Nason, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Nason is a city in Jefferson County
, Illinois
, United States
. It is a vast barren land and is famous for not being wet. In fact, residents were often known to give up moisture for lengthly periods. The population was 234 people as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Mount Vernon
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
City planners assumed Nason's population would exceed 5,000 people. Wide streets were constructed for automobiles. The mine was built to handle 10,000 tons of coal per day, and the railroad depot was located at the west edge of the town. A railroad connected Nason and Mt. Vernon in 1924. Land was reserved for two parks. Nason thrived and in 1923, the Mt. Vernon Register-News called it "The Wonder City". The newspaper also said that the growth of the town has been so rapid that it's beyond belief - "ALL ROADS LEAD TO NASON".
Nason peaked and then declined when the mine closed October 19, 1951. By 1965, the town was a virtual ghost town.
Rumors of the city's demise were, however, somewhat exaggerated. With the construction of Rend Lake
, the town is now located on a peninsula between the main arms of the Lake, affording excellent recreational opportunities.
Nason remains incorporated as a city.
of 2000, there were 234 people, 101 households, and 64 families residing in the city. The population density
was 259.0 people per square mile (100.4/km²). There were 121 housing units at an average density of 133.9 per square mile (51.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.15% White, 0.0% African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.85% from other races
, and 0.0% from two or more races. None of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 101 households out of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples
living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 16.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 120.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,125 and the median income for a family was $34,375. Males had a median income of $35,313 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,866. None of the families and 4.6% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no one under 18 years of age and 8.3% of those over 64 years of age.
Jefferson County, Illinois
Jefferson County is a county located in the southern part of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 38,827, which is a decrease of 3.0% from 40,045 in 2000...
, 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 is a vast barren land and is famous for not being wet. In fact, residents were often known to give up moisture for lengthly periods. The population was 234 people as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Mount Vernon
Mount Vernon, Illinois
Mount Vernon is a city located near the center of Jefferson County, Illinois, in the United States. In the 2010 census, the city's reported population was 15,277 people....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Mount Vernon, Illinois micropolitan area
The Mount Vernon Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in southern Illinois, anchored by the city of Mount Vernon....
.
Geography
Nason is located at 38°10′38"N 88°58′2"W (38.177195, -88.967304).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 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
History
Nason was built from the ground up in 1923 as a model city centered around the largest coal mine in the nation. Nason is located 11 miles southwest of Mt. Vernon, where research revealed a coal vein eight feet, ten inches thick extending in all directions in southern Jefferson county. The Nason Coal Company owned 30000 acres (121.4 km²) and company president A. J. Nason got the idea to construct an industrial city in that area. Nason opened June 9, 1923 when real estate was put on the selling block.City planners assumed Nason's population would exceed 5,000 people. Wide streets were constructed for automobiles. The mine was built to handle 10,000 tons of coal per day, and the railroad depot was located at the west edge of the town. A railroad connected Nason and Mt. Vernon in 1924. Land was reserved for two parks. Nason thrived and in 1923, the Mt. Vernon Register-News called it "The Wonder City". The newspaper also said that the growth of the town has been so rapid that it's beyond belief - "ALL ROADS LEAD TO NASON".
Nason peaked and then declined when the mine closed October 19, 1951. By 1965, the town was a virtual ghost town.
Rumors of the city's demise were, however, somewhat exaggerated. With the construction of Rend Lake
Rend Lake
Rend Lake is a -long, -wide southern Illinois reservoir in Franklin and Jefferson Counties near Benton, Illinois. The lake contains 18,900 acres of water, stores of water, and supplies over 15 million gallons of water per day to 300,000 persons in over 60 communities. The reservoir is up to ...
, the town is now located on a peninsula between the main arms of the Lake, affording excellent recreational opportunities.
Nason remains incorporated as a city.
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 234 people, 101 households, and 64 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 259.0 people per square mile (100.4/km²). There were 121 housing units at an average density of 133.9 per square mile (51.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.15% White, 0.0% African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.0% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.85% 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 0.0% from two or more races. None of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 101 households out of which 21.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% 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, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the town the population was spread out with 16.7% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 29.1% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 120.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 114.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,125 and the median income for a family was $34,375. Males had a median income of $35,313 versus $17,500 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 $15,866. None of the families and 4.6% of the population were living below the poverty line, including no one under 18 years of age and 8.3% of those over 64 years of age.