Edwardsville is a city in
Madison CountyMadison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. Madison County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area. As of 2006, the population was 265,303. The county seat is Edwardsville, Illinois. The largest town in the county is Alton.- Geography :...
,
IllinoisIllinois , the 21st state admitted to the United States of America, is the most populous and demographically diverse Midwestern state and the fifth most populous state in the nation...
,
United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2005 census, the city population was 24,047. It is the
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
of
Madison CountyMadison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. Madison County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area. As of 2006, the population was 265,303. The county seat is Edwardsville, Illinois. The largest town in the county is Alton.- Geography :...
and is the third oldest city in the State of Illinois. The city was named in honor of
Ninian EdwardsNinian Edwards was a U.S. political figure.Born in 1775 in Montgomery County, Maryland, Edwards served as the only governor of Illinois Territory between 1809 and 1818 and again as governor of Illinois from 1826 until 1830. He served as a U.S...
, Governor of Illinois.
Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville, formally Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville began as an outgrowth of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois about 20 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is the...
, the
Edwardsville Journal, the
Madison County RecordThe Madison County Record is a weekly newspaper based in Edwardsville, Illinois and focuses its attention exclusively to the courts of Madison and St. Clair Counties in southern Illinois....
and the
Edwardsville IntelligencerThe Edwardsville Intelligencer is a daily newspaper in Illinois based in Edwardsville. The paper is circulated in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and nearby rural areas.It was founded in 1862 and was acquired by The Hearst Corporation in 1979....
are located here. It is also home to some of the areas biggest construction companies including: Thiems Construction, Phelps Construction, Dean & Sons Construction, and Bonne Terre Construction.
Edwardsville is a part of Southern Illinois, the
Metro-EastMetro-East is a region in Illinois that comprises the eastern suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It encompasses five Southern Illinois counties in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region's largest city is Belleville. The Metro-East is the second largest urban area in...
region, and the
St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical AreaGreater St. Louis is the common name of the St. Louis-St.Charles-Farmington, MO-IL CSA, also known as Metro St. Louis. Greater St. Louis is the...
. It neighbors with
Glen Carbon, IllinoisGlen Carbon is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States, 23 km north of St. Louis. The population was 10,425 at the 2000 census.-History:...
. It is part of the Edwardsville School District No. 7, which also includes the villages of
Glen CarbonGlen Carbon is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States, 23 km north of St. Louis. The population was 10,425 at the 2000 census.-History:...
,
HamelHamel is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 570 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hamel is located at ....
and Moro, as well as the
townshipA township is a settlement which has the status and powers of a unit of local government. Specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country.-Uses of the term:...
s areas around them.
Culture
- Edwardsville Arts Center: The Edwardsville Arts Center is inspiring the lives of children and the creative spirit of adults through art classes, art exhibits and cultural events. Visit the Edwardsville Arts Center for current art classes information and a calendar of art exhibits and events.
- Arts in the Park: held at the Edwardsville's City Park during the summer months, "Arts in the Park" consists of Friday night concerts featuring an array of music concerts and art classes for children on Saturday mornings.
- Edwardsville Municipal Band: For more than 120 years, the Edwardsville Municipal Band has played summer concerts every Thursday night at 8 pm in the City Park. The concerts are an Edwardsville tradition and are attended each week by hundreds.
- Edwardsville Children's Museum: Located in the former Leclaire Academy, this interactive playground for the mind and body is educational, enriching and entertaining.
- ArtEAST: Explore more than 30 art galleries, studios and other venues in the Edwardsville area during the Edwardsville-Alton Studio Tour and see some of the best of local artist's work. Event is held in October.
- 1820 Colonel Benjamin Stephenson House
The Benjamin Stephenson House is a Federal style home built in 1820 in the city of Edwardsville, Illinois, United States. The house was constructed by prominent Edwardsville citizen and Illinois politician Benjamin Stephenson. He died shortly after the home's completion and the home had 15...
: Listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesThe National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
, this home is the oldest brick house in Madison County and one of the oldest homes in the state of Illinois. Reenactors act as 19th century docents and serves as guides to the restored home.
- University Theater: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students perform a variety of works from Shakespeare to modern.
- Arts & Issues: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville hosts authors, musicians, politicians, philosophers, and media celebrities on campus.
- Sculpture Walk: this walk consists of large sculptures by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville students near Dunham Hall.
Nature /Recreation
- MCT Trails: Madison County Transit has developed more than of scenic bikeways that weave throughout the communities of Edwardsville and nearby Glen Carbon and beyond. The trails are mostly asphalt and maps of the trails, which connect to neighborhoods, schools, business districts, SIUE, parks and more can be found on kiosks throughout the trail system, or online at www.mcttrails.org.
- Watershed Nature Center: 46 acre wildlife preserve. See native Illinois plants and animals and learn about our environment at the interpretive center. Programming for children and adults available.
- SIUE Campus: Located on , the SIUE campus is the largest campus landwise in the United States. The campus has rolling hills, acres of forests, and endless fields.
- Edwardsville Parks: Glik Park, City Park, Edwardsville Township Park, Leclaire Park, Lusk Park
History
Edwardsville was originally incorporated in 1818, making it the third oldest city in Illinois. The first settler was Thomas Kirkpatrick who came in 1805, laid out a community and served as the Justice of the Peace. He named the community after his friend
Ninian EdwardsNinian Edwards was a U.S. political figure.Born in 1775 in Montgomery County, Maryland, Edwards served as the only governor of Illinois Territory between 1809 and 1818 and again as governor of Illinois from 1826 until 1830. He served as a U.S...
who was territorial governor of Illinois at the time. (Illinois did not become a state until 1818.)
In 1890, St. Louis industrialist N.O. Nelson chose a tract of land just south of Edwardsville to locate his plumbing factories. He would also create a model cooperative village here called
Leclaire, where workers were offered fair wages with reasonable working hours and a share of the profits. The village also provided educational and recreational opportunities and made it financially possible for anyone to own their own home. Unlike company towns like Pullman near Chicago, this was a company town where the welfare and quality of life for the workers and their families was a major concern.
In 1934 the Village of Leclaire was incorporated into the City of Edwardsville. It remains a vibrant area with a beautiful lake and park, baseball field, the Edwardsville Children's Museum that is located in the former Leclaire school house, and the renovated Nelson factory buildings that are now the Historic N. O. Nelson Campus of
Lewis and Clark Community CollegeLewis and Clark Community College is located at 5800 Godfrey Road in Godfrey, Illinois, a town in unincorporated Madison County, Illinois, part of the Greater St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. Lewis and Clark Community College is located on the grounds of the old Monticello College...
.
Each year on the third Sunday in October, the "Friends of Leclaire" host the annual Leclaire Parkfest with food, live heritage music, historic displays & tours, artisans, children's activities, a book sale, and much more. (Additional information about the Leclaire National Historic District can be found at www.historic-leclaire.org.)
Five Illinois governors came from Edwardsville: namesake Ninian Edwards, who became a territorial governor in 1809 and later served as governor from 1826-1830;
Edward ColesEdward Coles was Governor of Illinois, serving from 1822 to 1826. He was influential in opposing a movement to make Illinois a slave state in its early years.-Early years:...
, elected in 1822 and a strong opponent of slavery;
John ReynoldsJohn Reynolds may refer to:* John Reynolds , farmer and agricultural innovator from Kent, England* John Reynolds , American actor remembered for his portrayal of Torgo in Manos: The Hands of Fate...
, governor from 1830 to 1834;
Thomas FordThomas Ford or Tom Ford may refer to:* Thomas F. Ford , U.S. Representative from California* Thomas Ford , English composer, lutenist, and viol player* Thomas Ford , English martyr from Devonshire...
, governor from 1842-1846; and Charles Deneen, governor from 1909 to 1913.
Future president
Abraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through its greatest internal crisis, the American Civil War, preserving the Union and ending slavery...
was in Edwardsville twice, as an attorney in the 1814 courthouse and a speaker outside the 1857 courthouse on Sept. 11, 1858. The present courthouse, a square, four-story neo-classic structure of white marble, and six stories tall in the back, was constructed from 1913-15.
Demographics
As of the
censusA "census" is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2005, there were 24,047 people, 7,975 households, and 5,199 families residing in the city. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 1,549.2 people per square mile (598.2/km²). There were 8,331 housing units at an average density of 600.6/sq mi (231.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 87.70% White, 8.66% African American, 1.69% Asian, 0.28% Native American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.35% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 10,000households out of which 32.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.6% under the age of 18, 16.0% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $50,921, and the median income for a family was $65,555. Males had a median income of $47,045 versus $29,280 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the city was $26,510. About 5.0% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.3% of those under age 18 and 6.0% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Mannie Jackson
Mannie Jackson is the chairman and owner of the Harlem Globetrotters, for whom he played from 1962 to 1964. He was the first African American with controlling ownership in an entertainment organization and international sports...
, chairman and CEO of the Harlem Globetrotters. Jackson purchased the team in 1993.
- Joseph P. Newsham
Joseph Parkinson Newsham was a 19th-century politician, lawyer, merchant and planter from Louisiana.-Biography:...
, U.S. Representative from LouisianaThe State of Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state divided into parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and lawyer who practiced law in Edwardsville.
- Marvin Webb
Marvin "Preach" Webb has been a public fixture and good-will ambassador of downtown Edwardsville, Illinois, for over 40 years. Webb can be seen strolling downtown Edwardsville on Main Street, greeting and talking with others, always on foot and with a distinguished carnation on the lapel of his...
, Edwardsville's most beloved and famous citizen and good-will ambassador. Marvin 'Preach' Webb can often be seen strolling downtown Edwardsville, engaging others in friendly conversation, as he makes his way through his daily routine.
- Elizabeth Donald
Elizabeth Donald is an award-winning American author, best known for writing horror and science fiction, including the Nocturnal Urges vampire mystery series.-Biography:...
, author and reporter with the Belleville News-DemocratThe Belleville News-Democrat is a daily newspaper in Belleville, Illinois. Focusing on news that is local to the area of southwestern Illinois, it has been published under various names for 150 years. As of 2009, it is published by The McClatchy Company, and is based in St. Clair County, Illinois...
.
- Laurie Metcalf
Lauren Ophelia "Laurie" Metcalf is an American actress. She is widely known for her performance as "Jackie Harris" on Roseanne. She is also a major force in Chicago theater, probably best known for her performance in the 1983 revival of Balm in Gilead...
, TV and film actress, most famous for playing Jackie Harris on RoseanneRoseanne is an American sitcom broadcast on ABC from 1988 to 1997 starring Roseanne Barr.The series reached #1 in the Nielsen Ratings becoming the most watched television show in the United States from 1989 to 1990, and remained in the top four for six of its nine seasons, and in the top twenty for...
.
- AJ Schnack
AJ Schnack is an independent filmmaker. He directed Kurt Cobain About a Son, which premiered at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival...
, director of Kurt Cobain About a Son and other films.
- Steve Hartman
Stephen Robert "Steve" Hartman is a television journalist, currently a roving correspondent for CBS News.Hartman earned a degree in broadcast journalism at Bowling Green State University, graduating in 1985. From 1984-87, he served as an intern and general assignment reporter for WTOL in Toledo,...
, former National Board Member of AIGA, The Professional Association of Design; President of Creativille, Inc., nationally recognized graphic designer.
- Anthony Allsup, a funny bear.
Media
Print
- Daily newspaper
A newspaper is a publication containing news, information, and advertising. General-interest newspapers often feature articles on political events, crime, business, art/entertainment, society and sports. Most traditional papers also feature an editorial page containing columns that express the...
: The Edwardsville IntelligencerThe Edwardsville Intelligencer is a daily newspaper in Illinois based in Edwardsville. The paper is circulated in Edwardsville, Glen Carbon and nearby rural areas.It was founded in 1862 and was acquired by The Hearst Corporation in 1979....
(daily and Saturday only) and Belleville News-DemocratThe Belleville News-Democrat is a daily newspaper in Belleville, Illinois. Focusing on news that is local to the area of southwestern Illinois, it has been published under various names for 150 years. As of 2009, it is published by The McClatchy Company, and is based in St. Clair County, Illinois...
.
- Weekly newspaper
A weekly newspaper is a general news publication that is published on newsprint once or twice a week.Such newspapers tend to have smaller circulations than daily newspapers, and are usually based in less-populous communities or small, defined areas within large cities; often, they may cover a...
: The Edwardsville Journal (every Wednesday)
Radio:
- WSIE-FM 88.7, radio station of Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, formally Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville began as an outgrowth of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois about 20 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is the...
- WRYT-AM 1080, religious programming (Covenant Network -- Roman Catholic)
Television:
- ECTV
ECTV is currently a local access channel for the community of Edwardsville and Glen Carbon, Illinois. It is broadcast with Charter Cable on Channel 10...
Channel 10, local channel available in Glen Carbon and Edwardsville
Pop culture
Scenes for the movie "
The Lucky OnesThe Lucky Ones is a 2008 American dramedy film directed by Neil Burger. The screenplay by Burger and Dirk Wittenborn focuses on three United States Army soldiers who find themselves drawn together by unforeseen circumstances.-Plot:...
," starring
Tim RobbinsTimothy Francis "Tim" Robbins is an American actor, screenwriter, director, producer, activist and musician. He is the longtime partner of actress Susan Sarandon...
and
Rachel McAdamsRachel Anne McAdams is a Canadian actress. Her films include Mean Girls, The Notebook, Wedding Crashers, The Family Stone, Red Eye and The Time Traveler's Wife.-Early life:...
, were filmed in downtown Edwardsville in June 2007. However, the scene filmed was set in
Denver, ColoradoThe City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the state of Colorado, in the United States. Denver is a consolidated city-county located in the South Platte River Valley on the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
and banners were hung on Edwardsville's Main Street that read, "Welcome to Denver," according to
a June 7, 2007 story from the
Belleville News-DemocratThe Belleville News-Democrat is a daily newspaper in Belleville, Illinois. Focusing on news that is local to the area of southwestern Illinois, it has been published under various names for 150 years. As of 2009, it is published by The McClatchy Company, and is based in St. Clair County, Illinois...
.
Former President
Bill ClintonWilliam Jefferson "Bill" Clinton was the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He was the third-youngest president; only Theodore Roosevelt and John F. Kennedy were younger when entering office...
held a rally at the Dunham Theater at
Southern Illinois University EdwardsvilleSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville, formally Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville began as an outgrowth of Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville is located in Edwardsville, Illinois about 20 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is the...
on January 30, 2008 while campaigning for Hillary Clinton for President.
Singer
Jackson BrowneClyde Jackson Browne is an American rock singer-songwriter and musician. His political interest and personal angst have been central to his career, resulting in popular songs such as "Somebody's Baby", "These Days", "The Pretender" and "Running On Empty"...
recorded "Cocaine" and "Shaky Town" in Edwardsville's
Holiday InnHoliday Inn is a brand of hotels within the InterContinental Hotels Group .-History:The original Holiday Inn chain of hotels was created in 1952 in Memphis, Tennessee, by homebuilder Kemmons Wilson to provide inexpensive family accommodation for travelers within the United States...
Room 124 for his album
Running on EmptyRunning on Empty is the fifth album by American singer-songwriter Jackson Browne, released in 1977 . In addition to tracks recorded on-stage during concerts, it also contains songs recorded in hotel rooms, on the tour bus, and backstage. It is unusual among live albums, in that none of the tracks...
. It is now a Comfort Inn located at 3080 S. Route 157.
See also
- Benjamin Stephenson House
The Benjamin Stephenson House is a Federal style home built in 1820 in the city of Edwardsville, Illinois, United States. The house was constructed by prominent Edwardsville citizen and Illinois politician Benjamin Stephenson. He died shortly after the home's completion and the home had 15...
- James W. Stephenson
James W. Stephenson was an American militia officer and politician from the state of Illinois. He was born in Virginia but spent most of his youth in Edwardsville, Illinois. In 1825 he was indicted for the murder of a family acquaintance, but never went to trial...
- Edwardsville Arts Center
External links