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Normal, Illinois

Normal is a town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, the town's population was 52,736. Normal is the smaller of two principal cities of the Bloomington–Normal metropolitan area, and is Illinois' seventh most populous community outside the Chicago metropolitan area. The main campus of Illinois' oldest public university, Illinois State University, a fully accredited four-year institution, is in Normal, as is Heartland Community College, a fully accredited two-year institution. Chris Koos has been Normal's mayor since 2003.

History
The town was laid out with the name North Bloomington on June 7, 1854, by Joseph Parkinson. From its founding, it was generally recognized that Jesse W. Fell was the force behind the creation of the town. He had arranged for the new railroad, which would soon become the Chicago and Alton Railroad, to pass west of Bloomington then curving to cross the Illinois Central Railroad at a point where he owned or controlled land. Most of the original town lies south of these tracks, with Beaufort Street as its northern limit, and some blocks west of the Illinois Central and north of the tracks. Fell, his brothers, and associates quickly laid out many additions to the original town.

The town was renamed Normal in February 1865 and officially incorporated on February 25, 1867. The name was taken from Illinois State Normal University, a normal school (teacher-training institution) located there. The school has since been renamed Illinois State University after becoming a general four-year university. Normal is adjacent to Bloomington, Illinois, and when mentioned together they are known as the "Twin Cities", "Bloomington–Normal", "BN", or "BloNo".

In 2007, the town council voted to name the downtown area "Uptown Normal", and, as of 2011, Uptown Normal is home to the Children's Discovery Museum, Marriott Hotel and Conference Center, Hyatt Place Hotel, Uptown Station and Town Hall,Brewe-Ha's Bar and Grill and a variety of local shops and restaurants all centered around a roundabout. The district is also home to the historic and non-profit Normal Theater, a restored Art Deco theater owned by the Town of Normal that runs classic and independent films.

On August 31, 2021, a mass shooting occurred at a mobile home park in Normal that left three people dead and three more injured. The deceased were two women and a man, the latter being the gunman. He was killed by Normal Police Officers.

Awards
In 2011, Normal was awarded the National Award for Smart Growth Achievement - Civic Places by the United States Environmental Protection Agency Normal received a Tree City USA Community Award from the Arbor Day Foundation in 2013. The city received a bronze level Bicycle Friendly Community Award from the League of American Bicyclists in 2014.

Geography
Normal is located near 40.51219°N, -88.9887°W (40.512189, −88.988701). According to the 2010 census, Normal has a total area of 18.412 sqmi, of which 18.35 sqmi (or 99.66%) is land and 0.062 sqmi (or 0.34%) is water.

Demographics
As of the 2000 census, there were 45,386 people, 15,157 households, and 8,184 families residing in the town. The population density was 3,332.6 PD/sqmi. There were 15,683 housing units at an average density of 1,151.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 87.57% White, 7.71% African American, 0.15% Native American, 2.21% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.93% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.56% of the population.

There were 15,157 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.4% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.0% were non-families. 26.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the town, the age distribution of the population shows 17.5% under the age of 18, 38.1% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 13.7% from 45 to 64, and 7.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $40,379, and the median income for a family was $60,644. Males had a median income of $41,323 versus $27,486 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,775. About 5.6% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
The original Steak 'n Shake restaurant opened in Normal in 1934.

Mitsubishi Motors North America and Chrysler Corporation established a manufacturing plant under the joint venture Diamond-Star Motors in 1986. It was Mitsubishi's only North American car manufacturing facility. It was closed May 31, 2016, and purchased by Rivian Automotive in January 2017.

Farnsworth Group, a national architecture and engineering firm with over 500 employees, announced it will be relocating its headquarters to Uptown Normal in the 5-story, $30M, Trail East Development expected to open in 2020. Afni, a national customer service firm, and Illinois State University's Small Business Development Incubator (SBDI) are also expected to move into Trail East.

Rivian's largest U.S. manufacturing plant is in Normal, where it builds all-electric vehicles since 2021. Amazon has ordered more than 100,000 electric vehicles to be built at the plant. The New York Times has described how the company has had a transformational effect on Normal.

The town's major retail center is on Veterans Parkway on the east side of town. It includes The Shoppes at College Hills, an outdoor mall on the site of the former College Hills Mall.

Arts and culture
The Children's Discovery Museum in uptown Normal provides hands-on exhibits, classes and programs for children. The museum has three floors of exhibits including a two-story mesh climber for children to climb to the third floor and a 2000 sqft agriculture exhibit called AgMazing. The museum also offers education programs and houses the Discover More! Store. In 2010, the Children's Discovery Museum was deemed the best creative children's experience in Illinois by Media World USA's "Best of" Series. The Children's Discovery Museum was subsequently featured on a Best of Illinois television program on CBS 2 WBBM Chicago and on the Travel Channel.

The Illinois State University Planetarium offers a variety of science and astronomy programs for children from preschool to high-school. The planetarium is located in Felmley Hall of Science on ISU's campus. Public programs are usually offered on weekends and during special events.

The Challenger Learning Center relocated to Heartland Community College in 2010. The Challenger Learning Center promotes leadership, communication, problem-solving and critical thinking skills while offering an interactive, simulated space and science experience through scheduled team missions for students, public and corporate groups.

The Normal Public Library first began as a Reading Room sponsored by the Community Council with Margaret Hanna overseeing the collection of three hundred books. In 1938, citizens voted to help support the library through donations. In 1973, the library moved to its current location at 206 W. College Avenue. As of 2018, the library's collection has grown to nearly 200,000 materials.

Theatre

Normal Theater opened in 1937 and was the first theater in Bloomington-Normal built specifically for sound films. The strong art-deco design was, at the time, very avant-garde for a small Illinois town. The Normal Theater has been completely restored to its original condition. In addition to showing classic movies and independent films, the theater is used for a variety of activities including group outings, meetings and other events where assembly seating is required.

Braden Auditorium, located inside Illinois State University's Bone Student Center, serves as the hub of student life at ISU and a landmark resource to the Bloomington-Normal community. The Auditorium seats 3,457. Eight to ten annual shows feature a variety of Broadway musicals, pop and country stars, touring variety shows, comedians and big name performers.

The Town of Normal Parks and Recreation Department's "Normal Summer Music Theatre" program celebrated its 40th season in 2011. This program invites students in grades 8–12 to perform in two different productions each summer at the Connie Link Amphitheater.

Heartland Theatre Company performs a number of plays every season. Heartland's Annual 10-Minute Play Festival attracts playwrights from all over the country and their "New Plays from the Heartland" Midwest One-Act Play Competition allows winning playwrights from eight Midwest states to share their original works with audiences.

The Illinois State University Center for the Performing Arts provides the ISU campus and greater Central Illinois community with a wide variety of cultural activities. More than 20,000 people attend annual performances produced by the Illinois State University Schools of Music and Theatre in the center and all performances are open to the public.

The Prairie Fire Theatre is a not-for-profit organization, incorporated in 1998. All events are performed and directed by local talent, drawing from a largely untapped but highly skilled pool of professional artists.

Events
Make Music Normal has coincided with the international Make Music Day in June since 2013. The two-day festival highlights musicians from the Central Illinois area on multiple stages around Uptown. Local artists and vendors complete the festival atmosphere.

Established in 1983, the Sugar Creek Arts Festival is held each autumn in Uptown Normal. The combination of high-quality art, live music and food has kept the streets of Normal full of color and activity for over 22 years. The festival has a unique trait- only original pieces of artwork are shown; not copies of prints or items purchased overseas. The Sugar Creek Arts Festival, hosted by the McLean Country Arts Center, is one of the largest art festivals in Central Illinois and continues to grow.

The Sweet Corn Blues Festival is held each August in Uptown Normal and features over 50,000 ears of fresh sweet corn, sidewalk sales, arts, crafts and flea market vendors. The festival also serves as a welcome back for students at Illinois State University.

Beginning in 1978 with twenty-one performances on the tennis courts of Ewing Manor, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival has grown to become an internationally recognized company; now putting on thirty-six performances each season in a state-of-the-art, Elizabethan-style theater. In 2009, the Illinois Shakespeare Festival was named one of the ten best theatre festivals anywhere by author Susan Magsamen in her book, "The 10 Best of Everything Families: An Ultimate Guide for Travelers", published by National Geographic.

Historic sites
The Illinois Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's School, operated from 1865 until 1979, when it was officially closed. The reasons for closure included a rising high per capita cost of care, the deterioration of many campus buildings, and dwindling numbers of children referred by state agencies. Though several of the original structures have been abandoned and left derelict, others have been converted for a number of uses. These include a seniors community, a commercial pool providing swim lessons, and a community football field.

These three locations are listed in the National Register of Historic Places:
 * Camelback Bridge
 * John W. Cook Hall
 * Normal Theater

In December 2010, a Route 66 Wayside Exhibit was installed at the historic Sprague's Super Service building in Normal. The exhibit tells the story of Route 66's great significance and impact on the community. Visitors are welcome anytime during daylight hours.

Parks and recreation
Normal offers many parks and facilities. As of February 2011, there are 24 parks, facilities and trails operated by the Town of Normal. Fairview and David S. Anderson parks include swimming pools; Fairview Park includes a skate park for in-line skating and skateboarding; Carden Park includes "Safety Town", a place for pre-school aged children to "drive" tricycles complete with traffic signs; and Maxwell Park has a fenced-in dog park and Champion Fields.

The Bloomington-Normal Constitution Trail is a 24 mi trail that operates on dedicated right-of-way through much of the city. The north–south segment of the trail follows the abandoned Illinois Central Gulf railroad from Kerrick Road in Normal to Grove Street in Bloomington. The east–west segment intersects the north segment at Normal City Hall Annex and continues east to Towanda-Barnes Road. The Liberty Branch begins at Commerce Drive and ends at Old Farm Lakes Subdivision. The Freedom Branch begins at Lincoln Street and ends at Route 9 West. The trail is open to walkers, runners, in-line skaters, skateboarders, cyclists, wheelchair users, and other non-motorized forms of transportation. During winter months, it is not cleared of snow, and is available to skiers; weather permitting.

The Ecology Action Center is a walk-in information and environmental education center for individuals, classes, workshops, and meetings. Opened in 1995, it provides the community with practical workshops on recycling, composting and energy saving, nature walks and educational field trips for schools and groups. Various publications and materials are available.

Golf
In 2005, Golf Digest ranked Bloomington-Normal as the Fifth Best American City for Golf in their "Best in America" Metro Golf Rankings. Golf Digest ranked America's largest Metropolitan Statistical Areas on four different criteria: access to golf, weather, value of golf, and quality of golf.
 * Ironwood Golf Course: 6,960 yards, Par 72, 18 holes. Ironwood Golf Course, owned and operated by the Town of Normal Parks and Recreation Department, is a championship course that includes four water hazards and four sets of tees that range from 5,580 to 6,960 yards. Ironwood's attributes, which include a grass tee driving range, large practice putting greens, a practice bunker, banquet room, pro shop, carts and individual or group lessons, offer a challenging test to players of all abilities. The 18-hole course, which opened in 1990, has hosted high school regional, sectional and conference championship tournaments and numerous collegiate tournaments; as well as state amateur qualification tournaments. Ironwood also hosts the COUNTRY Youth Classic each summer.
 * Weibring Golf Club at Illinois State University: 6,730 yards, Par 71, 18 holes. Weibring Golf Club, formerly known as University Golf Course, is located near the northwest corner of the Illinois State University campus. The course was designed by golf course architect Robert Bruce Harris and opened for play in 1964. Re-designed in 2000, the course features bent grass greens, tees and fairways, continuous cart paths from tee to green, strategically placed bunkers and a variety of tees for every skill level. Weibring Golf Course has hosted IHSA Regional, Sectional and State Championships, NCAA Regional Championships and Intercollegiate Tournaments as well as annually hosting the COUNTRY Youth Classic.
 * Golf Learning Center: Located at All Seasons, the Golf Learning Center is a synthetic turf facility, named one of the top 100 American golf ranges by Golf Range Magazine.

Facilities
CEFCU Arena, formerly known as Redbird Arena is a 10,200-seat sports arena at Illinois State University. The arena is the home to the Illinois State Redbirds men's and women's basketball and volleyball teams. In addition, the arena also hosts the Illinois High School Association Girls Volleyball State Finals, Illinois High School Association Girls Basketball State Finals, Gamma Phi Circus, concerts, tournaments, conferences, job fairs, and other events.

Champion Fields at Maxwell Park has a seating capacity of 2,300 and 10 lighted softball fields. The fields are divided into three areas; each equipped with a concessions stand, restrooms and seating for spectators. Champion Fields has played host to state, national and world softball events since 1996 including the NJCAA Division II Softball National Championship, Amateur Softball Association (ASA) Girls’ 18-Under Fastpitch National Tournament, and the State Farm Illinois Collegiate Softball Championship.

The Corn Crib is a multi-purpose stadium with a capacity of 7,000 patrons. The Corn Crib is home to the Normal CornBelters baseball team of the Prospect League and has been selected to host the Illinois High School Association Class 1A Boys Soccer State Finals through 2015.

Hancock Stadium is a 13,391-seat multi-purpose stadium at Illinois State University. The stadium is home to the Illinois State Redbirds football team, while also playing host to several annual events such as the State of Illinois Invitational High School Marching Band Championship and the Special Olympics State Summer Games. The newly renovated stadium includes 7 luxury boxes and 500 club seats, all of which provide access to the 5,500 square foot Hancock Stadium Club, which plays host to a variety of events outside football games, including receptions, banquets, weddings, and private events. The stadium is also highlighted by the addition of a 26 ft x 47 ft Daktronics 15HD LED Video Display in the north endzone.

Teams

 * Illinois State Redbirds - Illinois State University Sports Teams
 * Heartland Hawks - Heartland CC Sports teams
 * Twin City Storm - minor league football team @ Hancock Stadium of the MFL and MLFA

Primary and secondary
The Town of Normal is in the McLean County Unit District No. 5, which includes Normal Community High School, Normal Community West High School, and Kingsley Junior High School Two schools in Normal are operated by Illinois State University: University High School and Thomas Metcalf Elementary.

Private schools include Cornerstone Christian Academy, Epiphany Catholic School, and Calvary Christian Academy.

Colleges and universities
Normal is also home to two centers of higher learning.

Illinois State University, founded in 1857, was the first public university in the state, and is one of the Midwest's oldest institutions of higher education. It is a co-educational, residential university with an emphasis on the undergraduate program, offering more than 160 fields of undergraduate study. The Graduate School coordinates 38 masters, two specialist and seven doctoral programs. The 350 acre campus includes over 60 major buildings with state-of-the-art technology. Watterson Towers is one of the tallest dorm buildings in the world. From meeting facilities to cultural opportunities through the arts and excitement of numerous sporting events each year, ISU is a vital part of the Bloomington-Normal community.

Heartland Community College has more than 4,800 students, and is the youngest community college in Illinois. Heartland Community College offers training in more than 40 career fields in innovative and technologically progressive leaning facilities. Classrooms and labs combine the latest advances in technology with the type of personal, hands-on instruction students need to reach their academic goals. The HCC Campus features a library, community meeting spaces, a pond, bookstore, café and numerous locations for students to study or work on school projects. Recently, Heartland completed a new Corporate Education Center and founded an athletic program that includes baseball, softball and men's and women's soccer teams.

Weekend education
Bloomington/Normal Japanese Saturday School (ブルーミントン・ノーマル補習授業校 Burūminton Nōmaru Hoshū Jugyō Kō), a Japanese weekend school, was established in 1986 and held at the Thomas Metcalf School. It has a separate office in Normal.

Police
The Normal Police Department consists of 81 sworn officers and 26 civilian staff. The Chief of Police is Rick Bleichner. The department is nationally accredited by the Commission for Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies.

The department provides 24-hour town-wide coverage. In addition to deploying officers in patrol cars, the department also deploys officers on bike patrols and has been doing so since the 1980s. The department also has a full-time Criminal Investigation Division and two full-service canines.

Print

 * The Pantagraph, local newspaper – daily
 * Normalite newspaper — weekly
 * The Vidette, ISU student newspaper − semiweekly

FM radio

 * 88.1 WESN, Illinois Wesleyan University College radio
 * 89.1 WGLT, Illinois State University Public Radio/NPR
 * 91.5 WCIC, Christian AC (RDS)
 * 93.7 WJBC-FM, Nash FM/Nash Icons (RDS)
 * 94.9 WXRJ-LP, Community radio
 * 96.7 WIHN "96.7 I-Rock", Active rock (RDS)
 * 97.9 WBBE "97.9 Bob FM", Adult hits (RDS)
 * 98.9 W255AI (Translates 91.5 WCIC), Christian AC (RDS)
 * 99.5 WZIM "Magic 99.5", AC (RDS)
 * 100.1 W261BK (Translates 88.5 WBNH), Religious Music
 * 100.7 WWHX "Hits 100.7", CHR (RDS)
 * 101.5 WBNQ, CHR/Pop (RDS – Artist/Title)
 * 103.3 WZND-LP "Fuzed Radio", Illinois State University student radio station Top 40 (Also simulcast on cable channel 4 available in student dorm rooms) (RDS)
 * 104.1 WBWN "B 104", Country (RDS – Artist/Title)
 * 107.7 WIBL "The Bull 107.7", Country (RDS)

AM radio

 * 1230 WJBC, News/Talk

Transportation
Normal is served by I-39, I-55, Interstate 74, one railroad line, the Central Illinois Regional Airport (BMI) in neighboring Bloomington, and Connect Transit provides public bus service in the area.

Highways
Interstate Highways

Interstate 39

Interstate 55

Interstate 74

US Highways

US 51

US 150

Illinois Highways

Route 9

Interstate 55 wraps around the north and northwest edge of the town. Interstate 74 shares the I-55 roadway on the western edge of Normal before splitting off toward the northwest. Normal is the southern terminus of Interstate 39. Historic Route 66 runs through the town.

Airport
The Central Illinois Regional Airport is on Route 9 in Bloomington, approximately five miles east southeast from Uptown Normal. The airport is served by four airlines, five rental car agencies, and has direct daily flights to Atlanta, Chicago, and Dallas-Ft. Worth. A record 559,481 passengers flew to or from CIRA in 2010.

Mass transit
Connect Transit has 13 color-coded fixed routes in the area; a lift-assisted paratransit service called NiteRide, which operates when Illinois State University is in session; and a campus shuttle for ISU called Redbird Express.

Rail
The Bloomington-Normal Amtrak station is in Normal at 11 Uptown Circle. It was designed by RATIO Architects. The station is served daily by four Lincoln Service trains in each direction between Chicago and St. Louis, and one Texas Eagle in each direction between San Antonio and Chicago. Three days a week, the Eagle continues on to Los Angeles. The station also serves connecting bus service to Peoria and Amtrak stations in Galesburg and Champaign-Urbana. It is Illinois' third-busiest Amtrak station after Chicago and Champaign-Urbana's Illinois Terminal, servicing about 92,000 passengers in fiscal year 2021. Traveling to Bloomington-Normal by Amtrak is a two and a half hour ride from St. Louis and Chicago.

Notable people

 * Andrew Bacevich, historian and author; born in Normal
 * Edna Dean Baker, educator and college president; born in Normal
 * Keita Bates-Diop, 48th overall pick of the 2018 NBA Draft
 * Wally Bishop, cartoonist; born in Normal
 * Jon Bowermaster, oceans expert, journalist, filmmaker and adventurer; born in Normal
 * Eleanor Coen, artist; born in Normal
 * Ellen Crawford, actress; born in Normal
 * Jim Crews, basketball coach at Saint Louis University
 * Pop Dillon, first baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers, Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Superbas; born in Normal
 * Robert B. Duncan, US congressman from Oregon
 * Colton Dunn, comedian, actor, and writer, notable for his work on Key & Peele.
 * Kevin Eggan, professor of molecular biology at Harvard University; born in Normal
 * Robert S. Ellwood, expert on world religions; born in Normal
 * Carrie Etter, poet; residing in the U.K. since 2001
 * Jeff Fowler, director
 * Jesse Hibbs, film director and college football star; born in Normal
 * Richard Hovey, poet; born in Normal
 * Michael Jantze, comic book author; raised in Normal
 * Pokey LaFarge, American roots & blues musician & singer, spent teenage years in Normal
 * Ryan Martinie, bassist; raised in Normal
 * Ralph Eugene Meatyard, photographer; born in Normal
 * Ogonna Nnamani, member of the US Olympic volleyball team; born in Normal
 * Andrew Osenga, musician and songwriter
 * Awadagin Pratt, musician; raised in Normal
 * Gordon Ropp, Illinois state representative and farmer; born in Normal
 * Roger Sedarat, poet; born in Normal
 * McLean Stevenson, actor; born in Normal
 * Brock Stewart, pitcher for Toronto Blue Jays; born in Normal
 * Robert C. Underwood, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court; lived in Normal
 * David Foster Wallace, award-winning author, professor at Illinois State University in Normal (1993–2002)

In popular culture

 * The chorus of "I Got High" by Clem Snide (The Meat of Life, 429 Records) includes the lyrics:
 * "I got high with a Sufjan Stevens fan in Normal, Illinois
 * And this song goes out to all you beautiful
 * American girls and boys"

 * "Normal" by Big Country (Restless Natives & Rarities, 1998)
 * Way to Normal by Ben Folds (2008)
 * 'Normal, IL'' by Camp Trash (2024)

Sister cities

 * 🇺🇸 Bloomington, Illinois
 * Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Japan
 * 🇷🇺 Vladimir, Russia
 * 🇬🇧 Canterbury, Kent, United Kingdom
 * 🇮🇱 Upper Nazareth, Israel
 * 🇮🇱 Nazareth, Israel
 * Ramallah, Palestine
 * 🇨🇺 Caibarién, Cuba
 * 🇨🇺 Remedios, Cuba
 * 🇬🇧 Milton Keynes, United Kingdom

title: Normal, Illinois


text:
Saybrook, Illinois

Saybrook is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 654 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Known by locals as the "City of Shade and Water", it is believed to be named in honor of Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

Geography
Saybrook is in southeastern McLean County, 27 mi east of Bloomington, the county seat; 15 mi northeast of Farmer City; and 10 mi southwest of Gibson City.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Saybrook has a total area of 0.83 sqmi, of which 0.03 sqmi, or 3.49%, are water. The Sangamon River, at this point the size of a small creek, flows southeasterly through the southwest part of the village. Saybrook is the uppermost community on the Sangamon.

Founding
Saybrook was laid out March 4, 1856, by Isaac M. Polk (c.1814–?). Little is known about Polk as he was born in Indiana and did not live in McLean County for very long. In 1860 and 1870, he was in neighboring Livingston County.

Before Polk, Jonathan Cheney came to the area in 1825 and built a cabin across the river from what is present-day Saybrook. Then, in 1833, Robert Cunningham built a water-driven mill on the Sangamon, which was later replaced by a steam-driven mill. By 1857, the town consisted of a saw mill, a blacksmith shop, a carpenter shop, one store, and eight dwellings. The woodland along the Sangamon, which became known as Cheney's Grove, attracted early settlers. The township in which the town was situated took its name from the woodland and was called Cheney's Grove. The name "Saybrook" was adopted in 1865, likely by settlers who came from Old Saybrook, Connecticut.

The town of Saybrook was incorporated May 29, 1866.

Original town plan and development
The original town of Saybrook was one of the smallest in McLean County. It consisted of a simple square of four blocks, each containing eight lots. This original plat was laid out over a series of road and lot lines that were aligned at roughly 45 degrees to the first official town plat. Several old lines, shown in dashed markings, can be seen on the 1856 plat. The original town had no square or other distinguishing features. Lore says its indistinction was to make the town look as large as possible to railroad promoters, but this seems unlikely as Saybrook (and thus its physical properties) was well known to many of the men associated with the founding of the railroad. In 1866, the town council laid out a large addition north and east of town.

Bending the railroad
One thing evident to the citizens of the fledgling town: it would only flourish if a railroad could be attracted. The most likely railroad was the one which would later become the Lake Erie and Western. It would be built to run due east from Bloomington to Paxton in neighboring Ford County and, because of this, would probably miss Saybrook by several miles. At this point, three Cheney brothers, sons of Jonathan Cheney, entered the picture. Haines Cheney, then in the Illinois Senate, had arranged for the charter of the road. To fund the railroad, local towns and townships would issue bonds, which the taxpayers would eventually retire. Two other Cheney brothers, Jonathan H. Cheney and William H. Cheney - who was the second largest landowner in Cheney's Grove Township - became members of the railroad's board of directors. William H. Riggs, the supervisor of Cheney's Grove Township, was also on the board. Cheney's Grove Township voted to fund $50,000 in bonds, and the town of Saybrook added an additional $10,000 in bonds. With this kind of backing, the route of the road was deflected and it passed through the town. In November 1871, when the tracks reached the village limits of Saybrook, a great celebration was held. A bottle of champagne was produced, but rather than smash the bottle, the thrifty reception committee simply knocked off its neck so the contents could be consumed later. The new Christian church in Saybrook invited visitors from Bloomington to attend their first service and announced that there would be a special train "on our railroad".

After the railroad
Once the railroad was established in 1870, Saybrook grew rapidly and soon became the largest grain shipping point in eastern McLean County. A depot with depot grounds was established just south of the original town. The railroad goes over the Sangamon River. In 1870, Thomas Holloway built the large brick Union House Hotel. In 1872, a newspaper was established. There was a boom in the construction of houses and stores. By 1900 there were 879 people in the town. In the twentieth century, the population of Saybrook declined by about fifteen percent. By 2000 Saybrook was smaller than it had been a century before.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 764 people, 325 households, and 219 families residing in the village. The population density was 964.3 PD/sqmi. There were 340 housing units at an average density of 429.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.82% White, 0.13% African American, 0.13% Asian, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.26% of the population.

There were 325 households, out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% 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 2.88.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.3% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $37,778, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $29,688 versus $21,806 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,671. About 7.7% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Blake Feese, racing driver
 * Ele Stansbury, Indiana Attorney General (1917–1921)

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

title: Saybrook, Illinois


text:
Stanford, Illinois

Stanford is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 600 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area.

The beginnings of Stanford
Stanford was platted, under the name of "Allin", on December 14, 1867. Its founder was John Armstrong (1820–1912). It was founded when the Jacksonville Division of the Chicago Alton and St. Louis Railroad was extended westward from Bloomington. The McLean County town of Covell was founded, within a few months of Allin, as a station on the same railroad. In 1870 the name of Allin was changed to "Stanford". It was incorporated as a village in June 1874. The town's founder, John Armstrong, was born in Posey County, Indiana. He was first a farmer and then ran a grocery in Stanford, where he continued to live until his death in 1912. For many years after the town was founded, John Armstrong ran a grocery in Stanford.

Original town design and development
The original town of what would soon become Stanford had an unusual L-shaped design, with the leg of the "L" extending to the east along the railroad tracks. The large area in the crook of the "L" was not platted, but remained in the hands of John Armstrong, the town founder, whose residence was near the tracks on the north side of the railroad. Rather than a central square, the original plat of Stanford, like many towns laid out in the 1850s and 1860s, featured two rectangular public areas labeled as "Depot Grounds" which extended along either side of the tracks. The depot itself was on the north side of the tracks and, in 1874, the grain elevator on the south side. As the town developed, most businesses were located south of the tracks. By 1895 these included a hotel, a bank, the Masonic Hall, and several stores. Except for the depot, most of the railroad-related facilities were on the depot ground south of the railroad. These included a stock yard, a lumber yard, and several elevators. This area also held a bandstand. There were two early churches in Stanford: the Christian Church on Boundary Street south of the business district and the Presbyterian Church in the southeastern part of town.

Geography
Stanford is in western McLean County, 14 mi west-southwest of Bloomington, the county seat. Illinois Route 122 passes just north of the village, leading northeast to Bloomington and west 5 mi to Minier.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Stanford has a total area of 0.66 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 670 people, 236 households, and 190 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,749.8 PD/sqmi. There were 253 housing units at an average density of 660.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.91% White, 0.90% Native American, 0.15% Asian, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.

There were 236 households, out of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.1% were non-families. 16.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.84 and the average family size was 3.14.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 29.9% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $49,375, and the median income for a family was $52,639. Males had a median income of $35,500 versus $27,813 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,687. About 2.3% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Education

 * Olympia High School

Notable people

 * Homer Caton (1887–1958), Illinois state representative and farmer
 * Kelly Loeffler (born 1970), United States senator from Georgia and businesswoman

title: Stanford, Illinois


text:
Towanda, Illinois

Towanda is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 431 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Origin
The village was named for Towanda in Bradford County, Pennsylvania. The name means "burial ground" in Nanticoke, an Algonquian language. The land on which Towanda stands was first entered by Charles Badeau who had graduated from Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, in 1840, and was employed as the assistant to the chief engineer of what was then the Alton and Springfield Railroad. Because in Illinois at that time it was illegal for railroads or their officials to establish new towns, much of the land was then transferred to two McLean County real estate developers, Jesse W. Fell (1808 – 1887) and Charles W. Holder (1819 - 1900). These two men laid out the town of Towanda and filed the plat on December 7, 1854. Fell, a native of Chester County in southeastern Pennsylvania, was a widely known land dealer in central Illinois who played a major role in founding many towns in the region, including Clinton, Dwight, Normal, and Pontiac, and who was the driving force behind the establishment of the school that would become Illinois State University. Holder was linked with Fell in many of his town founding schemes including Normal, Illinois, and Larchwood in Lyon County, Iowa; the McLean County town of Holder is named in his honor. Fell's association with the railroad goes back to the time when it was surveyed. On at least two occasions he was able to alter the path of the railroad to suit his own interests: organizing a bend in the road so it would pass through his town of Normal and making a slight change in the survey so it would pass through the Livingston County town of Pontiac, where he had interests, rather than the rival town of Richmond. Shortly after Towanda was laid out, most of the land was back in the hands of the railroad's land agent, English-born Charles Roadnight (1814-?). Roadnight built the first warehouse in Towanda; he settled in Bloomington, had a farm in Dwight, and in 1858 later became treasurer of what was then the Chicago and Alton Railroad.

Original design
Central Illinois towns of the 1830s, such as Bloomington, Lexington, Leroy and Pontiac, were usually built around a central square. In contrast, most towns of the 1850s, like Towanda, were oriented toward the railroad tracks. In the case of Towanda a diagonal main street was established parallel to the railroad, with the main building lots on only one side; the effect was to have the commercial establishments look across the street toward the tracks. This was a common design in newly established towns along the Chicago and Alton Railroad and may be found, with slight variations, in places like Dwight, Gardner, Odell and McLean; Fell's town of Normal, established at the same time as Towanda, was to have had exactly the same arrangement; except that in Normal, the original street paralleling the railroad quickly lost its importance to the reverse side of the block. This standard town plan often left town designers with odd triangular pieces of land, where the diagonal street met with other streets which were aligned north–south or east–west. These triangles are often still in public hands. In the case of Towanda, Fell gave each of two triangular areas, one on either side of the tracks, to the town. On the original deed they were given the name "plaza", and both have always served the city as parks.

Development
Alex Warren built the first residence in the new town and James Alexander the first warehouse. These were soon followed by Wesley Bishop's grocery and Frank Henderson's dry goods store. The largest building was a two-story structure built by Charles Roadnight, which was 50 by; the first floor was used for stores and the second as a meeting room. It burned about 1900. In 1873–1874, wooden sidewalks were being built, followed by brick sidewalks in 1891 and concrete walkways in 1916. The town was officially incorporated in 1870. The first jail was built in the North Park and replaced at least once; the structure can not have been very substantial because in 1901 the town fathers were forced to appoint a committee to inquire into what had happened to the jail. Perhaps the most exciting event in the town's history was the attack on the Buena Vista Tavern. A group of local women took exception to the amount of money their menfolk were spending on whiskey. They assembled at the hardware store where they were issued hatchets. They then marched into the Buena Vista smashing bottles, threatening the barman, and hurling whatever they could find through the tavern windows. Each of the women was fined one dollar.

Early views
A series of photographs taken in the 1870s give a striking view of early Towanda town. They show a town crisscrossed with fences and looking rather like the set for a western movie. Cattle and hogs were driven into town at night and penned before shipping on the railroad. Houses are carefully fenced to protect gardens from stray livestock. The majority of the homes are wooden I-cottages: single story, or story-and-a-half, wood frame dwellings with a symmetrical façade. There are some modest two-story structures. Along the railroad, long rail corn crib may be seen. The simple board-and-batten railroad station is clearly visible. Perhaps the most striking structure is a stone tank house topped with a windmill.

Twentieth century
Towanda has been plagued with fires. In 1905, a large part of the downtown area burned, and in 1917 the original railroad station went up in flames. However, there was also progress. In 1901, telephone service began, and in 1937 Main Street was paved. Still, Towanda remained in the shadow of its larger neighbors to the south, Normal and Bloomington, and was always smaller than Lexington, the next town north on the stagecoach road and the Chicago and Alton Railroad line, which generally paralleled each other between Chicago and Springfield.

Trains were essential to the development of the town, but traffic was never heavy; in 1887, only one southbound and one northbound freight stopped at Towanda. Passenger service stopped altogether in the 1940s. Most travel had long since been replaced by automobile and truck traffic along the roads that paralleled the Chicago and Alton rail line: State Bond Route 4 during the 1910s, U.S. Route 66 from 1926 through the early 1970s, and Interstate 55 from the 1970s onward. In 1955, U.S. Route 66 was locally widened to four lanes, as a partially divided highway with a grass median between the northbound and southbound lanes along much of its stretch. The former southbound lanes of Route 66 are now long disused, whereas the northbound roadbed is still in use as a two-lane local highway and the current path of Historic U.S. Route 66 in Illinois, now known as the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway, a designated National Scenic Byway.

When in 1977 the construction of Interstate 55 detoured U.S. Route 66 in a gradual curve around the northwest side of Towanda, a $3 1/4$-mile section of southbound Route 66 was closed off to motorized traffic and abandoned. Between 1998 and 2000, a not-for-profit student and community project created the Towanda Historic Route 66 Parkway, also known as the Historic Route 66 Trail (as seen on Google Maps), on a 2.5 mi stretch of the old disused Route 66 roadway between the south end of Towanda and a point about 3 mi northeast, where Interstate 55 swings east to meet up with and once again closely parallel Historic Route 66. The parkway, an ongoing project that preserved the Money Creek Bridge north of town on Route 66 and begins about 750 ft northeast of the bridge, also includes an outdoor educational exhibit on the history of Route 66 called "Historic Route 66: A Geographic Journey" that details the path of Route 66 through all eight states. This exhibit extends from the intersection of Historic Route 66 and Jefferson Street near the I-55 interchange to a point at the southern tip of town just past an unnamed pond off Historic Route 66 (at 40.557656, -88.908876), where there is a rest stop and parking area for catfish and bass fishing in the pond. The stretch of the parkway where the exhibit was erected is a subset of the overall Towanda Trail, which includes a three-flagpole garden on the northeast corner of Jefferson Street and Route 66, several picnic areas along the length of the trail, scattered birdhouses, and intermittent landscaped areas extending from the Money Creek Bridge to the south end of the pond. The trail and parkway exhibit, now a popular local tourist stop on Historic Route 66, continue to be improved on an irregular basis, and the progress of improvements is detailed on the project website.

Twenty-first century
In 2006, the Towanda Area Historical Society partnered with the Towanda District Library to obtain a digital imaging grant from the Illinois State Library for a project entitled "Capturing Towanda's Past for Eternity." An exceptional collection of scanned documents and images were added to the project's website as a result.

Geography
Towanda is in central McLean County, 6 mi northeast of Normal and 8 mi northeast of Bloomington, the McLean county seat. Interstate 55 crosses the northwest corner of the village, with access from Exit 171. I-55 leads northeast 124 mi to Chicago and southwest past Normal and Bloomington 75 mi to Springfield.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Towanda has a total area of 0.74 sqmi, all land. A tributary of Money Creek flows to the northeast through the village. Money Creek is a northwest-flowing tributary of the Mackinaw River, part of the Illinois River watershed.

Climate
The village gets 37 in of rain per year. The U.S. average is 37. Snowfall is 24 in. The average U.S. city gets 25 in of snow per year. The number of days with any measurable precipitation in the village is 104.

On average, there are 190 sunny days per year in Towanda. The July high is around 87 degrees. The January low is 16. Towanda-area historical tornado activity is slightly above Illinois state average. It is 114% greater than the overall U.S. average.

On May 5, 1977, there was an F4 (max. wind speeds 207-260 mph) tornado 22.2 mi away from the Towanda village center that injured 2 people and caused between $500,000 and $5,000,000 in damages.

On July 7, 2004, there was an F4 tornado 23.9 mi away from the village center that injured 3 people.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 493 people, 199 households, and 146 families residing in the village. The population density was 709.0 PD/sqmi. There were 207 housing units at an average density of 114.2 inhabitants/km2 (297.7 inhabitants/mi2). The racial makeup of the village was 98.58% White, 0.41% African American, 0.41% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Also, 0.41% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 199 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a woman whose husband did not live with her, and 26.6% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the village, the age distribution of the population showed 24.1% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 33.7% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 12.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $41,705, and the median income for a family was $51,875. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $30,078 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,702, and 5.3% of the population and only 2.6% of families had an annual income below the federal poverty line. Of the total number of people living in poverty, 8.1% were under the age of 18, and 3.4% were age 65 or older.

Civics
Towanda has a grain silo complex, local library, and Towanda Elementary School of McLean County Unit District Number 5.

Each July 3, Towanda has a spaghetti supper in the evening and a street dance at night. People from Towanda and surrounding areas come out for the festivities.

On July 4, a parade goes through Towanda and is considered a big event in McLean County. Individuals and families from around Bloomington, Normal, Hudson, Lexington and elsewhere come out for it. Additionally, there is a flea market and the two parks where vendors come from all around the United States to sell their antiques and other items.

Notable people
The most famous person from Towanda was singer-musician-TV personality Bonnie Lou (born Mary Joan Kath), who gained international popularity in the 1950s with rock and roll and country hits. She became a popular TV host and performer in Cincinnati until her retirement in the 1970s.

Wilbur Cash (1887–1956), farmer, businessman, and politician, lived in Towanda.

title: Towanda, Illinois


text:
Athens, Illinois

Athens  is a city in Menard County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,977 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Athens is in southeastern Menard County, 9 mi southeast of Petersburg, the county seat. Illinois Routes 29 and 123 pass together through the northeast side of the city. IL 29 leads south 14 mi to Springfield, the state capital, and north 18 mi to Mason City, while IL 123 leads east 8 mi to Williamsville and northwest to Petersburg.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city of Athens has an area of 1.68 sqmi, all land. Town Branch flows westward across the southwest corner of the city, leading 2 mi to the Sangamon River, part of the Illinois River watershed.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 1,726 people in 695 households, including 462 families, in the city. The population density was 1,175.4 PD/sqmi. There were 740 housing units at an average density of 504.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.26% White, 0.41% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.46% from other races, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27%.

Of the 695 households 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.1% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.5% of households were one person and 11.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.10.

The age distribution was 28.6% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.

The median household income was $41,208 and the median family income was $50,272. Males had a median income of $32,375 versus $24,519 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,981. About 5.4% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.

Recreation
Athens is 4 mi north of the north end of the Sangamon Valley Trail right-of-way. The trail includes a bridge over the Sangamon River and Cantrall Creek. Athens has a sports complex that is used for baseball, softball, and football games as well as track & field and cross country events. Athens community members can visit the Athens Community Park that includes baseball diamonds, outdoor basketball hoops, and a football field for youth players.

Notable people

 * Jack Brittin, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies
 * Alice Sudduth Byerly (1855–1904), temperance activist
 * H. V. Porter, educator, coach, and member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; principal of Athens High School from 1919 to 1927

title: Athens, Illinois


text:
Greenview, Illinois

Greenview is a village in Menard County, Illinois, United States. The population was 745 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Greenview was laid out in October 1857 by Menard County pioneer Willian Engle, on land originally owned by Charles Montgomery in section 23 of township 19 north, range 6 west of the Third Principal Meridian. It was named after William G. Greene of nearby Tallula Precinct, because he convinced the railroad to come through the town: located on the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, Greenview was incorporated by a special act of the Illinois General Assembly on May 6, 1869, then re-incorporated under the new general municipal laws of the state on March 7, 1877.

Geography
Greenview is located in northeastern Menard County. Illinois Route 29 passes through the east side of the village, leading north 9 mi to Mason City and south the same distance to Athens. Springfield, the state capital, is 23 mi to the south via IL 29, and Petersburg, the Menard county seat, is 10 mi to the southwest via local roads.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Greenview has a total area of 0.86 sqmi, all land. Grove Creek passes through the east side of the village, flowing north toward Salt Creek and the Sangamon River, part of the Illinois River watershed.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 862 people, 366 households, and 252 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,014.2 PD/sqmi. There were 397 housing units at an average density of 467.1 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.65% White, 0.12% African American, 0.12% Native American and 0.12% Asian. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.12% of the population.

There were 366 households, out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $39,196, and the median income for a family was $49,125. Males had a median income of $30,455 versus $24,583 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,050. About 4.0% of families and 7.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

title: Greenview, Illinois


text:
Oakford, Illinois

Oakford is a village in Menard County, Illinois, United States. The population was 234 at the 2020 census, down from 286 in 2010. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography
Oakford is located in northwestern Menard County and Illinois Route 97 runs through the east side of the village, leading southeast 9 mi to Petersburg, the county seat, and northwest 15 mi to Havana.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Oakford has a total area of 0.25 sqmi, all land. The village sits at the base of bluffs marking the southern edge of the Sangamon River valley.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 309 people, 131 households, and 86 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,249.3 PD/sqmi. There were 140 housing units at an average density of 566.0 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.38% White, 0.32% African American, 0.32% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.65% from two or more races.

There were 131 households, out of which 35.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 27.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 16.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.5 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $37,857, and the median income for a family was $38,333. Males had a median income of $31,591 versus $26,125 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,309. About 14.8% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under the age of eighteen and none of those 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Sam Dailey, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies
 * Floyd Davis, co-winner of the 1941 Indianapolis 500, born in Oakford

title: Oakford, Illinois


text:
Petersburg, Illinois

Petersburg is a city in and the county seat of Menard County, Illinois, United States, on the bluffs and part of the floodplain overlooking the Sangamon River. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,258 at the 2020 census, nearly unchanged from 2010. Petersburg is located approximately 2 mi north of New Salem, the original location where Abraham Lincoln first settled, as he started his career.

History
The town began as a planned community organized by real estate speculators Peter Lukins (for whom the town is named) and George Warburton. Abraham Lincoln worked as the surveyor who first mapped, measured and help to divide lots on the land. Petersburg quickly grew, due to an advantageous placement on the river, becoming the county seat in the 1830s and eventually drawing off the population of New Salem, which was abandoned in 1840.

Many of the lush Victorian-era homes built by early wealthy inhabitants still stand on the bluffs of Petersburg. The town itself takes great pride in these structures, which has even preserved some of the original cobblestone streets to complement the classical architecture.

Economy
Petersburg began as a trade center for agriculture in the region and a shipping point, where a railhead met a point in the Sangamon River that was both navigable and crossable. In recent decades, the depth of the Sangamon River at Petersburg has become too shallow for navigation, due to silting from local farming and from the diverting of natural runoff into artificial reservoirs such as Lake Petersburg and Lake Springfield.

The economy of the area is still derived primarily from agriculture, particularly in corn production. Tourism is a steady (if small) industry, and the town caters to Lincoln enthusiasts as a gateway to New Salem and in housing some relics of Lincoln's early life in Illinois. There are also a growing number of bed and breakfast inns, many of which are located in restored Victorian homes. Recent developments have also turned the town into a bedroom community for the state capital of Springfield, Illinois, which is 23 mi to the southeast.

Notable people

 * William Taylor Davidson, newspaper editor; born in Petersburg
 * Bill Krieg, utility player for the Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies, Chicago White Stockings, Brooklyn Grays and Washington Nationals; born in Petersburg
 * Harris Laning, admiral, United States Navy; born in Petersburg
 * Edgar Lee Masters, lawyer and author (Spoon River Anthology); buried in Petersburg's Oakland Cemetery; boyhood home is still preserved and open for visits
 * William B. McKinley, United States senator from Illinois
 * Ann Rutledge, allegedly Abraham Lincoln's first love; buried in Petersburg's Oakland Cemetery

Geography
Petersburg is located in central Menard County and Illinois Route 97 passes through the city on Sixth Street, leading northwest 25 mi to Havana and southeast 23 mi to Springfield, the state capital. Illinois Route 123 enters Petersburg from the south with IL 97 but leaves to the east on East Sangamon Street. IL 123 leads east and south 11 mi to Athens, and southwest 14 mi to Illinois Route 125 near Pleasant Plains.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Petersburg has a total area of 1.56 sqmi, all land.

The bulk of Petersburg lies on the bluffs overlooking the Sangamon River, though a portion of it, including the downtown/courthouse square area, is technically on the floodplain of the river. The Sangamon flows north, then west to the Illinois River at Beardstown.

The town itself is moderately forested, a stark contrast to the flat plains around it. The trees are mostly deciduous maples and oaks, and New Salem State Park is home to a sizable stand of old-growth forest.

Natural disasters
Petersburg was damaged by an earthquake originating in the New Madrid Fault on July 18, 1909. The earthquake was felt over most of central Illinois, but Petersburg suffered the most widespread damage.

The portions of Petersburg located below the bluffs suffered major flood damage during the intense flood season of 1993. The city and Menard County have since undertaken a campaign to buy and eliminate the low-income housing located in the most flood-prone areas, creating a small series of parks near the Sangamon River.

Shortly after 12:30pm on December 31, 2010, an estimated 40 homes were damaged by a tornado, with 22 of the homes listed as uninhabitable by local officials. The tornado was caused by springlike weather during which the temperature was in the 60s across central Illinois.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,299 people, 997 households, and 612 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,705.7 PD/sqmi. There were 1,076 housing units at an average density of 798.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 97.78% White, 1.09% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 997 households, out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 35.7% 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 2.23 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.4% from 25 to 44, 20.7% 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 83.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $34,688, and the median income for a family was $42,500. Males had a median income of $32,292 versus $22,396 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,718. About 13.8% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over.

Media
Petersburg is served by WCIA, WICS, WAND, WSEC, WRSP television stations. Petersburg is also served by The State Journal-Register newspaper in Springfield and The Petersburg Observer.

Points of interest

 * The Edgar Lee Masters Home is located on the corner of Eighth and Jackson streets in Petersburg. Open from 10:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Memorial Day through Labor Day.
 * Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site: This park, with its log cabin village, is situated 2 mi south of Petersburg. This is where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1831 to 1837. Along with the rebuilt cabins, the park also boasts a historical center and an outdoor theater. It now has more than one-half million visitors each year.
 * Starhill Forest Arboretum is 7 mi southeast of Petersburg.

title: Petersburg, Illinois


text:
Tallula, Illinois

Tallula is a village in Menard County, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1857 by William G. Greene. The population was 434 at the 2020 census, down from 488 in 2010. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
William G. Greene, J. G. Greene, Richard Yates, T. Baker, and W. G. Spears laid out Tallula in late 1857. The name of "Tallula" was said to be an Indian word. The History of Menard & Mason Counties, Illinois credits Spears with the name, and notes that it was said to mean "dropping water", but nothing in the area is especially related to dropping water; the county tourist bureau claims that William G. Greene named the town, that it means "trickling water", and that it is related to "abundant springs in the area".

Tallula was incorporated as a village under Illinois' general municipal law in 1871 or 1872. William Greene and physician J. F. Wilson established the local bank in May 1877.

Geography
Tallula is located in southwestern Menard County at 39.94417°N, -89.9375°W (39.944197, -89.937610). It is at the center of Tallula Precinct. Illinois Route 123 passes through the southeast side of the village, leading northeast 10 mi to Petersburg, the county seat, and south 4.5 mi to Illinois Route 125 between Pleasant Plains and Ashland.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Tallula has a total area of 0.53 sqmi, all land. The village is drained to the north by a tributary of Clary Creek, a north-flowing tributary of the Sangamon River and part of the Illinois River watershed.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 638 people, 238 households, and 175 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,207.4 PD/sqmi. There were 253 housing units at an average density of 478.8 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.06% White, 0.16% Native American, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.

There were 238 households, out of which 37.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.1% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.1% were non-families. 21.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.07.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.8% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $38,269, and the median income for a family was $38,864. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $19,750 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,088. About 12.6% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 3.6% of those age 65 or over.

title: Tallula, Illinois


text:
Aledo, Illinois

Aledo is a city in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,633 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Mercer County.

History
Aledo was established in the 1850s when the railroad was extended to that point. It was briefly named "DeSoto", after Hernando de Soto, until the discovery of an identically named village in Jackson County. Development began in the 1850s, and the oldest surviving buildings date from the following decade. A post office has been in operation at Aledo since September 24, 1856. In 1857, the county seat was moved to Aledo from Millersburg after a countywide referendum. Aledo was incorporated on August 15, 1863. In the 1950s, the first Tastee-Freez in the United States was built in the downtown. The Downtown Aledo Historic District was established in 2016, with 75 contributing historic buildings in the downtown area.

Geography
Aledo is located in central Mercer County at 41.20028°N, -90.75°W (41.200172, -90.749956). Illinois Route 17 passes through the city center on Third Street, leading east 8 mi to Viola and west 14 mi to New Boston on the Mississippi River. Illinois Route 94 follows IL 17 along Southeast Third Street turns south at the city center onto South College Avenue. IL 94 leads south-southwest 29 mi to Biggsville and northeast 22 mi to U.S. Route 67 on the southern outskirts of the Quad Cities.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Aledo has a total area of 2.36 sqmi, of which 0.012 sqmi, or 0.51%, are water. The city sits on high ground that drains north to the Edwards River, a westward-flowing direct tributary of the Mississippi, and south to Pike Run, a tributary of Pope Creek, which flows to the Mississippi at Keithsburg.

Demographics
At the 2010 census, there were 3,640 people, 1,568 households and 947 families residing in the city. The racial make-up of the city was 98.5% (3,586) white, 0.6% (22) African American, 0.0% (1) Native American, 0.3% (12) Asian, 0.1% (4) from other races and 0.4% (15) from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% (45) of the population.

There were 1,568 households, of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living in them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present and 39.6% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.84.

The male population made up 47.5% (1,728), the female population made up 52.5% (1,912). 6.3% (229) of the population were under 5 years, 17.1% (622) from 5 to 19 years, 10.3% (374) from 20 to 29 years, 10.2% (368) from 30 to 39, 12.5% (453) from 40 to 49, 12.9% (472) from 50 to 59;, 12.1% (441) from 60 to 69, 8.2% (296) from 70 to 79 and 10.6% (385) were 80 years and over. The median age was 45.8 years.

The 2009-2013 American Community Survey estimated the median household income in 2013 to be $39,424 and the median family income to be $56,546. Full-time, year-round male workers were estimated to have a median income of $44,435 and females $30,357. The per capita income was $21,373. About 15.0% of families and 18.4% of the population were estimated to be below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

The American Community Survey estimated that in 2013 there were 1,740 civilians 16 years and over employed. Of those, 33.7% were estimated to be employed in educational services, health care or social assistance, 14.3% in manufacturing, 10.0% in construction, 8.4% in retail trade, 6.8% in professional, scientific, management, administrative or waste management services, 6.1% in finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, 4.8% in arts, entertainment, recreation, accommodation or food services and the remaining 15.9% in other trades, including agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting, mining, wholesale trade, transportation and warehousing, utilities, information, public administration and other services.

Notable people

 * Gertrude Abercrombie, surrealist painter
 * Suzy Bogguss, country and western singer
 * Oscar E. Carlstrom, Illinois aAttorney general
 * Herschel L. Carnahan, 30th lieutenant governor of California
 * Dora Doxey, tried for murder in 1910 and found not guilty
 * Peaches Graham, Major League Baseball catcher
 * Doris Emrick Lee, artist
 * Frank Lewis Marsh, educator and creationist
 * Dewey McDougal, Major League Baseball pitcher
 * Margo Price, country singer-songwriter
 * Guy C. Scott, chief justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and mayor of Aledo
 * Judson Welliver, presidential speech writer

Education
Aledo was the home to William & Vashti College (1908–1917) — the campus/buildings were purchased and used by the Roosevelt Military Academy from 1924 to 1973. The Administration Building was torn down, and the spot was used to construct an assisted living facility. The remaining two buildings (Niles Hall and North Hall) are unused. William & Vashti College was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference from 1910 to 1917.

The High School Mascot used to be the Aledo Green Dragons. School colors were Forest Green and White. The Class of 2006 had 71 students, which is about an average class size.

Mercer County High School offers a variety of course curriculum in the sciences, math, literature, social sciences, and the arts. The school has a concert band, jazz band, marching band, concert choir, and swing choir.

The school also offers a variety of athletics including volleyball, football, both men and women's golf, men and women's basketball, wrestling, track and field, softball, baseball, and cross country. Some extracurricular activities that students can become involved in are scholastic bowl, football, basketball, pom poms, cheerleading, flags, majorettes, and musicals.

From 1915 to 2009, Aledo High School competed in boys football. They qualified for the state tournament on 17 occasions since the tournament began in 1974. From 1998 to 2006, Aledo High School has reached the finals of five IHSA boys' football championship tournaments. Of those five, the school won three times.

Aledo School District #201 and Westmer School District #203 have consolidated since the 2009–2010 school year. The consolidation was voted upon by both school boards and was on the ballot for the 2008 election. The measure passed by a 76% margin.

The new consolidated district is Mercer County District #404 and the new mascot adopted by popular vote in early 2009 is the Mercer County Golden Eagles. School colors changed to navy blue and vegas gold. The Class of 2010 had over 120 students, well above the usual average.

Culture and media
Aledo hosts two annual festivals, the Rhubarb Fest and Antique Days. The Rhubarb Festival, which is held every June in the city downtown, offers a variety of rhubarb-related activities, ranging from rhubarb pie sales to free rhubarb seed distributions. The festival additionally offers other crafts and forms of entertainment and music; it has been undertaken every year since 1991. The city of Aledo's Antique Days festivals likewise occur annually in the month of September, and includes a citywide food festival, music from local residents and the high school music departments, and sports competitions among communities in the area.

Aledo has its own radio station, WRMJ-FM. WRMJ features country music along with live sports, local news and local programming. It broadcasts on a frequency of 102.3 MHz from a tower west of Aledo. The radio station serves most of Mercer County, and was founded in 1979. Mercer County's weekly newspaper, The Times Record, is based in Aledo and is owned by Gannett. National Communications Magazine, a publication for radio hobbyists, moved its operations from Ohio to Aledo in 2014 after being acquired by a local resident.

title: Aledo, Illinois


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Alexis, Illinois

Alexis is a village in Mercer and Warren counties in Illinois, United States. The population was 793 at the 2020 census.

The Mercer County portion is part of the Davenport–Moline–Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History
Alexis was originally called Alexandria or Alexandria Station, and under the latter names was laid out in 1870 when the railroad was extended to that point. After learning of another Illinois town named Alexander, the founders wanted a new name. Around this time, Grand Duke Alexis was visiting the country, after whom the town was renamed.

Geography
Alexis is located on the border between Warren and Mercer counties. Approximately four north-south blocks of the village are in Warren County, while two blocks north to south are in Mercer County. There are approximately six blocks measuring east to west in the village. In the 2000 census, 499 of Alexis' 863 residents (57.8%) lived in Warren County and 364 (42.2%) lived in Mercer County.

Alexis is 14 mi northeast of Monmouth, the Warren County seat, and 19 mi southeast of Aledo, the Mercer County seat.

According to the 2010 census, Alexis has a total area of 0.47 sqmi, all land. Most of the village drains south to a tributary of Middle Henderson Creek, a west-flowing tributary of Henderson Creek, which continues west to the Mississippi River south of Oquawka. The northernmost part of the village drains north to Toms Creek, another tributary of Middle Henderson Creek.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 863 people, 361 households, and 246 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,778.6 PD/sqmi. There were 383 housing units at an average density of 789.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.65% White, 0.12% from other races, and 0.23% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.20% of the population.

There were 361 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 6.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 28.8% 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 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.5% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $36,705, and the median income for a family was $46,364. Males had a median income of $32,419 versus $19,000 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,059. About 4.0% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.0% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over.

Economy
Alexis Fire Equipment, a manufacturer of fire engines and fire fighting related equipment, is the village's largest employer.

Law enforcement

 * Alexis Police Department
 * Mercer County Sheriff's Office
 * Warren County Sheriff's Office

title: Alexis, Illinois


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Joy, Illinois

Joy is a village in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 372 as of the 2020 census.

The village was founded in 1869 and named after the president of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, J. F. Joy.

Geography
Joy is located in western Mercer County at 41.19694°N, -90.87972°W (41.196923, -90.879702). Illinois Route 17 passes through the village on Center Street, leading east 7 mi to Aledo, the county seat, and west the same distance to its terminus in New Boston, on the Mississippi River.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Joy has a total area of 0.43 sqmi, all land. The village drains east to a north-flowing tributary of the Edwards River, a west-flowing tributary of the Mississippi River; and west to headwaters of the Mud River, part of the Pope Creek watershed flowing southwest to the Mississippi.

Demographics
At the 2000 census, there were 373 people, 156 households and 104 families residing in the village. The population density was 888.3 PD/sqmi. There were 167 housing units at an average density of 397.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.46% White, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.

There were 156 households, of which 32.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.3% were non-families. 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.96.

26.5% of the population were under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median household income was $36,625 and the median family income was $39,722. Males had a median income of $32,232 versus $25,500 for females. The per capita income was $14,201. About 12.7% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.9% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.

Schools
Mercer County Junior High School is located in Joy, in the building that once housed the now defunct Westmer High School.

title: Joy, Illinois


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Keithsburg, Illinois

Keithsburg is a city in Mercer County, Illinois, United States, on the Mississippi River. The population was 550 at the 2020 census, down from 609 in 2010. It was named for Robert Keith, a pioneer settler. Due to a flood in 1993, there isn’t much to do in Keithsburg. Some of the only things that are still in use today include, a bar/restaurant named “The Eagles Nest”, a gas station called “Casey’s”, and one or two playgrounds.

Geography
Keithsburg is located in southwestern Mercer County at 41.1°N, -90.93722°W (41.100020, -90.937293). It is sited on the east bank of the Mississippi River, downstream from the inlet of Pope Creek.

Keithsburg is 16 mi southwest of Aledo, the Mercer county seat, and 27 mi northwest of Monmouth. The closest highway crossings of the Mississippi are 26 mi to the south, at Burlington, Iowa, and 25 mi to the north, at Muscatine, Iowa.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Keithsburg has a total area of 3.181 sqmi, of which 2.56 sqmi are land and 0.621 sqmi, or 19.53%, are water.

The Keithsburg Division of the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge Complex lies north of Keithsburg.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 714 people, 278 households, and 199 families residing in the city. The population density was 276.9 PD/sqmi. There were 306 housing units at an average density of 118.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 98.32% White, 0.28% Native American, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.

There were 2780 households, out of which 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.2% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the city population was spread out, with 26.9% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $40,781. Males had a median income of $27,000 versus $16,719 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,008. About 10.3% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

 * Parke Wilson, catcher for the New York Giants; born in Keithsburg

Floods
Keithsburg lies next to the Mississippi River. During the Great Flood of 1993, Keithsburg was heavily damaged. The town rebuilt and resumed normal activity. On June 14, 2008, two nearby levees broke, which flooded the town of Keithsburg again.

title: Keithsburg, Illinois


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Matherville, Illinois

Matherville is a village in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 707 at the 2020 census.

Geography
Matherville is located in northeastern Mercer County at 41.26028°N, -90.60583°W (41.260255, -90.605874). It is 5 mi north of Viola and 11 mi northeast of Aledo, the Mercer county seat.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Matherville has a total area of 0.40 sqmi, of which 0.01 sqmi, or 2.01%, are water. The village sits on a hillside which drains to the south toward the Edwards River, a west-flowing tributary of the Mississippi River. Lake Matherville, a small reservoir, is in the northwest corner of the village.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 772 people, 290 households, and 216 families living in the village. The population density was 1,968.7 PD/sqmi. There were 301 housing units at an average density of 767.6 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.45% White, 0.26% Asian, 0.52% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.04%. Of the 290 households 45.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 21.7% of households were one person and 10.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.06. The age distribution was 32.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% 65 or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.6 males. The median household income was $33,438 and the median family income was $39,375. Males had a median income of $37,273 versus $25,179 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,956. About 14.1% of families and 15.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.

Matherville is part of Sherrard Public Library District. Matherville is served locally by the Library District Bookmobile one day a week with a stop at the Old School Park.

title: Matherville, Illinois


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New Boston, Illinois

New Boston is a city in Mercer County, Illinois, United States on the Mississippi River. The population was 613 at the 2020 census, down from 683 in 2010.

History
New Boston was settled in the 1830s by "Yankee" migrants from Massachusetts.

Geography
New Boston is located on the western edge of Mercer County and the state of Illinois at 41.16944°N, -90.99667°W (41.169570, -90.996709). It sits on the east bank of the Mississippi River, at the mouth of Boston Bay and its inflow, Eliza Creek. Across the river is the state of Iowa and the mouth of the Iowa River, while 5 mi upstream on the Mississippi is Lock and Dam No. 17.

Illinois Route 17 has its western terminus in New Boston and leads east 14 mi to Aledo, the Mercer county seat. The closest road crossing of the Mississippi is 19 mi to the north at Muscatine, Iowa.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, New Boston has a total area of 1.40 sqmi, of which 0.94 sqmi are land and 0.46 sqmi, or 32.98%, are water.

Much of the natural area surrounding New Boston is part of the Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge. The river valley at New Boston is surrounded on both sides by gently rolling bluffs interspersed with rich parcels of wetlands that provide critical wildlife habitat, especially for migratory birds.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 632 people, 269 households, and 177 families residing in the city. The population density was 672.6 PD/sqmi. There were 317 housing units at an average density of 337.4 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the city was 99.53% White, 0.16% African-American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.

There were 269 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.3% 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 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,231, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $32,361 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,593. About 6.4% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

 * Henry Asp, Oklahoma lawyer
 * Paul G. Blazer, first president and CEO of Ashland Inc.
 * Robert M. Danford, U.S. Army major general

title: New Boston, Illinois


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North Henderson, Illinois

North Henderson is a village in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 162 at the 2020 census.

Geography
North Henderson is located in southeastern Mercer County at 41.08972°N, -90.47528°W (41.089830, -90.475184). It is 21 mi southeast of Aledo, the county seat, and 14 mi northwest of Galesburg.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, North Henderson has a total area of 0.23 sqmi, all land.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 187 people, 74 households, and 52 families living in the village. The population density was 832.3 PD/sqmi. There were 77 housing units at an average density of 342.7 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07%.

Of the 74 households 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.8% were married couples living together, 13.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 27.0% of households were one person and 10.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.04.

The age distribution was 24.1% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 33.2% from 25 to 44, 19.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median household income was $35,500 and the median family income was $42,500. Males had a median income of $28,958 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income for the village was $16,292. About 5.6% of families and 8.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under the age of eighteen and 15.6% of those sixty five or over.

Notable person

 * Karl Swanson, second baseman for the Chicago White Sox; born in North Henderson

title: North Henderson, Illinois


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Reynolds, Illinois

Reynolds is a village mainly in Rock Island County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 498 at the 2020 census. A small portion on the south side is in Mercer County. The village was founded in 1876.

Geography
Reynolds is located along the southern border of Rock Island County at 41.33028°N, -90.67111°W (41.330181, -90.671148). Perryton Street, the southernmost street in the village, follows the county line, and the village limits include buildings on the south side of the street, in Mercer County.

Illinois Route 94 passes through the village on Main Street, leading north 4 mi to Taylor Ridge and south-southwest 13 mi to Aledo. Rock Island is 15 mi north-northeast of Reynolds.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.37 sqmi, all land. The headwaters of Mill Creek runs through the center of the village, flowing north to the Rock River in Milan.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 508 people, 206 households, and 154 families living in the village. The population density was 1,377.6 PD/sqmi. There were 221 housing units at an average density of 599.3 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 99.80% White, 0.20% from other races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98%.

Of the 206 households 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 19.4% of households were one person and 10.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.76.

The age distribution was 21.9% under the age of 18, 12.2% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median household income was $42,917 and the median family income was $48,333. Males had a median income of $35,208 versus $21,364 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,804. About 8.6% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 1.3% of those age 65 or over.

title: Reynolds, Illinois


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Seaton, Illinois

Seaton is a village in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 214 at the 2020 census.

Geography
Seaton is located in southern Mercer County at 41.10278°N, -90.8°W (41.102702, -90.799871). It is 9 mi south-southwest of Aledo, the county seat, and 7 mi east of Keithsburg.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Seaton has a total area of 1.58 sqmi, all land. Snake Creek flows through the southwest part of the village, leading southeast to North Henderson Creek, part of the Henderson Creek watershed running southwest to the Mississippi River.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 242 people, 88 households, and 69 families residing in the village. The population density was 154.3 PD/sqmi. There were 94 housing units at an average density of 59.9 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 97.11% White and 2.89% African American.

There were 88 households, out of which 34.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.0% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.5% were non-families. 15.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 3.11.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.9% under the age of 18, 4.1% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.1 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $45,694, and the median income for a family was $46,389. Males had a median income of $38,750 versus $15,417 for females. The per capita income for the village was $35,832. About 4.1% of families and 2.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 10.7% of those 65 or over.

title: Seaton, Illinois


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Sherrard, Illinois

Sherrard is a village in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. The population was 692 at the 2020 census.

Geography
Sherrard is located in northeastern Mercer County at 41.31833°N, -90.50528°W (41.318470, -90.505396). It is 20 mi northeast of Aledo, the county seat, and 16 mi south of Rock Island.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Sherrard has a total area of 1.16 sqmi, of which 0.93 sqmi are land and 0.23 sqmi, or 20.0%, are water. The village sits on a flat-topped ridge that drains north toward Mill Creek, a tributary of the Rock River, and south toward Camp Creek, a tributary of the Edwards River. The village limits extend south to include Frye Lake and Karl Lake, reservoirs built in a valley leading toward Camp Creek.

Demographics
At the 2000 census there were 694 people, 271 households, and 201 families living in the village. The population density was 1,658.2 PD/sqmi. There were 276 housing units at an average density of 659.5 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the village was 98.27% White, 0.14% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.14% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59%.

Of the 271 households 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.9% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 22.9% of households were one person and 11.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.99.

The age distribution was 26.1% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 29.5% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 12.7% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.9 males.

The median household income was $47,171 and the median family income was $52,604. Males had a median income of $35,455 versus $21,304 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,967. About 4.6% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.6% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education
Public education is provided by Sherrard Elementary School and Sherrard Junior / Senior High School, home of the Sherrard Tigers. The elementary school is within the village limits, and the junior/senior high school is 2 mi northwest of the village.

Notable people

 * Don Nelson, NBA basketball player for Boston Celtics, NBA basketball coach, University of Iowa basketball All-American
 * Arthur McCandless Wilson (1902–1979), professor of biography and government at Dartmouth College

title: Sherrard, Illinois