Gillespie, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Gillespie is a city in Macoupin County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 3,412 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land. Gillespie has large lake, Lake Gillespie, just outside the city limits. Many people from surrounding towns enjoy fishing, boating, water-skiing and sunbathing at Gillespie Lake.
of 2000, there were 3,412 people, 1,452 households, and 936 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,349.3 people per square mile (908.5/km²). There were 1,547 housing units at an average density of 1,065.1 per square mile (411.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.56% White, 0.32% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races
, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 1,452 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% 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 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,168, and the median income for a family was $40,500. Males had a median income of $35,032 versus $23,136 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,042. About 8.6% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Things to Do
Other Facts
Macoupin County, Illinois
Macoupin County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 47,765, which is a decrease of 2.6% from 49,019 in 2000. The county seat is Carlinville. Macoupin County is an outlying county of the Metro-East region...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,412 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Gillespie is located at 39°7′34"N 89°48′59"W (39.126023, -89.816403).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land. Gillespie has large lake, Lake Gillespie, just outside the city limits. Many people from surrounding towns enjoy fishing, boating, water-skiing and sunbathing at Gillespie Lake.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A 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. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,412 people, 1,452 households, and 936 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,349.3 people per square mile (908.5/km²). There were 1,547 housing units at an average density of 1,065.1 per square mile (411.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.56% White, 0.32% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, 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 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.
There were 1,452 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% 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 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,168, and the median income for a family was $40,500. Males had a median income of $35,032 versus $23,136 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $19,042. About 8.6% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
City of Gillespie Facts
Commerce- Gillespie also has a movie theater which was once called Lyric Theater but has recently been renamed The Canna Theatre ( It was originally called the Canna Theatre before it was closed and was reopened as the Lyric Theatre). It has only one cinema. The admission fee is $5 per person (this includes popcorn and soda) and opened with its first film, Shrek the ThirdShrek the ThirdShrek the Third is a 2007 American animated film, and the third film in the Shrek series. It was produced by Jeffrey Katzenberg for DreamWorks Animation, and is distributed by Paramount Pictures. It was released in U.S. theaters on May 18, 2007...
, on May 18, 2007. Gillespie also includes a bowling alley.
- There is only one grocery store in Gillespie, Randy's Market, which is housed in the former Harmon's IGAIGAIga or IGA may stand for:-Given name:* a female given name of Polish origin. The name originates from the female given name Jadwiga and stands for gia,or gina in the USA....
.
- There are two drug stores, a salon, a jewelry store, a Dollar GeneralDollar GeneralDollar General Corp. is a U.S. chain of variety stores headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. As of January 2011, Dollar General operated over 9,300 stores in 35 U.S. states....
, a True ValueTrue ValueTrue Value Company is a retailer-owned hardware cooperative with over 5,000 independent retail locations worldwide. Members of the True Value cooperative own their individual stores and operate independently of True Value Company....
(A&G True Value/Just Ask Rental) and four gas stations (ShellRoyal Dutch ShellRoyal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
, Jumpin' Jimmy's, Casey's General Store, and Moto Mart).
- There is also a fitness and tanning facility, Ageless Fitness Center, which replaced Dakota's Fitness and Tanning Center.
- The town is also home to Cavallo Bus Lines.
- Macoupin Family Practice Centers, LLP has an office located in Gillespie.
Things to Do
- The Annual Black Diamond Days, Gillespie's original festival of coal, is a celebration of coal miners and coal mining which has always been a major business in Macoupin County. The festival is held annually for three days each year on the first weekend in June in Gillespie. Gillespie welcomes visitors in a big way with parades, contests, prizes, a carnival, Mine Rescue Demonstration, 1 Mile Fun Run and 5K Run, arts and crafts, concessions and much more.
Other Facts
- Gillespie's mascot is the Miner and the high school's colors are orange and black.
- Gillespie has two tennis courts, four baseball diamonds, and multiple soccer fields.
- Actor Howard KeelHoward KeelHarold Clifford Keel , known professionally as Howard Keel, was an American actor and singer. He starred in many film musicals of the 1950s...
was born in Gillespie. - Singer/Songwriter FerrasFerrasFerras Alqaisi , known as Ferras, is a Jordanian-American Los Angeles-based singer-songwriter who has signed with EMI as part of Capitol Records.-Career:Ferras grew up feeling out of place in a small Illinois town called Gillespie...
lived here during his childhood and teenage years. - Photos of and facts about Gillespie, including a timeline of the town's history, can be found here.
- Gillespie is closely connected to East Gillespie, IllinoisEast Gillespie, IllinoisEast Gillespie is a village in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a total population of 234.-Geography:East Gillespie is located at ....
. - Current weather conditions for Gillespie can be found here.