Aledo, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Aledo is a city in Mercer County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 3,613 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Mercer County
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6 km²), of which 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) is land and 0.44% is water.
of 2000, there were 3,613 people, 1,506 households, and 1,016 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,611.2 people per square mile (622.8/km²). There were 1,588 housing units at an average density of 708.1 per square mile (273.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.34% White, 0.44% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.19% from other races
, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 1,506 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% 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 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,449, and the median income for a family was $41,934. Males had a median income of $35,233 versus $21,271 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,498. About 7.1% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
(1908–1917) — the campus/buildings were purchased and used by the Roosevelt Military Academy from 1924–1973. The Administration Building was torn down and the spot was used for a nursing home. The remaining two buildings (Niles Hall and North Hall) are unused. William & Vashti College was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
from 1910–1917.
The High School Mascot used to be the Aledo Green Dragons. School colors are Forest Green and White. The Class of 2006 had 71 students, which is about an average class size.
Aledo High School offers a variety of course curriculum in the sciences, math, literature, social sciences, and the arts. The school has a concert band, jazz band, concert choir, and swing choir.
The school also offers a variety of athletics including volleyball, football, both men and women's golf, men and women's basketball, wrestling, track and field, softball, baseball, and cross country. Some extracurricular activities that students can become involved in are scholastic bowl, football and basketball cheer leading, pom pons, flags, majorettes, and musicals.
From 1915 to 2009, Aledo High School competed in Boy Football. They qualified for the state tournament on 17 occasions since the tournament began in 1974. From 1998 to 2006, Aledo High School has been reached the final of five IHSA boys' football championship tournaments. Of those five, the school won three times.
Aledo School District #201 and Westmer School District #203 have consolidated since 2009-2010 school year
The consolidation was voted upon by both the school board and was on the ballot for the 2008 election. The measure passed by a 76% margin.
The new consilidated district is Mercer County District #404 and the new mascot adopted by popular vote in early 2009 is the Mercer County Golden Eagles. School colors change to navy blue and vegas gold. The Class of 2010 had over 120 students, well above the usual average.
-related activities, ranging from rhubarb pie sales to free rhubarb seed distributions. The festival additionally offers other crafts and forms of entertainment and music; it has been undertaken every year since 1991. The city of Aledo's Antique Days festivals likewise occur annually in the month of September, and includes a citywide food festival, music from local residents and the high school music departments, and sports competitions among communities in the area.
Aledo has its own radio station, known as WRMJ-FM; it runs at a frequency of 102.3. The radio station serves most of Mercer County
, and was founded in 1979.
Mercer County, Illinois
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 16,434, which is a decrease of 3.1% from 16,957 in 2000. Its county seat is Aledo...
, 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 3,613 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Mercer County
Mercer County, Illinois
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 16,434, which is a decrease of 3.1% from 16,957 in 2000. Its county seat is Aledo...
.
Geography
Aledo is located at 41°12′1"N 90°45′0"W (41.200172, -90.749956).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 2.3 square miles (6 km²), of which 2.2 square miles (5.7 km²) is land and 0.44% is water.
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 3,613 people, 1,506 households, and 1,016 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 1,611.2 people per square mile (622.8/km²). There were 1,588 housing units at an average density of 708.1 per square mile (273.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.34% White, 0.44% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.19% 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 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.72% of the population.
There were 1,506 households out of which 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.0% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% 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 2.87.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 24.5% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 86.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,449, and the median income for a family was $41,934. Males had a median income of $35,233 versus $21,271 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 $18,498. About 7.1% of families and 8.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.5% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Suzy BoggussSuzy BoggussSusan Kay "Suzy" Bogguss is an American country music singer. In the 1980s and 90s she released one platinum and three gold albums and charted six top ten singles, winning the Academy of Country Music's award for Top New Female Vocalist and the Country Music Association's Horizon Award.After...
, country western singer - Frank Lewis MarshFrank Lewis MarshFrank Lewis Marsh was an American biologist, educator and creationist author. In 1963 he was one of the ten founding members of the Creation Research Society along with well-known creationists such as Henry M. Morris and Duane Gish. His papers are kept at Andrews University, from which Marsh...
, educator and creationist - Judson WelliverJudson WelliverJudson Churchill Welliver was a "literary clerk" to President Warren G. Harding and is usually credited as being the first presidential speechwriter.-Biography:Judson Welliver was born on August 13, 1870 in Aledo, Illinois....
, presidential speech writer - Paul Ogle, founder of OTD Corporation
Education
Aledo was the home to William & Vashti CollegeWilliam & Vashti College
William & Vashti College was a college in Aledo, Illinois from 1908 to 1917. Founded by William Drury and his wife Vashti Lewis, early settlers and prominent citizens of Mercer County. The campus and buildings were purchased and used by the Roosevelt Military Academy from 1924 to 1973. The...
(1908–1917) — the campus/buildings were purchased and used by the Roosevelt Military Academy from 1924–1973. The Administration Building was torn down and the spot was used for a nursing home. The remaining two buildings (Niles Hall and North Hall) are unused. William & Vashti College was a member of the Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
The Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference was a college athletic conference that existed from 1908 to 1970 in the United States.-History:...
from 1910–1917.
The High School Mascot used to be the Aledo Green Dragons. School colors are Forest Green and White. The Class of 2006 had 71 students, which is about an average class size.
Aledo High School offers a variety of course curriculum in the sciences, math, literature, social sciences, and the arts. The school has a concert band, jazz band, concert choir, and swing choir.
The school also offers a variety of athletics including volleyball, football, both men and women's golf, men and women's basketball, wrestling, track and field, softball, baseball, and cross country. Some extracurricular activities that students can become involved in are scholastic bowl, football and basketball cheer leading, pom pons, flags, majorettes, and musicals.
From 1915 to 2009, Aledo High School competed in Boy Football. They qualified for the state tournament on 17 occasions since the tournament began in 1974. From 1998 to 2006, Aledo High School has been reached the final of five IHSA boys' football championship tournaments. Of those five, the school won three times.
Aledo School District #201 and Westmer School District #203 have consolidated since 2009-2010 school year
The consolidation was voted upon by both the school board and was on the ballot for the 2008 election. The measure passed by a 76% margin.
The new consilidated district is Mercer County District #404 and the new mascot adopted by popular vote in early 2009 is the Mercer County Golden Eagles. School colors change to navy blue and vegas gold. The Class of 2010 had over 120 students, well above the usual average.
Culture and media
Aledo hosts two annual festivals; the Rhubarb Fest and Antique Days. The Rhubarb festival, which is held every June in the city downtown, offers a variety of rhubarbRhubarb
Rhubarb is a group of plants that belong to the genus Rheum in the family Polygonaceae. They are herbaceous perennial plants growing from short, thick rhizomes. They have large leaves that are somewhat triangular-shaped with long fleshy petioles...
-related activities, ranging from rhubarb pie sales to free rhubarb seed distributions. The festival additionally offers other crafts and forms of entertainment and music; it has been undertaken every year since 1991. The city of Aledo's Antique Days festivals likewise occur annually in the month of September, and includes a citywide food festival, music from local residents and the high school music departments, and sports competitions among communities in the area.
Aledo has its own radio station, known as WRMJ-FM; it runs at a frequency of 102.3. The radio station serves most of Mercer County
Mercer County, Illinois
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 16,434, which is a decrease of 3.1% from 16,957 in 2000. Its county seat is Aledo...
, and was founded in 1979.