian or Alaska Native, 2 (0.09%) were some other race. 45 (2.08%) were Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

Court House
As the county seat of Henry County, Illinois, Cambridge hosts the county government. The Henry County Court House, designed by Thomas J. Tolan & Son, Architects, of Fort Wayne, Indiana (1875–1878), is the key architectural landmark of the village. The courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2004.

Schools
Cambridge has a single school district, School District #227, which includes a single elementary school, junior high (attached to the high school), and high school. The high school graduates around 50-60 students annually. Like many small towns, the cultural life of the community revolves around the arts and sports related to the school. The elementary school was selected as a 2006 Blue Ribbon School, part of the No Child Left Behind Act. It was one of only 18 selected in Illinois.

Links to Bishop Hill
Historically, Cambridge has been linked to nearby Bishop Hill, Illinois. Bishop Hill was founded in 1846 by a sect of Swedish immigrants led by their prophet, Erik Janson. For several years, local Americans and their Swedish neighbors traded and lived in peace. In 1850, Erik Janson was murdered by a former follower in the court house in Cambridge. The historic record reveals some tension between the Swedes in Bishop Hill and the residents of Cambridge. Additionally, the influx of Swedish immigrants attracted additional immigrants from Sweden to the Henry County area. As the population grew, they called for religious leadership from the Lutheran Church of Sweden, an official branch of the Swedish government.

Before they fled from Sweden, Erik Janson and his followers had a contentious break from the Lutheran Church. The Cambridge Lutheran church was established as an offshoot of Lars Paul Esbjörn's Augustana Lutheran Church in nearby Andover, Illinois. This religious-related tension would remain between the Augustana Lutherans (including Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois) and the people of Bishop Hill well into the late 20th century. For more information on Cambridge's relationship with Bishop Hill see Troy Swanson's "Those Crazy Swedes: Outside Influence on the Bishop Hill Colony" in Nobler things to View: Collected Essays on the Erik-Janssonists published by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association in 1998.

Notable people

 * Dan Halldorson, former PGA golfer
 * John P. Hand, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court
 * John Hughes (lawman), likely inspiration for The Lone Ranger
 * George Allen Neeves, member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
 * Brian Phelps 25-year radio host of Los Angeles-based "Mark and Brian Show"
 * Charles F. Wennerstrum, lawyer and justice on the Iowa Supreme Court

title: Cambridge, Illinois


text:
Cleveland, Illinois

Cleveland is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 188 at the 2010 census, down from 253 in 2000.

Geography
Cleveland is located at 41.50722°N, -90.31361°W (41.507084, -90.313624).

According to the 2010 census, Cleveland has a total area of 0.366 sqmi, of which 0.36 sqmi (or 98.36%) is land and 0.006 sqmi (or 1.64%) is water. The village sits along the Rock River.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 253 people, 94 households, and 70 families living in the village. The population density was 700.1 PD/sqmi. There were 106 housing units at an average density of 293.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.81% White, and 1.19% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.35%.

Of the 94 households 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.8% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.5% were non-families. 20.2% of households were one person and 8.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.15.

The age distribution was 24.5% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 28.1% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.

The median household income was $46,339 and the median family income was $47,396. Males had a median income of $41,875 versus $20,833 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,990. About 4.2% of families and 6.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under the age of eighteen and 10.3% of those sixty five or over.

title: Cleveland, Illinois


text:
Coal Valley, Illinois

The village of Coal Valley is located in both Rock Island County and Henry County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 3,873 at the time of the 2020 census, up from 3,743 at the 2010 census. It is mostly residential, housing families who work in or out of the greater Quad Cities Area and is considered a suburb. The students of the Rock Island County part of Coal Valley attend the Moline School District number 40, and in the Henry County portion, Orion Community Unit School District 223

Oakwood Country Club, located in Coal Valley, was host of the Hardee's Golf Classic from 1986 through 1994. The tournament was later renamed to "John Deere Classic" once sponsorship was taken over by Deere & Company. The tournament is now hosted at the TPC at Deere Run course in Silvis, Illinois.

History
The first settlers in Coal Valley were trappers and farmers who came from Wales, England, Ireland, Germany and Sweden. The pioneer settlers of the community are thought to have been William and Charles Bailey who built the first house within the present village limits. It is also believed that they operated a small mine, which could have been the first discovery of coal in the vicinity.

The Coal Valley Mining Company was formed in 1856. The men who incorporated the company were Holmes Hakes, Charles Buford, S. S. Guyer, Ben Harper and N. B. Buford. They gave the community its name. The booming years for coal mining in Coal Valley were from the 1850s to about the middle of the 1870s. Over the years other mining companies moved in. 1942 saw the end of coal mining in and around the community.

In March 1876, a vote was taken and passed to form the Village of Coal Valley. On April 22, 1876, the first Board of Trustees was made. On April 22, 1876, H. B. Sudlow was chosen president and Harvey Clark was appointed the first Constable.

In May 1892, a petition was signed by twenty-eight citizens of Coal Valley, asking that a town hall be erected. The lots needed for the building site were purchased from Gustave Krapp Sr. Mr. Johnson of Orion was contracted to erect the building. The hall was built identically to Orion's town hall. Work began in September and by Thanksgiving the building was up. In January 1893, the hall was officially accepted. The total cost was under $3,000.

In April 1900, the Village Board purchased a fire engine and hose cart for the sum of $875. In November 1900, the Village Board purchased the land and built a one-story fire station.

In 1929, the construction of Highway 150 was completed through the Village, and in 1933, it was extended as far east as Orion.

In 1939, the Coal Valley High School was built at the cost of $70,000 and that fall forty-six pupils were enrolled. The first members to graduate from the new Coal Valley High School were Ruth Schroeder, Evelyn Martin, Mary Kepple, Florence Robinson, Raymond Johnson, Harlan Raub, Robert Anderson, Sydney Bradford and Francis Creger. The Coal Valley High School was dissolved in 1952 and used as the junior high, and high school students attended the new high school in Moline.

Geography
Coal Valley is located at 41.43972°N, -90.45583°W (41.439788, -90.455939).

According to the 2010 census, Coal Valley has a total area of 2.76 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 3,606 people, 1,373 households, and 1,059 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,260.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,444 housing units at an average density of 504.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.06% White, 0.69% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.58% from other races, and 1.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.00% of the population.

There were 1,373 households, out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.6% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.8% were non-families. 18.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.63 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 9.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $49,228, and the median income for a family was $56,114. Males had a median income of $40,801 versus $23,529 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,996. About 6.7% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.

title: Coal Valley, Illinois


text:
Colona, Illinois

Colona is a city in Henry County, Illinois, along the Green River. It is part of the Quad Cities metropolitan area. The population was 5,307 at the 2020 census, up from 5,099 at the 2010 census.

The City of Colona was created in 1997 by the merger of the former City of Green Rock and the former Village of Colona. It was the first community in Illinois to merge by popular vote.

Geography
Colona is located at 41.47556°N, -90.34889°W (41.475684, -90.348787). Colona lies near the Rock River in a valley, and is surrounded by higher land. This is where the Green River and Hennepin Canal flow into the Rock River (Mississippi River).

According to the 2010 census, Colona has a total area of 4.126 sqmi, of which 4.02 sqmi (or 97.43%) is land and 0.106 sqmi (or 2.57%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,173 people, 1,936 households, and 1,473 families living in the city. The population density was 1,479.1 PD/sqmi. There were 2,010 housing units at an average density of 574.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.58% White, 0.31% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 1.70% from other races, and 0.99% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.06% of the population.

There were 1,936 households, out of which 37.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 20.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.9% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,476, and the median income for a family was $48,250. Males had a median income of $33,826 versus $20,909 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,265. About 4.6% of families and 7.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.8% of those under age 18 and 1.6% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation
Quad Cities MetroLINK provides bus service on Route 30 connecting Colona to destinations across the Quad Cities.

title: Colona, Illinois


text:
Galva, Illinois

Galva is a city in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,589 at the 2010 census, down from 2,758 in 2000.

History
Cousins William L. Wiley (1820–1900) and James Wiley (1817-1886) founded  Galva in 1854. The name Galva honors the Swedish immigrants of nearby Bishop Hill and refers to Gävle, Sweden which is the town's sister city. Today around 80% of the town has Scandinavian ancestry.

Galva was a railroad town. Galva was laid out along the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad  (Burlington Route) with the help of Bishop Hill trustees who invested heavily in Galva. This was the first of three rail lines to locate there. This group was formed in 1852 and ran a line from Aurora, Illinois to Galesburg, Illinois. A second branch of the Burlington Route later also came through. Later the Peoria and Rock Island Railroad (Rock Island Railroad) came through Galva. Several Amtrak lines run through the town, including the California Zephyr and Southwest Chief, but none stop in Galva. A station is located 10 miles north in Kewanee for the Illinois Zephyr and Carl Sandburg, and 25 miles south in Galesburg for all trains.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Galva has a total area of 2.86 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 2,758 people, 1,164 households, and 740 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,609.5 PD/sqmi. There were 1,266 housing units at an average density of 738.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.59% White, 0.25% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.96% of the population.

There were 1,164 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,071, and the median income for a family was $45,880. Males had a median income of $31,467 versus $21,714 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,165. About 6.9% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.

2010 Census
According to the 2020 census, the city had a population of 2,470. Of this, 2,503 (96.68%) were White, 32 (1.24%) were two or more races, 26 (1.00%) were Black or African American, 15 (0.58%) were some other race, 11 (0.42%) were Asian, and 2 (0.08%) were American Indian or Alaska Native. 80 (3.09%) were Hispanic or Latino (of any race)

Higher education
Black Hawk College, a community college, has one of its campus in the town.

Community organizations

 * Galva Arts Council
 * Galva American Legion Post #45

Notable people

 * Reuben Beals, Illinois state representative, farmer, and carpenter.
 * Rich Falk, professional basketball player.
 * Rollin Kirby, a political cartoonist and three-time winner of the Pulitzer Prize.

title: Galva, Illinois


text:
Geneseo, Illinois

Geneseo is a city in Henry County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,539. Geneseo is 20 miles east of the Quad Cities, at the intersection of Interstate 80, U.S. Route 6 and Illinois Route 82. It is known for its successful high school football, music programs, and Victorian architecture.

History
Geneseo was founded as a Christian colony in 1836 by seven families of the Congregationalist denomination from Geneseo, New York and Bergen, New York seeking to establish a "church in the wilderness". Roderick R. Stewart, one of the city's founding members, named the town Geneseo after the settlers' town of origin in New York. The name "Geneseo" is a variation of the Iroquois word Genesee, meaning "shining valley" or "beautiful valley".

Establishment
Planning for the colony began as early as 1829. In May 1836 the founding seven families of Geneseo sent an exploratory committee to survey the precise location of their new community in the Old Northwest. This group, known as the "New York Committee", or "New York Group" was composed of John C. Ward, Lukas T. Seyller, and Roderick R. Stewart. Advised at a meeting in Chicago by the future Governor of Illinois, Thomas Ford, the small committee rode by wagon and horseback to investigate the 2,000-acre tract. The transaction of the land was completed in what is today Colona Township and purchased at a dollar and a quarter per acre.

On September 17, 1836, the settlers embarked on their journey from Geneseo, New York and Genesee County, New York across Canada, down through Michigan, then across Indiana and Illinois. The subsequent winter was so bad that the families remained in Princeton, Illinois and what was known as Providence County while their structures were being established. Cromwell K. Bartlett constructed the first structure just south of the town in the winter of 1836, and Elisha Cone and J.C. Ward built the first cabin and frame house in town, respectively, in 1837.

The town was split into lots by the trustees: John C. Ward, Cromwell K. Bartlett, and R.R. Stewart. They split the land into five blocks east to west and three blocks north to south with locations for a cemetery, a block for the school and church, a public square, and the "gospel lot," which, in 1846, became a seminary. Lots would be drawn by chance, assuming that the settlers would build on them, and immediately the town established its Christian and education-focused philosophy. A mandatory tithe on all proceeds (over a certain amount) was set aside to build a religious and educational seminary in the center of town, now the Geneseo City Park. This building, originally known as the Geneseo Manual Labor High School, was later renamed the Geneseo Seminary and was borne of the self-denial philosophy of the town's leaders. However, due to considerable debt, the Geneseo Seminary ended up closing in the year 1857 and was folded into the public school system as Geneseo Central School.

Further proving their religious and educational convictions, when many of the town's founding families hadn't arrived and while the remainder battled frostbite, the settlers began a temperance society in 1836 with several families in Hanna Township and Cleveland, Illinois. Construction on the original First Congregationalist Church began in 1837 and its first communion was held on April 18, 1838. The Congregationalist Church was a central fixture of the town's community in its first century.

These strong religious beliefs also strongly influenced the town's political leanings as well, being strong abolitionists and Republicans. As a result, Geneseo became a station on the Underground Railroad. Even before the church was constructed, the first school was established when R.R. Stewart's daughter, Susannah Stewart, began teaching classes in a one-room school house in 1837. It was built with puncheon floors, round poles, and the old wagon covers they used to make the journey.

Expansion
The Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad, also known as the Rock Island Line, was surveyed in 1850 to run from Chicago to Rock Island with a prominent stop in Geneseo. The line was completed in June 1854 and, immediately thereafter, the Grand Excursion promotional voyage that took prominent politicians and well-off citizens on a voyage to and down the Mississippi, stopped in the small town. Although Geneseo had grown at a near stand-still since its inception, reaching only 500 persons by 1850, it soon exploded to 5,500 just 11 years later (within the 10-square mile area). Due to its large growth, Geneseo officially became a town in 1855 and a city in 1865. Like many towns that experienced a growth spurt in the middle of the 19th century, Geneseo's wealthier families constructed many of their homes in accordance with Victorian Architecture and a large number of them remain today, giving credence to the name "Victorian Geneseo."

Simultaneously with the expansion of the town, Geneseo's first newspaper, the Geneseo Democratic Standard, started in August 1855 by James Bowie. It collapsed not a year and a half later. In June 1856, I.S. Hyatt founded the Geneseo Republic and began publishing in a building on Main Street. Although founded as a Republican Party newspaper, it is no longer affiliated with any political party. It is still in operation and remains the only Geneseo-only newspaper.

Geneseo Central School, the first high school in Geneseo, was built in 1856 and became coalesced with Geneseo Seminary in 1857. It was used until 1866 when the North Side Building, was constructed. It was expanded in 1871 and was demolished in 1970. South Side School, constructed by John W. Ross in 1889 on the corner of College Avenue and Second Street, became the official high school for Geneseo in 1890.

In 1883, two higher-education institutions were established in Geneseo: the Geneseo Collegiate Institute (GCI) and the Northwestern Normal School (NNS). GCI was a Presbyterian academy which housed a small religious high school for a time. Although a large expansion was planned for GCI in the early 1900s, the school financially collapsed in 1922 and was razed in 1930. The Northwestern Normal School was a secular college. It, too, collapsed financially and in 1901 John C. Hammond purchased NNS' old dormitory and presented it to the City of Geneseo to establish Hammond Henry Hospital on November 28, 1901.

20th century school expansion
In 1909 the Township High School District was established. It received a major expansion in 1932. Officially known as Township High School, it was erected between 1910 and 1911 The old South Side School was then used as an additional grade school for K-8 students until a new junior high was built in 1954. South Side was then used as an administrative building until the 1960s when it was demolished to make room for a new district unit office. In the 1960s, Geneseo High School switched places with Geneseo Junior High and became J.D. Darnall Senior High School (until reverting to Geneseo High School in 2005). The old "Township High School" was then used as Geneseo Junior High School until the 1990s when Geneseo Middle School was built next door to J.D. Darnall. Township High was subsequently demolished for additional space for the city park.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Geneseo has a total area of 4.398 sqmi, of which 4.39 sqmi (or 99.82%) is land and 0.008 sqmi (or 0.18%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 6,586 people, 2,740 households, and 1,810 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,501.0 PD/sqmi. There were 2,854 housing units at an average density of 707.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 96.7% White, 1.0% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0% of the population.

There were 2,707 households, out of which 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 7.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 30.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.9% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $61,971 and the median income for a family was $51. The per capita income for the city was $33,152. Male median income was $44,530 and the median female income was $21,070. About 3.3% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Geneseo is home to gun manufacturing company Springfield Armory, Inc.

Government
The city government is organized under a aldermanic form. The mayor is elected at large for a two-year term. The Mayor, Sean Johnson, serves as Chief Executive Officer and also Presiding Officer over the City Council of Geneseo. The City Council consists of eight aldermen representing four individual wards. (Ward 1, Craig Arnold and Paula Simosky - Ward 2, Bob James and James Roodhouse - Ward 3, Keith Kennett and Martin Rothschild - Ward 4, Brett Barnhart and Douglas Crow.

Culture
Geneseo hosts multiple annual community events, including the Geneseo Music Festival on Father's Day weekend, and the renowned Geneseo Christmas Walk, formerly known as the Geneseo Victorian Walk, which is held on the second Saturday of December.

Infrastructure
Downtown Geneseo will be a stop on the Chicago to Des Moines Amtrak expansion.

Education
Geneseo's School District is Dist. 228., which includes Geneseo High School (GHS). In 2023, U.S. News & World Report named Geneseo High School one of the best high schools in the nation. Regionally, GHS ranked second in the Quad Cities Area and 93rd in Illinois.

The Maple Leafs have won 4 state championships in football, with 6 second-place state finishes, 54-consecutive winning seasons, and more than 40 consecutive playoff appearances—an Illinois state record.

The Geneseo High School Music Department has been successful, too, with 6 State Championships, 10 State runner-up finishes, and 6 third place finishes in music.

Notable people

 * Earnest Elmo Calkins, advertising executive
 * Agnes Meyer Driscoll, cryptanalyst
 * William O. "Doc" Farber, noted American Political Scientist
 * Judith Ford, Miss America, 1969
 * Edith Dunham Foster, educational filmmaker
 * Barry Pearson, NFL wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Kansas City Chiefs
 * Leon Alaric Shafer, painter and illustrator
 * Todd Sieben, Illinois State Senator
 * Jack Wanner, MLB shortstop for the New York Highlanders

title: Geneseo, Illinois


text:
Hooppole, Illinois

Hooppole is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 204 at the 2010 census, up from 162 in 2000. As of 2018, the population has grown to an estimated 236.

Geography
Hooppole is located at 41.52222°N, -89.91389°W (41.522127, -89.913862).

According to the 2010 census, Hooppole has a total area of 0.88 square kilometers (0.34 mi2), all land.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 162 people, 61 households, and 45 families living in the village. The population density was 466.7 PD/sqmi. There were 69 housing units at an average density of 198.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 96.91% White, 0.62% African American, 2.47% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.41%.

Of the 61 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.2% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.2% were non-families. 21.3% of households were one person and 11.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.02.

The age distribution was 27.2% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 30.2% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 118.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.4 males.

The median household income was $32,188 and the median family income was $37,083. Males had a median income of $27,321 versus $21,667 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,638. About 4.3% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under the age of 18 and none of those 65 or over.

Religion
There are two churches located in the village. The Calvary Evangelical Church and the Zion United Methodist Church are both located on Main St. The Shrine of St. Mary of the Fields is located in a rural area two miles northwest of Hooppole. It is one of several of the Shrines to the Rosary and to the Blessed Virgin Mary for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Peoria.

title: Hooppole, Illinois


text:
Kewanee, Illinois

Kewanee is a city in Henry County, Illinois. "Kewanee" is the Winnebago word for greater prairie chicken, which lived there. The population was 12,509 in the 2020 census, down from 12,944 in 2000.

Geography
According to the 2010 census, Kewanee has a total area of 6.722 sqmi, of which 6.71 sqmi (or 99.82%) is land and 0.012 sqmi (or 0.18%) is water.

The Kewanee Group is named after Kewanee, Il.

2000 census
At the 2000 census there were 12,944 people in 5,353 households, including 3,377 families, in the city. The population density was 2,062.1 PD/sqmi. There were 5,879 housing units at an average density of 936.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 90.27% White, 3.68% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.69% from other races, and 1.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.10%.

Of the 5,353 households 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 32.2% of households were one person and 17.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.98.

The age distribution was 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.

The median household income was $29,895 and the median family income was $37,730. Males had a median income of $29,065 versus $19,792 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,746. About 10.7% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.0% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census
According to the 2020 census, the city had a population of 12,509. Of this, 11,241 (87.03%) were white, 633 (4.90%) were black or African American, 624 (4.83%) were some other race, 325 (2.52%) were two or more races, 51 (0.39%) were Asian, 38 (0.29%) were American Indian or Alaska Native. 1,350 (10.45%) were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Industry
Kewanee was once known for its fire-tube boiler industry. The Kewanee Boiler Corporation manufactured and sold boilers throughout the world for over one hundred years. The company shuttered in 2002, however, boilers manufactured in Kewanee are still in common use. The Kewanee High School athletic teams are nicknamed the "Boilermakers". In 2023, the boiler shop burned down and now has a sign that says "Kewanee Boiler Workers Memorial, dedicated to over 130 years of boiler-making."

Kewanee was home to minor league baseball. The Kewanee Boilermakers minor league baseball team played in the Central Association from 1908–1913. In 1948–1949, the Kewanee A's rejoined the Central Association. Kewanee was an affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics (1948–1949). Kewanee minor league teams played at Terminal Park (1908–1913) and Northeast Park (1948–1949).

Parks
Kewanee has many different types of parks in the immediate area, offering a variety of activities such as boating, camping, hunting, fishing, playgrounds, baseball fields, and more. Parks inside the city limits are run by the Kewanee Park District.

Schools
Kewanee has had two school districts, dating to when the community of Wethersfield was a separate municipality. Though the towns merged long ago, the two school districts both remain in the city of 13,400, divided at Division Street in the middle of Kewanee. While Kewanee School District #229 has around 2,015 students (533 High School), Wethersfield #230 has about 600 students. The two schools enjoy a usually friendly rivalry, since both district high schools are in different divisions for most sports. However, this rivalry did become very heated in the sports the two high schools once competed in, most notably basketball. Black Hawk College-East Campus is recognized nationally for its equestrian program, as well as livestock judging teams. (Another Campus is located in the Quad Cities.)

Festivals
The most notable festival held in the community is Hog Days. It is held annually on Labor Day weekend. Events include a carnival, mud volleyball, a parade, and more.

FM radio

 * 93.9 KQCJ "Planet 93.9", alternative
 * 102.1 W271BL (Jack FM), Jack FM
 * 102.5 WJRE "HOG Country 102.5", country (RDS)
 * 104.7 W284CV "Rock2.0", rock
 * 100.1 W282AL (translates 1450 WKEI), news/talk

AM radio

 * 1450 WKEI, news/talk

Newspapers

 * Star Courier
 * The Kewanee Voice

Notable businesses

 * Hotel Kewanee
 * Sandy's Drive-In National Headquarters

Notable people

 * Walter T. Bailey (1882–1941), architect. Born and raised in Kewanee, Bailey was the first African-American graduate of the University of Illinois' School of Architecture.
 * B. Frank Baker (1864–1939), member of the Illinois Senate, was a resident of Kewanee and served as its mayor.
 * Neville Brand (1920-1992), actor and decorated World War II veteran
 * Mike Cernovich (born 1977), media personality.
 * W. K. Davidson (1904-1974), Illinois state representative, senator and restaurateur.
 * Edward Robb Ellis (1911-1998), journalist and diarist
 * Richard Estes (born 1932), artist
 * Frederick Dilley Glidden (pen name Luke Short), Western writer, known for Ramrod (1947) and Blood on the Moon (1948)
 * Bill Goffrier, guitarist for The Embarrassment
 * Belden Hill (1864-1934), MLB third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles
 * Em Lindbeck (1934-2008), MLB outfielder for the Detroit Tigers, mayor of Kewanee
 * Glenn McDonald (born 1952), NBA small forward / shooting guard for the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks
 * Amber McReynolds (born 1979), chief executive of the National Vote at Home Institute and member of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service, was raised in Kewanee.
 * Albinus Nance (1848-1911), 4th governor of Nebraska, was raised in Kewanee
 * Dennis Nelson, professional football player
 * Sod Ryan (1905-1964), NFL tackle for the Chicago Bears
 * Lindsay Stalzer (born 1984), professional volleyball player, was raised in Kewanee.
 * Marjabelle Young Stewart (1924–2007), writer and expert on etiquette, moved to Kewanee in 1965 and resided there until her 2007 death.
 * Teresa Sullivan (born 1949), President of the University of Virginia (2010–2018), was raised in Kewanee.
 * Dale Whittaker, fifth President of the University of Central Florida

Transportation
The Kewanee Amtrak station serves trains on the Carl Sandburg and Illinois Zephyr daily. The current station was completed April 13, 2012.

title: Kewanee, Illinois


text:
Orion, Illinois

Orion is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,861 at the 2010 census. It is the site for transmitters for many of the Quad Cities' radio and television stations, including KLJB, KWQC-TV, WMWC-TV, WQAD-TV, WQPT-TV and KQIN. FM radio station transmitters include WLKU and WXLP.

History
Orion was laid out on December 26, 1853, by Charles W. Dean. Until 1867 it was called Deanington.

Geography
Orion is located at 41.35333°N, -90.37722°W (41.353260, -90.377229).

According to the 2010 census, Orion has a total area of 0.91 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
According to the 2020 census, the village had a population of 1,754. Of this, 1,826 (98.12%) were white, 16 (0.86) were two or more races, 11 (0.59%) some other race, 4 (0.21%) were Asian, 3 (0.16%) were American Indian or Alaska Native. Of the population, 45 (2.42%) were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Historic Places
Two Orion locations are listed in the National Park Service's National Register of Historic Places:
 * Central Park Music Pavilion – 1208 5th Street
 * West Water Tower and Ground Storage Tank – 310 11th Avenue

Schools
Public schools in Orion are governed by Orion Community Unit School District 223. While the districts educates pre-kindergarten through 12th grade, it does not account for private and non-profit preschools that are also available.

Elementary school

 * C.R. Hanna

Orion High School

High school

 * Orion High School

title: Orion, Illinois


text:
Woodhull, Illinois

Woodhull is a village in Henry County, Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the village had a population of 811, up from 809 in 2000.

History
The town was laid out by Maxwell Woodhull on September 30, 1857. An addition was laid out in 1867, and another in 1870. That same year, the town was incorporated. In 1994, the High School girls' basketball team almost made history in the I.H.S.A. Basketball state championship but came up short.

Geography
Woodhull is located at 41.17861°N, -90.32194°W (41.1785893, -90.3219500).

According to the 2010 census, Woodhull has a total area of 0.82 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 809 people, 348 households, and 238 families living in the village. The population density was 980.6 PD/sqmi. There were 361 housing units at an average density of 437.6 sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99% White, 0.4% African American, 0.1% Native American, 0.1% Asian, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

There were 348 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 29.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $35,288, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $26,136 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,738. About 5.4% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.7% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education
AlWood Middle-High School is located in Woodhull, with students coming from nearby Alpha after the merger in the early 1950s. Students also attend from the country surrounding Ophiem, Lynn Center, Andover, Cambridge, New Windsor, Rio, and Oneida. The school's mascot is the Aces, although it has been referred to as the "Flying Aces" numerous times.

Notable people

 * Don Samuelson, 25th Governor of Idaho from 1967 to 1971; born in Woodhull.
 * Daniel Swanson, Illinois state representative; born in Woodhull.

title: Woodhull, Illinois


text:
Ashkum, Illinois

Ashkum is a village in Ashkum Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 761 at the 2010 census.

Origin of name
The name originated from a native american word meaning more and more.

Geography
Ashkum is located in northwestern Iroquois County at 40.88139°N, -87.95222°W (40.881356, -87.952172). U.S. Route 45 passes through the village, leading east then north 21 mi to Kankakee, and south 9 mi to Gilman. Illinois Route 116 leads west from Ashkum 37 mi to Pontiac. Interstate 57 crosses IL-116 at Exit 293 just west of Ashkum; it leads north 18 mi to Kankakee and 78 mi to Chicago, while to the south it leads 57 mi to Champaign.

According to the 2010 census, Ashkum has a total area of 0.8 sqmi, all land.

Immediate neighbors of Ashkum are Danforth (4 mi south), Cullom (16 mi west), and Clifton (4 miles north).

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 724 people, 302 households, and 215 families residing in the village. The population density was 883.2 PD/sqmi. There were 321 housing units at an average density of 391.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.90% White, 0.69% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.69% of the population.

There were 302 households, out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.5% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.7% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $40,313, and the median income for a family was $52,857. Males had a median income of $32,321 versus $23,625 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,806. About 3.5% of families and 3.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.4% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communications
Ashkum is one of three municipalities in Iroquois County (along with Chebanse and Clifton) that are served by Comcast's South Suburban Chicago system (which is based out of Homewood and also serves the Kankakee area). This means that for local broadcast channels, Ashkum receives stations from the Chicago area and does not receive any stations from the Champaign–Springfield–Decatur market, which includes Iroquois County.

title: Ashkum, Illinois


text:
Beaverville, Illinois

Beaverville (formerly St. Marie) is a village in Beaverville Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 362 at the 2010 census.

History
In 1851, 32 families from the area of Montreal, Canada, mostly newlywed or single, came up the St. Lawrence River in search of farmland on the prairie. They traveled across the Great Lakes and stopped at Fort Dearborn (Chicago). Then they pushed south through the swamps and frontier until they reached the area that is now Beaverville. The settlement, named "St. Marie," was led by Francis Besse, who became a general merchant. The group consisted of families with names such as Fortin, Dionne, Boudreau, Benoit, Nourie, Lafond, Lemna, and at least six Arseneau families. They settled here because of the good land and the many creeks.

In 1905, the village name was changed to "Beaverville", when the village founders realized that there was another town in Illinois named St. Mary. The new name was inspired by the profusion of beavers in the area in the early 19th century, when Beaver Lake right across the border in Indiana still existed.

The Cathedral of the Cornfields
Beaverville is home to St. Mary's Catholic Church, known as the "Prairie Cathedral" or the "Cathedral of the Cornfields". Built in 1909, the structure is recorded in the National Register of Historic Places and is large enough that its red, clay-tile roof can be seen from several miles away.

Geography
Beaverville is located in northeastern Iroquois County at 40.95444°N, -87.65389°W (40.954567, -87.654016). It is 16 mi northeast of Watseka, the county seat; 20 mi southeast of Kankakee; and 7 mi west of the Indiana border. Under Quick Facts, above, in the map of Iroquois County, Beaverville is the northeastern-most town that is colored red, not the northwestern town that (for some reason) is encircled in red.

According to the 2010 census, Beaverville has a total area of 0.265 sqmi, of which 0.26 sqmi (or 98.11%) is land and 0.005 sqmi (or 1.89%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 391 people, 151 households, and 104 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,491.4 PD/sqmi. There were 162 housing units at an average density of 617.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.23% White, 0.26% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.26% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population.

There were 151 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 23.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $30,833, and the median income for a family was $34,821. Males had a median income of $31,667 versus $19,792 for females. The per capita income for the village was $13,707. About 6.3% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.8% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.

title: Beaverville, Illinois


text:
Buckley, Illinois

Buckley is a village in Artesia Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 600 at the 2010 census. Buckley celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2006.

Geography
Buckley is located in southwestern Iroquois County at 40.59722°N, -88.03694°W (40.597236, -88.037019). U.S. Route 45 passes through the village, leading north 8 mi to Onarga and south 6 mi to Loda. Interstate 57 passes 1 mi west of Buckley, with access from Exit 272. I-57 leads north 38 mi to Kankakee and south 36 mi to Champaign.

According to the 2010 census, Buckley has a total area of 0.346 sqmi, of which 0.34 sqmi (or 98.27%) is land and 0.006 sqmi (or 1.73%) is water.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 593 people, 261 households, and 171 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,721.1 PD/sqmi. There were 285 housing units at an average density of 827.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.47% White, 0.17% African American, 0.17% Asian, 2.02% from other races, and 0.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.37% of the population.

There were 261 households, out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the village, the population was spread out; with 23.6% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $35,781, and the median income for a family was $48,250. Males had a median income of $31,458 versus $21,719 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,251. About 5.4% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Buckley is home to St. John's Lutheran School, which is affiliated with St. John's Lutheran Church. The school opened in 1870 and its current building is located at 206 East Main Street.

title: Buckley, Illinois


text:
Chebanse, Illinois

Chebanse is a village in Iroquois and Kankakee counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 1,044 at the 2020 census. The Kankakee County portion of Chebanse is included in the Kankakee-Bradley, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Chebanse is located on the border between Iroquois and Kankakee counties. Interstate 57 passes the eastern edge of the village, with access from Exit 302. I-57 leads north 9 mi to Kankakee and south 65 mi to Champaign. Chicago is 68 mi north of Chebanse.

According to the 2010 census, the village has a total area of 1.19 sqmi, all land.

Chebanse is partly located in Iroquois County, but a portion extends northward into Kankakee County, thus into the Chicago metropolitan area.

History
Chebanse was established in 1854 as the first stop on the Illinois Central Railroad south of Kankakee.

"Chebanse" derives from zhishibéns, meaning "the little duck" in the Potawatomi language.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,148 people, 440 households, and 326 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,625.4 PD/sqmi. There were 450 housing units at an average density of 1,029.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.61% White, 0.26% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 0.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.13% of the population.

There were 440 households, out of which 35.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.8% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.9% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 26.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $50,066, and the median income for a family was $53,333. Males had a median income of $41,008 versus $21,607 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,290. About 2.1% of families and 3.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.7% of those under age 18 and 2.6% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Harold Gray, creator of the Little Orphan Annie comic strip, grew up on a farm near Chebanse

title: Chebanse, Illinois


text:
Cissna Park, Illinois

Cissna Park is a village in Pigeon Grove Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 846 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Cissna Park is located in southern Iroquois County at 40.56472°N, -87.89389°W (40.564674, -87.893988). Illinois Route 49 passes through the village, leading north 16 mi to Crescent City and south 7 mi to Rankin.

According to the 2010 census, Cissna Park has a total area of 0.7 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 811 people, 375 households, and 217 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,128.5 PD/sqmi. There were 400 housing units at an average density of 556.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.14% White, 0.5% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74% of the population.

There were 375 households, out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.7% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.9% were non-families. 38.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 20.1% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 26.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $35,592, and the median income for a family was $49,167. Males had a median income of $31,382 versus $18,026 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,285. About 3.6% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

title: Cissna Park, Illinois


text:
Clifton, Illinois

Clifton is a village in Chebanse Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,468 at the 2010 census, up from 1,317 at the 2000 census.

History
Clifton was founded in 1857. The village takes its name from Clifton hotel in Chicago.

Geography
Clifton is located in northern Iroquois County at 40.93472°N, -87.93361°W (40.934592, -87.933535). Interstate 57 passes along the eastern side of the village, with access from Exit 297. I-57 leads north 14 mi to Kankakee and south 61 mi to Champaign. Chicago is 72 mi north of Clifton.

According to the 2010 census, Clifton has a total area of 0.88 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,317 people, 519 households, and 367 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,485.1 PD/sqmi. There were 542 housing units at an average density of 611.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.16% White, 0.30% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, and 0.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.

There were 519 households, out of which 34.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.5% were married couples living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 29.0% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 20.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $47,216, and the median income for a family was $55,347. Males had a median income of $40,938 versus $25,577 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,618. About 2.4% of families and 4.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.3% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Communications
Clifton is one of three municipalities in Iroquois County (along with Ashkum and Chebanse) that are served by Comcast's South Suburban Chicago system (which is based out of Homewood and also serves the Kankakee area). This means that for local broadcast channels, Clifton receives stations from the Chicago area and does not receive any stations from the Champaign–Springfield–Decatur market, which includes Iroquois County.

title: Clifton, Illinois


text:
Crescent City, Illinois

Crescent City is a village in Iroquois and Crescent townships, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 615 at the 2010 census.

Geography
Crescent City is located in central Iroquois County at 40.77056°N, -87.85778°W (40.770448, -87.857823). U.S. Route 24 passes through the center of the village, leading east 6 mi to Watseka, the county seat, and west 7 mi to Gilman near Interstate 57. Illinois Route 49 crosses US 24 on the western side of Crescent City; it leads north 8 mi to US Routes 45 and 52 near L'Erable, and south 23 mi to Rankin.

According to the 2010 census, Crescent City has a total area of 0.5 sqmi, all land.

Railroad accident
On June 21, 1970, the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railroad Company's Train No. 20 derailed in downtown Crescent City. A propane tank car ruptured, and explosions caused fires that destroyed the city center, which included numerous houses and businesses. There were no deaths, although over 60 firefighters and civilians were injured. The disaster would later be featured on episode #124 of the Discovery Channel show Destroyed in Seconds.

High School
In 2009, Crescent City High School, the main high school for the village, was shut down. This meant that the elementary school would have to send the graduating 8th graders to surrounding high schools. The building was then used for special education purposes until around 2019, when they transferred them to Gilman, Illinois. In May 2022, the board of education accepted for the building to be demolished. The class of 2023-2024 was the first K-5 institution of the elementary school, after the 6th-8th grade classes were repurposed.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 631 people, 259 households, and 183 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,253.7 PD/sqmi. There were 272 housing units at an average density of 540.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.42% White, 0.48% Native American, 0.48% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.

There were 259 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 24.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $38,500, and the median income for a family was $46,979. Males had a median income of $32,750 versus $23,594 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,308.

title: Crescent City, Illinois


text:
Danforth, Illinois

Danforth is a village in Danforth Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 604 at the 2010 census.

History
Danforth was laid out in 1872 when the railroad was extended to that point. It mainly started out with most of the population being farmers and their families. The village was named for its founder, George M. Danforth.

Geography
U.S. Route 45 passes through the center of the village, leading north 4 mi to Ashkum and south the same distance to Gilman.

According to the 2010 census, Danforth has a total area of 0.47 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 587 people, 202 households, and 131 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,230.8 PD/sqmi. There were 217 housing units at an average density of 455.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.47% White, 0.17% Asian, 0.34% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.53% of the population.

There were 202 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 22.1% from 25 to 44, 17.2% from 45 to 64, and 32.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 69.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $35,341, and the median income for a family was $48,125. Males had a median income of $31,786 versus $23,036 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,754. About 1.5% of families and 1.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.6% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

title: Danforth, Illinois


text:
Donovan, Illinois

Donovan is a village in Beaver Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 304 at the 2010 census.

History
Donovan was laid out in 1872 and named for the local Donovan family.

Geography
Donovan is located in northeastern Iroquois County at 40.88417°N, -87.61583°W (40.884031, -87.615746). U.S. Route 52 passes through the village, leading west and north 30 mi to Kankakee and southeast 14 mi to Kentland, Indiana.

According to the 2010 census, Donovan has a total area of 0.31 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 351 people, 132 households, and 97 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,127.4 PD/sqmi. There were 142 housing units at an average density of 456.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 96.30% White, 0.85% African American, 0.85% Native American, 1.42% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.13% of the population.

There were 132 households, out of which 37.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.10.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 30.8% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 30.2% from 25 to 44, 17.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 84.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $42,083, and the median income for a family was $46,429. Males had a median income of $37,083 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income for the village was $22,215. About 1.0% of families and 4.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 0.7% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over.

title: Donovan, Illinois


text:
Gilman, Illinois

Gilman is a city in Douglas Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,738 at the 2020 census.

Geography
Gilman is located in the western part of the county at the intersection of three major highways: Interstate 57, U.S. Route 24, and U.S. Route 45. As a result, it has been named "The City of the Crossroads". Amtrak, the national passenger rail service, provides service at the Gilman station. Gilman is 13 mi west of Watseka, the Iroqouis county seat; 39 mi east of Chenoa and Interstate 55; 49 mi north of Champaign; and 87 mi south of Chicago.

According to the 2010 census, Gilman has a total area of 2.25 sqmi, of which 2.23 sqmi (or 99.11%) is land and 0.02 sqmi (or 0.89%) is water.

Founding of Gilman
Gilman was laid out in the fall of 1857 on land belonging to E.D. Hundley, Judge John Chamberlain (24 October 1803 – 16 December 1866), and three Methodist ministers: Walter C. Palmer, Joseph Hartwell, and John Dempster. Hundley, who was from Virginia, left Illinois for the South at the outbreak of the Civil War. The three ministers, who had been given their land by Mr. Cassady of Danville, played no further role in the development of the town.

Judge Chamberlain was the man most responsible for the early growth of Gilman. He was born in Charlestown, New Hampshire, the son of a lawyer. Chamberlain had served in the New York Legislature and had moved to Iroquois County in 1853. He was elected judge, was active in county politics, and lived in Watseka, Illinois. Chamberlain took as a partner Joseph Thomas ( ? -1858) from nearby Onarga.

The town of Gilman was founded at the point where the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad would soon cross the Illinois Central Railroad. The Peoria and Oquawka became the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway. In return for establishing a station at Gilman, Octave Chanute, the chief engineer of the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad, asked for and was given one half of all the lots in the original town of Gilman. This was standard practice for the railroad and was done at El Paso, Fairbury and probably other new towns established along the route of the railroad. Town founders were aware that the lots were not personally for Chanute, but for the railroad company; Today Chanute is best known for his publications on aviation and for his assistance to the Wright brothers. Chanute was involved in the foundation of many towns along the railroad, usually in association with local individuals. Railroad companies in Illinois were forbidden to found towns themselves.

Iroquois Democrats had wanted to name the town "Douglas", after the Illinois senator, but Cruger Secor and Company had been given the right to name the town and they decided to honor Samuel Gilman, a director of that company.

Original design of Gilman
The design of Gilman in general followed the standard plan used by the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad. This was based on a Depot Ground, a wider area of railroad-owned land where the tracks pass through a town. In the original town of Gilman, east-west streets were given numbers, 6th to 2nd with Front Street where 1st Street would have been expected. The north-south streets, often given standard tree names in other Peoria and Oquawka towns, were here assigned distinctive local names including Chamberlain, Thomas and Douglas. Except for a slight bend in Central and Chamberlain streets, the plan is generally similar to that of Chatsworth, Fairbury, Gridley and Watseka (platted as "South Middleport"). The Gilman plat was exceptionally large with 73 blocks, most having sixteen lots. Unlike most towns of the era, Gilman never developed a single commercial focus. This was evident early in its history when Beckwith remarked, "The town is the most diffusely settled, probably, of any of like population in the state. It would be very difficult to tell which is the center of the town."

Early Gilman
The first new inhabitant of the area was W. P. Gardner from Pennsylvania, who at first lived in a shanty maintained by the railroad for its workers. When the survey of Gilman was done in September 1857, Gardner built the first house in Gilman. That same fall James Wright built a house in Gilman. This was soon followed by a much more expensive structure, a three-story hotel costing $4,000 with a third-floor assembly area. The first recorded event in Gilman's history was a ball held on 22 February 1858 at the hotel to celebrate George Washington's birthday. Some of the less respectable young men of the neighborhood objected to the ladies being inside the hotel while they were left out on the frigid street. They began calling for the ladies to come outside and join them. One of those invited guests was the builder of the hotel, a man named Lawrence. Wise in the ways of frontier towns, Lawrence had taken the precaution of bringing a stout stick to the dance. Rushing downstairs he burst out the door swinging his shillelagh and quickly dispersing the rowdies. The ball went on.

D. Harwood was the first merchant to open a store in Gilman which maintained a full stock of goods. The first train through Gilman arrived on 21 September 1857 and was to take local people to the State Fair in Peoria. It was three hours late, but its arrival signaled the start of a period of rapid growth for the new town. The Illinois Central did not begin to run trains until 1858. In 1860 the first school was built; by 1865, the town had 31 buildings. Gilman was officially organized as a town in 1867.

Continued growth
By the late 1860s, Gilman had two railroads. The eastern branch of the Illinois Central linked St. Louis and Chicago, while the Toledo Peoria and Western ran east and west across the state, from the Mississippi River to Indiana. Gilman prospered as the place where people and goods were transferred from one railroad to the other. In 1870 newspaper, the Gilman Star began publication. The 1870 federal census found Gilman had 761 people. In September 1871, a third railroad, originally called the Gilman, Clinton and Springfield Railroad, opened for business. It was largely funded by local bonds and never enjoyed the success of the earlier railroads. On 5 July 1883 a severe fire damaged much of the town. An electric power plant was built in 1898.

Unlike many local towns, Gilman continued to grow in the twentieth century. In 1920, there were 1,443 people. In 1923 and 1924, the state of Illinois began building a new "hard road" paralleling the Toledo Peoria and Western Railroad, which was at first called the Corn Belt Trail, but soon became U.S. Route 24. A second new road, paralleling the Illinois Central Railroad through Iroquois County, initially known as the Egyptian Trail, evolved into Interstate 57 in the 1970s. In the last decade, a second water tower was built along Interstate 57 on the western side of Gilman.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,793 people, 739 households, and 472 families residing in the city. The population density was 848.0 PD/sqmi. There were 816 housing units at an average density of 385.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 93.08% White, 0.22% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 5.30% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 9.04% of the population.

There were 739 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.1% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $36,450, and the median income for a family was $46,016. Males had a median income of $32,188 versus $18,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,396. 9.9% of the population and 7.3% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 12.7% are under the age of 18 and 8.5% are 65 or older.

Media
The Gilman Star is a weekly newspaper established in 1869 with general circulation in Western Iroquois County.

Notable people

 * Frank Griffith, pitcher for the Chicago Colts and Cleveland Spiders
 * Harry W. Starr, Illinois state senator
 * Franklin Underwood, songwriter and jazz pianist

title: Gilman, Illinois