Heyworth, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Heyworth is a village in McLean County
, Illinois
, United States
. It was founded in 1856. As of 2010, Heyworth has a population of 2,841. It is part of the Bloomington
–Normal
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
86-45
As settlers began to move West, families such as the Rutledges, Funks, Passwaters, Bishops, Nobles, Karrs, Wakefields, and Martins settled in the immediate vicinity of the present Village of Heyworth as early as 1824. Campbell Wakefield was the primary founder of Heyworth. In the course of his achievements, Wakefield became the owner of a vast tract of land including what is now Heyworth. He continually added to his original tract until he obtained about 1500 acres (6.1 km²) in one plot.
As the Western US population increased and industries began to spring up, railroads were becoming a great advantage. In 1852 and 1853, the Illinois Central Railroad
was constructed through the Wakefield land. When the line became operational in 1855, the residents hoped to put a train station in the vicinity. Many property owners vied for the station, but Wakefield immediately donated a large tract of land for the station. Additionally he set aside adjacent land for the foundation of a town, a Presbyterian Church, and a district school.
The first post office was built in the municipality in 1856, when the new station was opened. The station was named "Elmwood
", but it was soon discovered that this name was already taken by a locality in Peoria County. The President of the Illinois Central Railroad proposed calling the new station "Heyworth," after the name of an English director of the railroad.
After the establishment of the station, Campbell Wakefield made several donations to encourage trade and induce business men to locate in the new town. He became the proprietor of the new town, and the Village of Heyworth was incorporated on March 31, 1869.
One of the largest draws to McLean County and the Heyworth area is that it offers easy access to more than 30 million people who live within 300 miles (482.8 km). Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis are each just over two hours away by car and twelve major metro areas are located within a 450 miles (724.2 km) radius. The Central Illinois Regional Airport is just 12 miles (19.3 km) away, with commercial airlines and jet service.
Community services include excellent local police protection, a volunteer fire department, local 24-hour ambulance service which will soon have paid paramedics on staff, local schools from kindergarten through grade 12, and several churches of various denominations. The annual Hey Days celebration in May features a carnival, food and live entertainment. Classic cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors invade Main Street in July for the All Wheels Show. Christmas is celebrated with the "Holidays Heyworth Style" parade and craft show.
Some local businesses include a Hucks and Caseys convenience store, Subway, Dollar General, First State Bank of Heyworth, IGA Heyworth grocery store, the Heyworth Family Restaurant, Circle II Bar and Grill (home of the famous $1.25 Cheeseburgers every Saturday from 11-4) and Pit Row Sports Bar & Grill. Carl E. Miller American Legion Post 624 and Little-Embry-Rainey VFW Post 1554 serve area veterans' needs.
OSF Primary Care, a medicial clinic operated by the OSF Healthcare System under the auspices of OSF St. Joseph's Medical Center in Bloomington, opened in January 2010. The facility provides in-town healthcare access to Heyworth residents for the first time since 1989. The newest business in Heyworth is Casey's General Store, located on U.S. 136 just east of the U.S. 51 intersection. Both businesses are in the Prairie Meadows development fronting U.S. 136 on the town's western edge.
Prairie Meadows is also the site of a planned $23 million continuing care retirement community. The Bridle Brook Adult Community will offer everything from independent living villas to skilled nursing care and Alzheimer's support. Heyworth's village board recently passed legislation creating the village's fourth tax increment financing district and has authorized the use of TIF financing to assist Bridle Brook in bringing this much-anticipated development to fruition. Construction may begin as soon as the fall of 2010.
Heyworth Jr/Sr High School services grades 7 - 12. The school is located at 308 W. Cleveland St. See school report card at ISBE The Junior High offers the following sports for students: Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball and Track. The Senior High offers the following sports and activities for students: Basketball, Football, Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Track, Cheerleading, Marching Band (best around), Speech and FFA.
of 2007, there were 2,547 people,(+3.1% from 2000), 898 households, and 687 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,573.6 people per square mile (609.5/km²). There were 956 housing units at an average density of 618.8 per square mile (239.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.82% White, 0.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.62% from other races
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.
There were 898 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% 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 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $53,043, and the median income for a family was $60,648. Males had a median income of $40,944 versus $26,708 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $20,655. About 2.9% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
McLean County, Illinois
McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...
, 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...
. It was founded in 1856. As of 2010, Heyworth has a population of 2,841. It is part of the Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
–Normal
Normal, Illinois
Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Heyworth is located at 40°18′53"N 88°58′40"W (40.314718, -88.977896).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 village has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
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History
Heyworth was laid out by Campbell Wakefield on 11 September 1858. Before settlement, the locality now known as Heyworth was covered by a heavy growth of timber and underbrush which was inhabited by the Kickapoo Native Americans, and was supported a great number of deer, wild turkeys, and packs of large gray wolves.As settlers began to move West, families such as the Rutledges, Funks, Passwaters, Bishops, Nobles, Karrs, Wakefields, and Martins settled in the immediate vicinity of the present Village of Heyworth as early as 1824. Campbell Wakefield was the primary founder of Heyworth. In the course of his achievements, Wakefield became the owner of a vast tract of land including what is now Heyworth. He continually added to his original tract until he obtained about 1500 acres (6.1 km²) in one plot.
As the Western US population increased and industries began to spring up, railroads were becoming a great advantage. In 1852 and 1853, the Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
was constructed through the Wakefield land. When the line became operational in 1855, the residents hoped to put a train station in the vicinity. Many property owners vied for the station, but Wakefield immediately donated a large tract of land for the station. Additionally he set aside adjacent land for the foundation of a town, a Presbyterian Church, and a district school.
The first post office was built in the municipality in 1856, when the new station was opened. The station was named "Elmwood
Elmwood, Illinois
Elmwood is a city in Peoria County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,945 at the 2000 census. Elmwood is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area...
", but it was soon discovered that this name was already taken by a locality in Peoria County. The President of the Illinois Central Railroad proposed calling the new station "Heyworth," after the name of an English director of the railroad.
After the establishment of the station, Campbell Wakefield made several donations to encourage trade and induce business men to locate in the new town. He became the proprietor of the new town, and the Village of Heyworth was incorporated on March 31, 1869.
Heyworth today
While railroads brought growth during the 19th century, growth today is driven by recession-resistant business expansion occurring primarily in Bloomington-Normal, located just 10 minutes north of Heyworth on U.S. Route 51.One of the largest draws to McLean County and the Heyworth area is that it offers easy access to more than 30 million people who live within 300 miles (482.8 km). Chicago, St. Louis and Indianapolis are each just over two hours away by car and twelve major metro areas are located within a 450 miles (724.2 km) radius. The Central Illinois Regional Airport is just 12 miles (19.3 km) away, with commercial airlines and jet service.
Community services include excellent local police protection, a volunteer fire department, local 24-hour ambulance service which will soon have paid paramedics on staff, local schools from kindergarten through grade 12, and several churches of various denominations. The annual Hey Days celebration in May features a carnival, food and live entertainment. Classic cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors invade Main Street in July for the All Wheels Show. Christmas is celebrated with the "Holidays Heyworth Style" parade and craft show.
Some local businesses include a Hucks and Caseys convenience store, Subway, Dollar General, First State Bank of Heyworth, IGA Heyworth grocery store, the Heyworth Family Restaurant, Circle II Bar and Grill (home of the famous $1.25 Cheeseburgers every Saturday from 11-4) and Pit Row Sports Bar & Grill. Carl E. Miller American Legion Post 624 and Little-Embry-Rainey VFW Post 1554 serve area veterans' needs.
OSF Primary Care, a medicial clinic operated by the OSF Healthcare System under the auspices of OSF St. Joseph's Medical Center in Bloomington, opened in January 2010. The facility provides in-town healthcare access to Heyworth residents for the first time since 1989. The newest business in Heyworth is Casey's General Store, located on U.S. 136 just east of the U.S. 51 intersection. Both businesses are in the Prairie Meadows development fronting U.S. 136 on the town's western edge.
Prairie Meadows is also the site of a planned $23 million continuing care retirement community. The Bridle Brook Adult Community will offer everything from independent living villas to skilled nursing care and Alzheimer's support. Heyworth's village board recently passed legislation creating the village's fourth tax increment financing district and has authorized the use of TIF financing to assist Bridle Brook in bringing this much-anticipated development to fruition. Construction may begin as soon as the fall of 2010.
Schools
Heyworth Elementary School services grades Pre K - 6. The school is located at 100 S. Joselyn St.Heyworth Jr/Sr High School services grades 7 - 12. The school is located at 308 W. Cleveland St. See school report card at ISBE The Junior High offers the following sports for students: Basketball, Baseball, Softball, Volleyball and Track. The Senior High offers the following sports and activities for students: Basketball, Football, Golf, Soccer, Volleyball, Baseball, Softball, Track, Cheerleading, Marching Band (best around), Speech and FFA.
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 2007, there were 2,547 people,(+3.1% from 2000), 898 households, and 687 families residing in the village. 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 1,573.6 people per square mile (609.5/km²). There were 956 housing units at an average density of 618.8 per square mile (239.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.82% White, 0.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.62% 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 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.
There were 898 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% 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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% 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 91.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $53,043, and the median income for a family was $60,648. Males had a median income of $40,944 versus $26,708 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 village was $20,655. About 2.9% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.