Morris is a city in
Grundy CountyGrundy County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 37,535. Its county seat is Morris. The center of population of Illinois is located in Grundy County, in the village of Mazon. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Illinois' State...
,
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...
. The population was 11,928 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 12,939 in 2005. 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
Grundy CountyGrundy County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 37,535. Its county seat is Morris. The center of population of Illinois is located in Grundy County, in the village of Mazon. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Illinois' State...
.
Morris is home to the
Dresden Nuclear Power PlantDresden Generating Station is the first privately-financed nuclear power plant built in the United States. Dresden 1 was activated in 1960 and retired in 1978. Operating since 1970 are Dresden units 2 and 3, two General Electric boiling water reactors...
, which provides a substantial portion of the
electricityElectricity is a general term that encompasses a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge...
supply for the Chicago metropolitan area. Included among the Dresden plant's reactors is the first commercial nuclear reactor, housed in a spherical concrete and steel shell; it has since been decommissioned, and two more modern reactors (of 1970s vintage) now generate its electricity.
Geography
Morris is located at (41.364739, -88.426143). According to the
United States Census BureauThe 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. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the city has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.5 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (17.8 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square miles (0.7 km²) of it (3.91%) is water.
Introduction
Currently, Morris has one of the few prospering and historically intact downtowns in Illinois. Visitors and shoppers come a distance to enjoy the tranquil small town shopping atmosphere.
In addition to the downtown, there are outlying businesses such as five motels, a theater, restaurants, a furniture store, two drug stores, boat sales, three grocery stores, hardware stores, banquet hall, and numerous retail stores and gift shops.
Morris enjoys the benefit of being the Grundy County seat and has a large hospital and modern schools. There are many small parks, ball diamonds, tennis courts, two golf courses, a swimming pool as well as the Gebhard Woods State Park and the William G. Stratton State Park for boat launching on the Illinois River and a skatepark located near White Oak elementary school.
Morris is situated along the Illinois River at the intersections of US 6, State Road 47 and
Interstate 80Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States . It connects downtown San Francisco, California, to Teaneck, New Jersey, a suburb of New York City. I-80 is the interstate that most closely approximates the route of the Lincoln Highway, the first auto trail to cross the...
. It has a population of 11,928 people with 21 full time police officers, a volunteer fire department and ambulance service and district library system.
History of Morris Township and City
Morris, situated in the township of that name, is the county seat of
Grundy CountyGrundy County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 37,535. Its county seat is Morris. The center of population of Illinois is located in Grundy County, in the village of Mazon. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. Illinois' State...
, as well as the largest town in the county. Aside from this it is record of the incorporation of the township, the history of this division is that of the city itself. The latter is on the northern bank of the
Illinois RiverThe Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. state of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of . The river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water...
, twelve miles (19 km) from the junction of the
KankakeeThe Kankakee River is a tributary of the Illinois River, approximately 90 mi long, in northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois in the United States. At one time the river drained one of the largest wetlands in North America and furnished a significant portage between the Great Lakes and the...
and
Des PlainesThe Des Plaines River is a river that flows southward for 150 miles through southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois in the U.S. Midwest, eventually meeting the Kankakee River west of Channahon to form the Illinois River, a tributary of the Mississippi River...
rivers which form the Illinois. Nettle Creek passes through the city, while the
Mazon-United States:* Mazon, Illinois, a village* Mazon Township, Illinois* Mazon Creek fossils* Mazon River-Other uses:*MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, a nonprofit organization dedicated to fighting world hunger...
empties into the Illinois River south of the public square. In addition to these natural bodies of water, the
Illinois and Michigan CanalThe Illinois and Michigan Canal ran 96 miles from the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago on the Chicago River to LaSalle-Peru, Illinois, on the Illinois River. It was finished in 1848 when Chicago Mayor James Hutchinson Woodworth presided over its opening; and it allowed boat transportation from...
runs between the city and the river, so it is easy to see why early pioneers located themselves in this area, so well supplied with navigable streams. While Morris itself is flat, just back of the city is considerable elevation that adds to the beauty of the scenery. At one time on the present site of Morris were mighty forests of oak and hickory and many plum trees, while
hazelnutA hazelnut is the nut of the hazel and is also known as a cob nut or filbert nut according to species. A cob is roughly spherical to oval, about 15-25 mm long and 10-15 mm in diameter, with an outer fibrous husk surrounding a smooth shell. A filbert is more elongated, being about twice as long as...
bushes, with their wealth of brown nuts in season were found in profusion. A number of boulders indicate that the site of Morris dates back to the glacial period.
Located half way between
JolietThere are several things named Joliet:*Louis Jolliet, a 17th century explorer of North America*Joliet, Illinois, United States, a city named after Louis Jolliet**Joliet Prison*Joliet, Montana, United States...
and
OttawaOttawa is a city located on the Illinois River, in LaSalle County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 18,307. It is the county seat of LaSalle County and it is part of the Ottawa-Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area, which was the 259th-most populous area in the...
, and southwest of
ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and with more than 2.8 million people, the 3rd largest city in the United States...
, Morris commands a wide territory both as a source of supply for its shipping interests, and also as a field of operation for its merchants and manufacturers, and consequently a number of important business concerns are to be found within the city. The Chicago, Rock Island Railroad and
Pacific RailroadThe Pacific Railroad was a railroad based in the U.S. state of Missouri. It was a predecessor of both the Missouri Pacific Railroad and St. Louis-San Francisco Railway.The Pacific was chartered by Missouri in 1849 to extend "from St...
, and two interurban roads propelled by electric power, one of which is in process of construction, offer unsurpassed transportation facilities, and the shipping is very heavy from the country regions. Not only is the railroad utilized for freighting, but the urban roads and the river and canal are called into service as well.
The township of Morris was organized in 1849, and both Morris and
BracevilleBraceville can refer to:*Braceville, Illinois*Braceville Township, Trumbull County, Ohio...
each have a supervisor and assistant supervisor on the County Board, while all other townships in the county have only a supervisor.
Seat of justice
Coincident with the movement for the organization of the county, to leave the
Mound BuildersMound Builder is a general term referring to prehistoric inhabitants of North America who constructed various styles of earthen mounds for burial, residential and ceremonial purposes...
and come down to more recent times, was that for locating the seat of justice at Morris. George W. and William E. Armstrong were the men who took the most active part in securing this distinction for Morris. The latter, recognizing the advantages the situation of the city on a site commanding such water facilities, secured the passage of an Act of Legislature which appointed Ward B. Burnett, Rulief S. Duryea and William E. Armstrong as a committee to act in conjunction with the canal commissioners to select a seat of justice for Grundy County. Much discussion arose, but finally Section 9 was chosen, and on April 12, 1842, the plat of Morris was acknowledged by
Isaac N. MorrisIsaac Newton Morris was a United States Representative from Illinois, son of Thomas Morris and brother of Jonathan David Morris.Born in Bethel, Ohio, Morris attended Miami University, Oxford, Ohio....
, Newton Cloud, R.S. Duryea and William E. Armstrong. Having faith in the future of Morris, Mr. Armstrong moved his family from Ottawa to a cabin built by Cryder and McKeen for John P. Chapin in 1834. This was constructed of logs and contained only one room, 16 x , and yet in it Circuit Court was held, while it served as the meeting place for the people of the neighborhood. In 1841, Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Chapin laid out what was called Chapin's addition to Morris, and it was also known as Grundyville or Grundy. In it Mr. Armstrong built and opened what was known as the Grundy Hotel. This same year, a petition was sent to the post office department asking for a post office, but the request was refused.
Name Adopted
In 1845, the matter of having Morris selected for permanent county seat was again taken up, but dissention was had over the exact location. At last, as before stated, Section 9 was agreed upon, and after several names were suggested, that of Morris was adopted, in honor of Hon. Isaac N. Morris.
The final survey was made March 7, 1842, by Leander Newport, surveyor, with Perry A. Claypool and George W. Armstrong, chairmen.
First Building and First Resident
The little cabin occupied by Mr. Armstrong upon his settlement in Morris was the first building in this city (at Jefferson and Nettle Streets). John Cryder, for whom this cabin was originally built, was the first resident here. He was followed by John and Thomas Peacock, Englishmen, who built on Section 2, which is west of the present city, during the latter part of 1834. They bought the land in 1835, married and reared families. Early in the spring of 1838, Peter Griggs built a log cabin on the present site of the aqueduct.
Other Early Settlers
In 1841, James Nagle built a large log cabin on Section 3, and in it he kept the archives of the county until suitable housing was provided, for he was Clerk of the Board of County Commissioners. James Hart conducted the first saloon in Morris, having it in his house. Andrew Kinchella was another early settler of Morris who developed a fine farm.
Anthony Horan, an Irishman, built one of the first log cabins of the place. It was consumed by fire, and Mr. Horan was arrested, being accused of setting fire to it. Deputy Sheriff P. Kelly started with him for Ottawa, as there was then no jail at Morris, but the prisoner escaped, and later fearlessly returned to Morris, but subsequently went to Pennsylvania. Perry A. Claypool built a cabin in 1842, but after a year, Samuel Ayres came into possession of it and kept a boarding house in it. Mr. Ayres was deputy sheriff and coroner at one time, but left Morris for Texas about 1848.
First Courthouse
Morris owed its first courthouse to the public spirit of Mr. Armstrong, for he had built at his own expense a frame building in the winter of 1841-2. This was put up on the northwest corner of the present Court House Square, and was 20 x in dimensions and two stories in height. It was constructed of hardwood lumber, as there was no pine in the neighborhood, with oaken floors and siding. For this Mr. Armstrong received in all $350.06. Later, the building was lathed and plastered, making a total cost of $525.36, and this somewhat primitive building served every purpose until a substantial stone one was erected in 1856. The second courthouse was later replaced by the present one, but a full history of these buildings and a description of the artistic structure now standing on Court House Square is given in another chapter.
Early Business Enterprises
In 1839, citizens volunteered to build Shakey Bridge across the Nettle Creek in order to influence the route of Fink and Walker's stagecoach line from Chicago to Ottawa. It wasn't until 1845 that the route was established when the post office department delivered daily mail and for that purpose changed the stagecoach line through Morris. This gave Morris its first public transportation. They carried the mail until 1848 when the canal opened.
The second hotel of Morris was known as the Plow Inn and was built during the winter and spring of 1842 by Robert Peacock.
P.P. Chapin established a brick yard, near the present gas plant, about 1842 and conducted it for many years. It was William E. Armstrong and James Hart who built that portion of the Illinois & Michigan Canal that runs through Morris.
James Hart came to Morris in the fall of 1841 and was much occupied with his contract for work on the canal. He, with his partner Mr. Armstrong, suffered a heavy loss because the state paid them in scrip which was worth only one-third the par value of a dollar.
Hon. P.A. Armstrong, who became one of the leading attorneys of Morris, as well as a man well known in its political history, came to the city in 1842.
Michael DePrendegast arrived in the winter of 1843-4, building a double log cabin on the present site of the First National Bank, and was an early justice of the peace. Later, he built a fine, brick business block, known as the Bank Block, and proved a man of substance.
With the coming of the Illinois and Michigan Canal in 1848, the village grew around the courthouse square where it still stands today. The farmers then had a way to ship their grain to market in and to receive lumber, salt, and merchandise from around the world. Aux Sable stone was carried to Chicago and passengers had a smoother trip than by stagecoach.
With the opening of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the railroad, the town prospered and grew to the north towards the railroad. The first factory was the Plow Factory in 1857, located west of Liberty Street on Illinois Avenue, followed by Gebhard Brewery in 1866.
In 1873, Coleman Hardware was built with the businessmen of Morris donating $19,000 to bring in a factory.
Northwestern Novelty arrived at 1909 to be near the Coleman Hardware as they produced the castings for its Yankee Match Lighter.
The Morris Paper Mill was established in 1915.
First Physician
Without doubt Dr. Luther S. Robbins was the first physician of Grundy County, coming to Morris in 1842, but he died in 1845, having been probate justice of the peace for several years prior to his demise.
Bartholomew McGrath was also an early settler of Morris, and built a number of the first buildings of the place, although he died in 1846.
Business and Philanthropy
Chris Keslercame here in 1844, building one of the first frame houses of Morris, which he used as a boarding house and saloon. When the canal was opened in 1848, he bought a canal boat and made money transporting grain. He built the first grain elevator of Morris and was one of its heaviest grain dealers for many years. In addition, being truly religious, he erected a four-story brick building on of land, which he donated to be used as a Catholic school which was the beginning of St. Angela's Convent. He also donated of land for a church building and parsonage and $3,000 in cash. Not confining his contributions to the Catholic Church, he gave $250 to the Congregationalists, $100 to the Presbyterians, $100 to the Baptists and $250 to the Methodists, all of Morris. Another enterprise in which he was interested was a distillery at Aux Sable, near Morris, but he failed in operating it successfully.
Judge Patrick Hynds was another arrival of 1844, a blacksmith by trade, and he built and operated a shop. Later, he was made justice of the peace and still later county judge, first by appointment in 1851 and later by election in 1853. Mahlon P. Wilson arrived in May 1844, and from then on was one of the best coopers Morris has ever had.
Adam Lamb came to Morris as a canal contractor in 1844, and built one of the first stores in the town. The honor of being the first storekeeper is divided between Mr. Lamb and Col. William L. Perce. Both stores were opened for business in 1843, so the first had only a month or so advantage over the other.
Col. William L. Perce held the contract for the erection of the aqueduct across Nettle Creek, and came here in 1845. Colonel Perce opened his store in the American House, placing C.H. Goold as manager. Elijah Walker carried on a boot and shoe business from 1841 until 1856, when he left Morris for Iowa. There were other early settlers of Morris who had an important part to play in the development of the place, but having later moved away, their names are not obtainable.
Morris was not incorporated until August 15, 1850, when an election was held to determine whether or not it was to become a village.
During 1856, Morris secured a charter creating it a city, with a mayor, council, police magistrate and other city officials. F.S. Gardner was the first mayor.
Start of Super Outbreak
Morris was the first town hit by the
Super OutbreakThe Super Outbreak is the largest tornado outbreak on record for a single 24-hour period. From April 3 to April 4, 1974, there were 148 tornadoes confirmed in 13 US states, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia,...
tornado system of April 3-4, 1974. However the damage was relatively minor.
Notable residents
- Jessie Bartlett Davis
Jessie Bartlett Davis was an American operatic singer and actress from Morris, Illinois, who was billed as "America's Representative Contralto".-Opera and acting:...
, opera singer in the late nineteenth century
- Jimmy Stafford
Jimmy Stafford is the lead guitarist and original member of the Grammy award winning band Train. Born in Morris, Illinois, he now resides in Las Vegas and Chicago....
, guitar player for the Grammy award-winning band TrainA train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport freight or passengers from one place to another. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway....
- Scott Edward Spiezio, Professional Baseball Player
- Billy Petrick, played for the Chicago Cubs
- Brian Erickson, 1965 Heisman Trophy contender
- Kelly Dransfeldt, Played for the Chicago White Sox, also played for Oklahoma City Redhawks.
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 2000, there were 11,928 people, 4,831 households, and 3,067 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 1,734.0 people per square mile (669.4/km²). There were 5,084 housing units at an average density of 739.1/sq mi (285.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.35% White, 0.34% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.45% 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 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.94% of the population.
There were 4,831 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% 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, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,739, and the median income for a family was $54,987. Males had a median income of $44,071 versus $25,206 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 $22,256. About 5.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.