Jacksonville, Illinois

Geobox City
name = City of Jacksonville
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = City

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image_size =
image_caption = Civil War monument on the square in downtown Jacksonville
flag_type =


flag_size =
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nickname =
motto =
country = United States
state = Illinois
region_type = County
region = Morgan
district =
part_type =
part_count =
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area_imperial = 10.3
area_land_imperial = 10.1
area_water_imperial = 0.2
area_round = 1
area_water_percentage = auto
area_percentage_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 39
lat_m = 43
lat_s = 55
lat_NS = N
long_d = 90
long_m = 14
long_s = 4
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial =
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 18,940
population_density_imperial = 805.5
population_density_round = 1
population_metro =
government = Mayor-Council
established_type =
established = 1825
established1_type =
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established2_type =
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leader_type = Mayor
mayor = Ron Tendick
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code =
postal_code_type = 62650
area_code = 217
area_code_type =
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code2 =
free_type =
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map_size =
map_caption = Location of Jacksonville within Illinois
map_locator = Illinois
map_locator_x =
map_locator_y =
map1 = Map of USA IL.svg
map1_caption = Location of Illinois in the United States
website = http://www.jacksonvilleil.com/

Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County.GR|6

The town was named in 1825 for future president Andrew Jackson, the commander of American forces at the Battle of New Orleans (1815) and presidential hopeful in 1824. [ [http://www.jacksonvilleil.govoffice2.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={A69B0752-CE5B-46E8-8CA9-E297734325BB} City of Jacksonville, Illinois — History of the City] ] Jacksonville was a major stopping point on the historic Underground Railroad. An Annual Civil War reenactment celebration is named for Jacksonville resident U.S. Army General Benjamin Grierson.

Jacksonville is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Morgan and Scott counties.

Geography

Jacksonville is located at coor dms|39|43|55|N|90|14|4|W|city (39.731936, -90.234394).GR|1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 26.8 km² (10.3 mi²). 26.2 km² (10.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.5 km² (0.2 mi²) of it (1.84%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 18,940 people, 7,336 households, and 4,416 families residing in the city. The population density was 721.9/km² (1,869.1/mi²). There were 8,162 housing units at an average density of 311.1/km² (805.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.33% White, 6.66% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.69% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.70% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.54% of the population.

There were 7,336 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,117, and the median income for a family was $45,595. Males had a median income of $31,474 versus $22,615 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,482. About 7.2% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.

Business

The city's daily newspaper, the [http://www.myjournalcourier.com Jacksonville Journal-Courier] , is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Illinois (since 1830).

Jacksonville is the home of [http://www.elibridge.com Eli Bridge Company] , manufacturer of Ferris Wheels and other amusement rides such as the Scrambler. W.E. Sullivan founded the firm with the introduction of his first portable "Big Eli" Wheel on the Jacksonville Square on May 23, 1900.

EMI (formerly Capitol Records), Pactiv, Nestle Beverage Co. and ACH Foods have facilities in Jacksonville.

Education

Jacksonville is somewhat unusual for a city of its size in that it is home to two private four-year colleges, Illinois College and MacMurray College. Illinois College is the second oldest [http://www.ic.edu/aboutus/historic.asp] college in Illinois, founded in 1829 (and the first to grant a degree - 1835) by one of the famous Yale Bands -- students from Yale University that traveled westward to found new colleges. It briefly served as the state's first medical school from 1843-1848, and became co-educational in 1903. Beecher Hall, the first college building erected in Illinois, is named after its first president, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Beecher] Edward Beecher, sibling to Henry Ward Beecher and Harriet Beecher Stowe.

Jacksonville is also home to four state-run institutions including the [http://www.morgan.k12.il.us/ISD/ Illinois School for the Deaf] , the [http://www.isvi.net/ Illinois School for the Visually Impaired] , the Jacksonville Developmental Center (formerly a state hospital), and the Jacksonville Correctional Center. Lincoln Land Community College's [http://llcc.edu/Default.aspx?alias=llcc.edu/wrec Western Region Education Center] is also located in Jacksonville.

Culture

In 2005, Sufjan Stevens released "Illinois", a concept album referencing various people and places associated with the state. Its fifth track, "Jacksonville," references various landmarks in the town, such as Nichols Park. It also contains a story about A. W. Jackson, a "colored preacher" urban legend supposes the town is named after, as well as President Andrew Jackson (President from 1829-1837) after whom the town's officials say it is actually named. [http://www.jacksonvilleil.com/history]

Cultural offerings include the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Theatre Guild, the Art Association of Jacksonville and its David Strawn Art Gallery, as well as many public events and activities hosted by MacMurray College and Illinois College. Recent additions to the cultural scene include the Imagine Foundation and the Noir and Eclectic art galleries, both located in the city's revitalized downtown.

Notable residents

* Illinois Governor Joseph Duncan (1794–1844).
* Classical scholar, botanist, and political activist Jonathan Baldwin Turner (1805-1899).
*Richard Yates, (1818-1873), a prominent Republican politician who served as United States Congressman from 1851-1855, Governor of Illinois from 1861-1865, and United States Senator from 1865-1871.
* Civil War General Benjamin Grierson (1826-1911).
* Father of Modern Dentistry Dr. Greene Vardiman Black, (1836-1915), first to use Nitrous-Oxide gas "for extracting teeth without pain"
* U.S. Postmaster General J. Edward Day (1914-1996).
* Pro golfer Jerry Barber (1916-1994).
* U.S. Congressman Paul Findley (1921 - ).
*Milton McPike (1939-2008), [http://www.madison.com/tct/mad/topstories/279540] , Educator, NFL Player, Community Leader
* Pro boxer Ken Norton (1943- ), who broke Mohammed Ali's jaw in an epic heavyweight fight.
* Missouri State Treasurer Nancy Farmer (1956- ).
* Mary Louise Preis, (1941- ) former member of Maryland House of Delegates.
* J. F. Powers (1917-1999), Roman Catholic short-story author and novelist, was born in Jacksonville.
* Frank Reaugh (1860-1945), Western artist from Texas, was born in Jacksonville.
* Wilson "Bob" Tucker (1914-2006), a mystery, adventure, and science fiction writer, lived in Jacksonville for many years. [ [http://jophan.org/mimosa/m28/bobs.htm "The Two Bobs: An Interview with Bob Bloch and Bob Tucker", "Mimosa", issue 28, June 2002] ]
*Lawyer, statesman and politician William Jennings Bryan (1860-1925), graduated from Illinois College and practiced law in Jacksonville. He later ran for president of the U.S. and is perhaps most well-known for his involvement in the famous "Scopes Monkey Trial." The home Bryan built in Jacksonville still stands at 1225 W. College Ave. and is owned and treasured by a prominent local historian and his family.
* Pro baseball pitcher Luther Haden "Dummy" Taylor (1875-1958), died in Jacksonville where he had been a coach, teacher, and administrator at the Illinois School for the Deaf.
* Pro baseball pitcher Henry Eli "Harry" Staley (1866-1910), born in Jacksonville.
* Olympic water polo bronze medalist F. Calvert "Cal" Strong (1907-2001), born in Jacksonville.
* U.S. Senator, presidential candidate Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861), settled in Jacksonville and was admitted to the bar there.

References

Further reading

* Don H. Doyle, "The Social Order of a Frontier Community: Jacksonville, Illinois, 1825-70", 1978
* Vernon R.Q. Fernandes, "The People of Jacksonville--A Pictorial History", 1991
* Vernon R.Q. Fernandes, "Faces & places--a Morgan County family album", 1995
* Vernon R.Q. Fernandes, "Passavant Area Hospital : 125 years of caring", 1999

External links

* [http://www.jacksonvilleil.com/ Official Jacksonville, Illinois web site]