Gibson City, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Gibson City is a city in Ford County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 3,407 at the 2010 census.
in 1872. A third railroad, the LaFayette, Muncie and Bloomington Railroad
, was built through Gibson City in 1874. In the same year, one of the railroads signed a contract that paid Augustana College
, located in Paxton at the time, a commission of $1 per acre on all railroad land sold to Swedish settlers.
In 1883, a fire in the town caused $50,000 ($1,000,000 in 2007 dollars) in property damage.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.94%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,373 people, 1,469 households, and 928 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,604.0 people per square mile (620.2/km²). There were 1,565 housing units at an average density of 744.2 per square mile (287.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.13% White, 0.59% African American, 0.53% Asian, 0.03% from other races
, and 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 1,469 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples
living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,638, and the median income for a family was $41,047. Males had a median income of $33,938 versus $20,083 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,926. About 8.9% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
, 47
, and 54
intersect on the edge of Gibson City.
is an FM station licensed to Gibson City broadcasting at a frequency of 106.3 mhz. Its programming consists of easy listening music and local high school sports.
Gibson City has one junior football team. It is called Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Junior Team, and they have 5th graders and 6th graders on the team. The offense scores touchdowns and the defense tries to stop the other team.
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 3,407 at the 2010 census.
History
The site of Gibson City was purchased and platted by Jonathan B. Lott in 1869. In 1870, Lott built a home and a post office there, and several stores and an a grain elevator were constructed. Both the Gilman, Clinton, and Springfield Railroad and the Chicago and Paducah Railroad reached the town in 1871, allowing its population to grow. Gibson City was incorporated as a villageVillage (United States)
In the United States, the meaning of "village" varies by geographic area and legal jurisdiction. In many areas, "village" is a term, sometimes informal, for a type of administrative division at the local government level...
in 1872. A third railroad, the LaFayette, Muncie and Bloomington Railroad
Lafayette, Muncie and Bloomington Railroad
The LaFayette, Muncie and Bloomington Railroad was a railroad company incorporated in Indiana on July 13, 1869. It operated in Indiana and eastern Illinois until its sale on April 28, 1879, to the Lake Erie and Western Railroad. The LM&B line was so named because it ran from the city of Muncie...
, was built through Gibson City in 1874. In the same year, one of the railroads signed a contract that paid Augustana College
Augustana College (Illinois)
Augustana College is a private liberal arts college located in Rock Island, Illinois, United States. The college enrolls approximately 2,500 students. Covering of hilly, wooded land, Augustana is adjacent to the Mississippi River...
, located in Paxton at the time, a commission of $1 per acre on all railroad land sold to Swedish settlers.
In 1883, a fire in the town caused $50,000 ($1,000,000 in 2007 dollars) in property damage.
Geography
Gibson City is located at 40°27′56"N 88°22′29"W (40.465653, -88.374711).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 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), of which, 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.94%) 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 3,373 people, 1,469 households, and 928 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 1,604.0 people per square mile (620.2/km²). There were 1,565 housing units at an average density of 744.2 per square mile (287.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.13% White, 0.59% African American, 0.53% Asian, 0.03% 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 0.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 1,469 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% 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, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,638, and the median income for a family was $41,047. Males had a median income of $33,938 versus $20,083 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 $18,926. About 8.9% of families and 9.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.9% of those under age 18 and 4.6% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
Illinois State Highways 9Illinois Route 9
Illinois Route 9 is a cross-state, east–west rural state highway in central Illinois. It runs from the Fort Madison Toll Bridge over the Mississippi River to Iowa in Niota east to State Road 26 at the Indiana border. This is a distance of ....
, 47
Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
, and 54
Illinois Route 54
Illinois Route 54 is an east–west highway in east-central Illinois. It passes through the cities of Clinton , Gibson City, and Onarga. Its western terminus is at Interstate 55 in Springfield. Its eastern terminus is at U.S. Route 45 at Onarga, one mile east of Interstate 57...
intersect on the edge of Gibson City.
Media
WGCYWGCY
WGCY is an American FM radio station broadcasting at 106.3 MHz, licensed to Gibson City, Illinois. The station is locally owned and operated by Gary McCullough and his wife Debra and began broadcasting in 1983....
is an FM station licensed to Gibson City broadcasting at a frequency of 106.3 mhz. Its programming consists of easy listening music and local high school sports.
Soccer
Soccer is a very good sport to play in Gibson City. The field is by County Market, a corn field, and a creek that separates the corn field from the soccer field. Whenever there is a fire in the corn field, the soccer board has to cancel soccer games and soccer practices. People take turns bringing snacks for their child’s soccer team. There are also not a lot of teams in the league. Here are some of the teams: Fire, Fisher, and Revolution. These are some of the things that happen in Gibson City Soccer.Mighty Mites Football
Gibson City has a youth football league. In the 2010 season, one team didn’t lose any games. The last game was against Limestone. Gibson City won 24-0.Gibson City has one junior football team. It is called Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley Junior Team, and they have 5th graders and 6th graders on the team. The offense scores touchdowns and the defense tries to stop the other team.
External links
- Gibson City Website
- WGCY 106.3 FM, Gibson City's local radio station featuring easy listening music and local information
- Gibson City Classified, Gibson City's free Classified Ad website