Villa Grove, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Villa Grove is a city in Douglas County, Illinois
, along the Embarras River
. The population was 2,537 at the 2010 census.
Villa Grove was chartered in 1903. It was first utilized by the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad
for being exactly halfway between Chicago and St. Louis. It was also known for its Pancake Festivals, which have since been replaced by the Ag Days celebration. In 1923, Villa Grove's high school basketball team, the Blue Devils, defeated Rockford 32-29 to win the Illinois state high school basketball championship, a remarkable feat for such a small community. Villa Grove also won the state baseball championship in 1923.
of 2000, there were 2,553 people, 1,033 households, and 727 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,711.1 people per square mile (661.6/km²). There were 1,084 housing units at an average density of 726.5 per square mile (280.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.08% White, 0.31% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.12% from other races
, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 1,033 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% were married couples
living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,912, and the median income for a family was $41,722. Males had a median income of $35,099 versus $21,453 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,504. About 5.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.
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,...
, along the Embarras River
Embarras River
The Embarras River is a tributary of the Wabash River in southeastern Illinois in the United States. The waters of the Embarras reach the Gulf of Mexico via the Wabash, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers. The river drains a watershed of approximately in an agricultural region...
. The population was 2,537 at the 2010 census.
Villa Grove was chartered in 1903. It was first utilized by the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad
Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad
The Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad was a Class I railroad that linked Chicago to southern Illinois, St. Louis, and Evansville. Founded in 1877, it grew aggressively and stayed relatively strong throughout the Great Depression and two World Wars before being purchased by the Missouri Pacific...
for being exactly halfway between Chicago and St. Louis. It was also known for its Pancake Festivals, which have since been replaced by the Ag Days celebration. In 1923, Villa Grove's high school basketball team, the Blue Devils, defeated Rockford 32-29 to win the Illinois state high school basketball championship, a remarkable feat for such a small community. Villa Grove also won the state baseball championship in 1923.
Geography
Villa Grove is located at 39°51′49"N 88°9′34"W (39.863667, -88.159579).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 2,553 people, 1,033 households, and 727 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 1,711.1 people per square mile (661.6/km²). There were 1,084 housing units at an average density of 726.5 per square mile (280.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.08% White, 0.31% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.12% 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 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.86% of the population.
There were 1,033 households out of which 33.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.4% 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, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.6% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.6% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,912, and the median income for a family was $41,722. Males had a median income of $35,099 versus $21,453 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 $16,504. About 5.0% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.4% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.