La Harpe, Illinois
Encyclopedia
La Harpe is a city in Hancock County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 1,385 at the 2000 census.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
were forced to spend the winter just north of the present city of La Harpe, Illinois. About 1896, four stone tablets dated June 15, 1715 and inscribed in French were reportedly found a few miles east of the old fortication built by the explorers. Stones were conveniently translated locally by the only French family in town as follows: "We are surrounded by indians and have no hope for survival unless help soon arrives." Said stone tablets were reported to be sent to the Smithsonian for authentication, and were ruled a hoax. Their whereabouts are currently unknown.
Soon after 1830, landowners in the area began to develop a town which they called Franklin. In 1836, they applied for a post office and were informed another town in Illinois was already named Franklin. The first postmaster, Louis Rice Chaffin, suggested the name be registered as La Harpe, for the Frenchman who spent the winter over 100 years earlier. The City of La Harpe was granted a charter by the Illinois legislature in 1859. The charter was amended in 1861 to change the size of the town, and the boundaries have changed through the years. Today the city has 22 streets and avenues.
In 1867, the TP&W railroad line was completed through the town. In 1888, the City council bought the first fire engine, but a fire in October 1893 still destroyed nearly all the businesses in one block of Main Street. City Hall was built in 1894. The election of 1895 was the first election in which the women of LaHarpe were allowed to vote on the issue of liquor licenses (The women had a separate ballot box). The La Harpe Carnegie Public Library was built in 1905, with local support and a donation from Andrew Carnegie. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The City Park was donated by Marvin Tyron, one of the town's founders, as a public square.
In 1986, La Harpe celebrated 150 years of history. During that year, a Sesquicentennial History entitled La Harpe, Illinois, 1836-1986 was published.
Each summer the town celebrates during the annual Summerfest on the town square. In addition, the annual Fred Gibb Car Show is held in August. Mr. Gibb's claim to fame was the sponsor of the original ZL-1 COPO Camaros and Novas during the pony car era of the early 1970s.
Today, many of the surviving buildings in La Harpe's business districts, including the City Hall, are on the National Register of Historic Places. La Harpe has the only 4-story building in Hancock County. The park district includes a community club house, swimming pool, LaMoine Valley golf course and a complex of lighted ball fields. The city park has a lighted shelter house and stage.
In August 2007, La Harpe High School was shut down and students are now attending the newly formed Illini West High School
in Carthage, Illinois
. La Harpe Elementary and La Harpe Jr. High School still remain in La Harpe.
La Harpe Grade School/Jr. High will remain in La Harpe and will move into the vacated high school building.
In 1996, the Northwestern-La Harpe Thunder football team was the first athletic team with La Harpe High School students to ever participate in the IHSA State Finals. They were defeated 35-28 by the Chenoa, Redbirds. In 2000, the team once again made it to the IHSA State Finals and were defeated by the Carthage Blueboys 14-0.
In 1839, a log cabin was built to be used as a blacksmith shop. After a few years it became the first school house in La Harpe. The log cabin served as a school house until 1844, when it was sold and became a blacksmith shop again. The next school building was a brick building that had an enrollment of 98 students. This building served as a public school until the academy was built in 1857. The Academy was located on the present site of the elementary school building. A new building was built in 1898 for a larger student body. This building served as the high school and elementary school until it was destroyed by fire in 1927. A new structure was built in 1929. The new building is now our present elementary school building. The school became La Harpe Community School District on April 20, 1942. In 1958, the current high school building was built. On May 2, 1961, the present La Harpe Community School District #335 was formed from the communities of Fountain Green, Terre Haute, La Harpe, and Durham. On May 27, 2007, the high school hosted its final graduation.
of 2000, there were 1,385 people, 561 households, and 383 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,021.8 people per square mile (393.2/km²). There were 604 housing units at an average density of 445.6 per square mile (171.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.78% White, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.14% of the population.
There were 561 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% 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 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,589, and the median income for a family was $37,708. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,400 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,586. About 4.6% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
La Harpe School Websites
Local Newspaper Websites
Hancock County, Illinois
Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 19,104, which is a decrease of 5.1% from 20,121 in 2000. Its county seat is Carthage. Hamilton is the largest city in Hancock County, with Carthage being the second largest...
, 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 1,385 at the 2000 census.
Geography
La Harpe is located at 40.582925°N 90.968770°W, along the South Branch La Moine RiverLa Moine River
La Moine River is a tributary of the Illinois River in western Illinois in the United States. Its watershed covers approximately , and it is the sixth-largest tributary to the Illinois River...
.
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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
History
During the 18th century, French explorers headed by Bernard de la HarpeBernard de la Harpe
Bernard de la Harpe or Jean-Baptiste Bénard de la Harpe was a French explorer who is credited with the discovery of Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1722, la Harpe found two distinct rock formations on the Arkansas River, the smaller one the South bank he named La Petite Roche and the larger on the North...
were forced to spend the winter just north of the present city of La Harpe, Illinois. About 1896, four stone tablets dated June 15, 1715 and inscribed in French were reportedly found a few miles east of the old fortication built by the explorers. Stones were conveniently translated locally by the only French family in town as follows: "We are surrounded by indians and have no hope for survival unless help soon arrives." Said stone tablets were reported to be sent to the Smithsonian for authentication, and were ruled a hoax. Their whereabouts are currently unknown.
Soon after 1830, landowners in the area began to develop a town which they called Franklin. In 1836, they applied for a post office and were informed another town in Illinois was already named Franklin. The first postmaster, Louis Rice Chaffin, suggested the name be registered as La Harpe, for the Frenchman who spent the winter over 100 years earlier. The City of La Harpe was granted a charter by the Illinois legislature in 1859. The charter was amended in 1861 to change the size of the town, and the boundaries have changed through the years. Today the city has 22 streets and avenues.
In 1867, the TP&W railroad line was completed through the town. In 1888, the City council bought the first fire engine, but a fire in October 1893 still destroyed nearly all the businesses in one block of Main Street. City Hall was built in 1894. The election of 1895 was the first election in which the women of LaHarpe were allowed to vote on the issue of liquor licenses (The women had a separate ballot box). The La Harpe Carnegie Public Library was built in 1905, with local support and a donation from Andrew Carnegie. Today it is listed on the National Register of Historic Sites. The City Park was donated by Marvin Tyron, one of the town's founders, as a public square.
In 1986, La Harpe celebrated 150 years of history. During that year, a Sesquicentennial History entitled La Harpe, Illinois, 1836-1986 was published.
Each summer the town celebrates during the annual Summerfest on the town square. In addition, the annual Fred Gibb Car Show is held in August. Mr. Gibb's claim to fame was the sponsor of the original ZL-1 COPO Camaros and Novas during the pony car era of the early 1970s.
Today, many of the surviving buildings in La Harpe's business districts, including the City Hall, are on the National Register of Historic Places. La Harpe has the only 4-story building in Hancock County. The park district includes a community club house, swimming pool, LaMoine Valley golf course and a complex of lighted ball fields. The city park has a lighted shelter house and stage.
Illini West High School
- Home of the Chargers
In August 2007, La Harpe High School was shut down and students are now attending the newly formed Illini West High School
Illini West High School
Illini West High School, or IWHS, is a public four-year high school located at 600 Miller Street in Carthage, Illinois, a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. IWHS serves the communities of Carthage, Dallas City, La Harpe...
in Carthage, Illinois
Carthage, Illinois
Carthage is a city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,725 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hancock County. Carthage is most famous for being the site of the murder of Joseph Smith in 1844.- History :...
. La Harpe Elementary and La Harpe Jr. High School still remain in La Harpe.
La Harpe Grade School/Jr. High
- Home of the Eagles
La Harpe Grade School/Jr. High will remain in La Harpe and will move into the vacated high school building.
La Harpe High School
- Former home of the Eagles/Thunder/Cyclones
In 1996, the Northwestern-La Harpe Thunder football team was the first athletic team with La Harpe High School students to ever participate in the IHSA State Finals. They were defeated 35-28 by the Chenoa, Redbirds. In 2000, the team once again made it to the IHSA State Finals and were defeated by the Carthage Blueboys 14-0.
In 1839, a log cabin was built to be used as a blacksmith shop. After a few years it became the first school house in La Harpe. The log cabin served as a school house until 1844, when it was sold and became a blacksmith shop again. The next school building was a brick building that had an enrollment of 98 students. This building served as a public school until the academy was built in 1857. The Academy was located on the present site of the elementary school building. A new building was built in 1898 for a larger student body. This building served as the high school and elementary school until it was destroyed by fire in 1927. A new structure was built in 1929. The new building is now our present elementary school building. The school became La Harpe Community School District on April 20, 1942. In 1958, the current high school building was built. On May 2, 1961, the present La Harpe Community School District #335 was formed from the communities of Fountain Green, Terre Haute, La Harpe, and Durham. On May 27, 2007, the high school hosted its final graduation.
Notable people
- Olan SouleOlan SouleOlan Soule was an American character actor with hundreds of credits in films, radio, commercials, television and animation.-Early life:...
(1909–1994), a La Harpe born actor with hundreds of credits in films, radio, commercials, television and animation. - Charles DuryeaCharles DuryeaCharles Edgar Duryea was the engineer of the first-ever working American gasoline-powered car. He was born near Canton, Illinois, the son of George Washington Duryea and Louisa Melvina Turner and died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, but spent most of his life working in Springfield, Massachusetts...
, invented the first gasoline-powered automobile with his brother Frank, graduated from La Harpe's Gittings Seminary (1882).
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 1,385 people, 561 households, and 383 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 1,021.8 people per square mile (393.2/km²). There were 604 housing units at an average density of 445.6 per square mile (171.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.78% White, 0.07% 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 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.14% of the population.
There were 561 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.6% were non-families. 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% 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 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 23.5% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,589, and the median income for a family was $37,708. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $20,400 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 $15,586. About 4.6% of families and 7.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.9% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
External links
Town libraryLa Harpe School Websites
Local Newspaper Websites