Jerseyville, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Jerseyville is a city in Jersey County
, Illinois
, United States
. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the city had a total population of 8,465. It is the county seat
of Jersey County
, and is also the largest city in the county. The city's current mayor is Richard Perdun
.
Jerseyville is a part of Southern Illinois, the Metro-East
region, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), all land
cities, located in the transitional zone between the humid continental climate
type and the humid subtropical climate
type (Koppen
Dfa and Cfa, respecively), with neither large mountains nor large bodies of water to moderate its temperature. Spring is the wettest season and produces severe weather ranging from tornadoes to snow or ice storms. Summers are hot and humid, and the humidity often makes the heat index
rise to temperatures feeling well above 100 °F (37.8 °C). Fall is mild with lower humidity and can produce intermittent bouts of heavy rainfall with the first snow flurries
usually forming in late November. Winters can be cold at times with periodic light snow and temperatures below freezing.
In recent years, average temperatures in Jerseyville have ranged from a low of 17 °F (-8.3 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31.1 °C) in July. The record low temperature of -25 °F was recorded in January 1977 and the record high temperature of 112 °F (44.4 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranges from 1.92 inches (4.9 cm) in January to 4.14 inches (10.5 cm) in April.
native, and his family built a small framed structure that was named the "Little Red House," in the area that is now known as Jerseyville. The "Little Red House" served as the first stagecoach station, first tavern, first school, and first bank in the immediate area. By 1834, the small settlement that grew up around Faulkner’s home, then known as Hickory Grove by its residents, was surveyed and platted by two immigrants from New Jersey
, John Lott and Edward M. Daly. Lott and Daly’s involvement marked the beginning of a proportionally large number of merchants, businessmen and settlers from New Jersey. A meeting was called in that same year at the "Little Red House" to vote for a town name, so a post office could be established. The name of Jerseyville was chosen to honor the native state of many of its inhabitants.
In 1839, Jersey County was formed out of Greene County and Jerseyville was named as its county seat. After the American Civil War
ended, and the construction of the Alton & Chicago Railroad
was completed, Jerseyville saw a period of commercial, industrial and urban growth. The first major period of growth in the city occurred from 1880 to 1916, and from that time to the present, Jerseyville's growth has since been steady and substantial. The majority of the commercial structures that are now located in the Downtown Historic District and Courthouse Square were built during this period. It was also during this time that the present Jersey County Courthouse was built. The two story, 124 feet (37.8 m) Romanesque Revival building was completed in 1893, and is considered to be one of the most aesthetic courthouses in the area. Other nearby Victorian style
buildings in the city include Queen Anne, Edwardian
and Italianate architectural features, with several of these buildings having been recently renovated.
In recent decades, Jerseyville has been a testing ground in the agricultural biotechnology field. Monsanto
owns and operates a facility located just south of the city, which in 1987, was the site of the world’s very first biotechnology field trial – first with tomatoes and later that year with soybeans. The facility was also home to the first triple stacked corn trial in 1998, which later became part one of Monsanto’s top-selling products. The facility was further expanded in 2008, and now consists of sixteen greenhouses and almost 300 acres of land for field testing.
The Downtown Historic District is presently home to some antique stores and gift shops, a few clothing stores, two pharmacies, and several local restaurants and banks. Most of the growth that has occurred since the early 1990s has been in the southern and southwestern portions of the city, where new residential subdivisions and retail shopping centers have been built, and where numerous land annexations have been made by the city.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 7,984 people, 3,260 households, and 2,089 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,817.9 people per square mile (702.2/km²). There were 3,423 housing units at an average density of 779.4 per square mile (301.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.85% White, 0.09% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 3,260 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35, and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,556, and the median income for a family was $46,832. Males had a median income of $37,312 versus $21,282 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $20,178. About 5.8% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
.
Elementary schools
Middle schools
High school
Both Holy Ghost and St. Francis Xavier Schools are private Roman Catholic schools.
Schools in Jerseyville had a total combined enrollment of 2,720 students.
Nearby colleges and universities include Principia College
, in Elsah
, and Lewis and Clark Community College
, in Godfrey
.
runs along a north-south route, while Illinois Route 16
runs along a west-east route. Also, Illinois Route 109
has its northern terminus in Jerseyville at US Highway 67.
A four-lane expansion of US Highway 67 in Jerseyville has been in the planning stages for years, and is currently in Illinois' five-year road construction plan. The plan includes the Jerseyville Bypass, which is expected to go around the eastern portion of the city when it is completed. Construction of the bypass
has not started yet, but all of the work prior to actual road construction is scheduled to be completed by 2012. This is a part of the completion of the entire US Highway 67 four-lane project in Illinois between Godfrey and the Quad Cities
area.
Radio:
(natural gas
and electricity
), Grafton Technologies and Frontier Communications (landline telephone
service and internet
), and Cass Communications (cable television
). Water services are provided and maintained by the city.
in 1986. Also on the National Register, is the Col. William H. Fulkerson Farmstead (built in 1866), located just north of the city limits on US Highway 67. The farmstead was added to the Register in 1998.
Jerseyville was also a minor stopping point on the historic Underground Railroad
. The “Little Red House” was utilized as a station for the Underground Railroad until the end of the Civil War and included a false cellar that was used to hide slaves searching for freedom.
Jersey County, Illinois
Jersey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. Jersey County is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 22,985, which is an increase of 6.1% from 21,668 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...
. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the city had a total population of 8,465. 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 Jersey County
Jersey County, Illinois
Jersey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. Jersey County is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 22,985, which is an increase of 6.1% from 21,668 in 2000...
, and is also the largest city in the county. The city's current mayor is Richard Perdun
Richard Perdun
Richard Perdun, the current mayor of Jerseyville, Illinois, was born on September 11, 1951. A lifelong Jerseyville resident and community servant, Perdun is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and a parishioner at Holy Ghost...
.
Jerseyville is a part of Southern Illinois, the Metro-East
Metro-East
Metro East is a region in Illinois that comprises the eastern suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, United States. It encompasses five Southern Illinois counties in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area. The region's most populated city is Belleville at 45,000 residents...
region, and the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area
St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area
Greater St. Louis is the area of Missouri and Illinois that surrounds and includes the independent city of St. Louis. Depending on the counties included in the area, it can refer to the St. Louis, MO-IL metropolitan statistical area or the St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL combined...
.
Geography
Jerseyville is located at 39°7′15"N 90°19′39"W (39.120789, -90.327545).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 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), all land
Climate
Typically, the city's climate reflects most MidwestMidwestern United States
The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....
cities, located in the transitional zone between the humid continental climate
Humid continental climate
A humid continental climate is a climatic region typified by large seasonal temperature differences, with warm to hot summers and cold winters....
type and the humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
type (Koppen
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
Dfa and Cfa, respecively), with neither large mountains nor large bodies of water to moderate its temperature. Spring is the wettest season and produces severe weather ranging from tornadoes to snow or ice storms. Summers are hot and humid, and the humidity often makes the heat index
Heat index
The heat index is an index that combines air temperature and relative humidity in an attempt to determine the human-perceived equivalent temperature — how hot it feels, termed the felt air temperature. The human body normally cools itself by perspiration, or sweating, which evaporates and carries...
rise to temperatures feeling well above 100 °F (37.8 °C). Fall is mild with lower humidity and can produce intermittent bouts of heavy rainfall with the first snow flurries
Snow flurry
A snow flurry is a brief instance of light snow, with very little or no accumulation of snow on the ground.-External links:* *...
usually forming in late November. Winters can be cold at times with periodic light snow and temperatures below freezing.
In recent years, average temperatures in Jerseyville have ranged from a low of 17 °F (-8.3 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31.1 °C) in July. The record low temperature of -25 °F was recorded in January 1977 and the record high temperature of 112 °F (44.4 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranges from 1.92 inches (4.9 cm) in January to 4.14 inches (10.5 cm) in April.
History
In 1827, James Faulkner, a PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
native, and his family built a small framed structure that was named the "Little Red House," in the area that is now known as Jerseyville. The "Little Red House" served as the first stagecoach station, first tavern, first school, and first bank in the immediate area. By 1834, the small settlement that grew up around Faulkner’s home, then known as Hickory Grove by its residents, was surveyed and platted by two immigrants from New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
, John Lott and Edward M. Daly. Lott and Daly’s involvement marked the beginning of a proportionally large number of merchants, businessmen and settlers from New Jersey. A meeting was called in that same year at the "Little Red House" to vote for a town name, so a post office could be established. The name of Jerseyville was chosen to honor the native state of many of its inhabitants.
In 1839, Jersey County was formed out of Greene County and Jerseyville was named as its county seat. After the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
ended, and the construction of the Alton & Chicago Railroad
Alton Railroad
The Alton Railroad was the final name of a railroad linking Chicago to Alton, Illinois, St. Louis, Missouri, and Kansas City, Missouri. Its predecessor, the Chicago and Alton Railroad , was purchased by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad in 1931 and was controlled until 1942 when the Alton was...
was completed, Jerseyville saw a period of commercial, industrial and urban growth. The first major period of growth in the city occurred from 1880 to 1916, and from that time to the present, Jerseyville's growth has since been steady and substantial. The majority of the commercial structures that are now located in the Downtown Historic District and Courthouse Square were built during this period. It was also during this time that the present Jersey County Courthouse was built. The two story, 124 feet (37.8 m) Romanesque Revival building was completed in 1893, and is considered to be one of the most aesthetic courthouses in the area. Other nearby Victorian style
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
buildings in the city include Queen Anne, Edwardian
Edwardian Baroque architecture
The term Edwardian Baroque refers to the Neo-Baroque architectural style of many public buildings built in the British Empire during the Edwardian era ....
and Italianate architectural features, with several of these buildings having been recently renovated.
In recent decades, Jerseyville has been a testing ground in the agricultural biotechnology field. Monsanto
Monsanto
The Monsanto Company is a US-based multinational agricultural biotechnology corporation. It is the world's leading producer of the herbicide glyphosate, marketed in the "Roundup" brand of herbicides, and in other brands...
owns and operates a facility located just south of the city, which in 1987, was the site of the world’s very first biotechnology field trial – first with tomatoes and later that year with soybeans. The facility was also home to the first triple stacked corn trial in 1998, which later became part one of Monsanto’s top-selling products. The facility was further expanded in 2008, and now consists of sixteen greenhouses and almost 300 acres of land for field testing.
The Downtown Historic District is presently home to some antique stores and gift shops, a few clothing stores, two pharmacies, and several local restaurants and banks. Most of the growth that has occurred since the early 1990s has been in the southern and southwestern portions of the city, where new residential subdivisions and retail shopping centers have been built, and where numerous land annexations have been made by the city.
Demographics
As of the census
Census
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 7,984 people, 3,260 households, and 2,089 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 1,817.9 people per square mile (702.2/km²). There were 3,423 housing units at an average density of 779.4 per square mile (301.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.85% White, 0.09% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.10% 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 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.
There were 3,260 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% 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, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35, and the average family size was 2.97.
In the city, the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,556, and the median income for a family was $46,832. Males had a median income of $37,312 versus $21,282 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 $20,178. About 5.8% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Jerseyville has a number of public and private schools. Public schools are part of Jersey Community Unit School District 100Jersey Community Unit School District 100
Jersey Community Unit School District 100 is a public K-12 school district based in Jerseyville, Illinois. The school district consists of eight attendance centers in five municipalities, serving students in most of Jersey County, Illinois, and a small portion of southern Greene County,...
.
Elementary schools
- East Elementary School (Grades 3 through 5)
- West Elementary School (Grades Pre-KPre-KindergartenPre-kindergarten refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins between the ages of 3-5 depending on the length of the program...
through 2) - Holy Ghost School (Grades Pre-KPre-KindergartenPre-kindergarten refers to the first formal academic classroom-based learning environment that a child customarily attends in the United States. It begins between the ages of 3-5 depending on the length of the program...
through 4)
Middle schools
- Illini Middle School (Grades 6 through 8)
- St. Francis Xavier School (Grades 5 through 8)
High school
- Jersey Community High SchoolJersey Community High SchoolJersey Community High School is a public high school in Jerseyville, Illinois. It is part of the Jersey Community Unit School District 100. Jersey Community High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,100 students and currently employs 91 teachers and staff members.-History:The present school...
Both Holy Ghost and St. Francis Xavier Schools are private Roman Catholic schools.
Schools in Jerseyville had a total combined enrollment of 2,720 students.
Nearby colleges and universities include Principia College
The Principia
The Principia is an educational institution for Christian Scientists located on two campuses in the St. Louis, Missouri area. Principia School, located in West St. Louis County, serves students from early childhood through high school...
, in Elsah
Elsah, Illinois
Elsah is a village in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2000 U.S. census, the village had a total population of 673. Cyrus Bunting is the the village's current acting mayor.Elsah is a part of the Metro-East region and the St...
, and Lewis and Clark Community College
Lewis and Clark Community College
Lewis and Clark Community College is a comprehensive community college in the Metro-East region of Illinois in Godfrey, enrolling 13,500 credit students and more than 33,000 total students annually....
, in Godfrey
Godfrey, Illinois
Godfrey is a village in Madison County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18000 at the 2010 census. Godfrey is located within the Greater St...
.
Transportation
Two major highways run through the city. US Highway 67U.S. Route 67
U.S. Route 67 is a 1,560 mile long north–south U.S. highway in the Central United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the United States-Mexico border in Presidio, Texas, where it continues south as Mexican Federal Highway 16 upon crossing the Rio Grande. The northern...
runs along a north-south route, while Illinois Route 16
Illinois Route 16
Illinois Route 16 is an arterial east–west highway in central Illinois. Its western terminus is at the Joe Page Bridge over the Illinois River in Hardin, while its eastern terminus is at Paris at Illinois Route 1 and U.S. Route 150, with Illinois Route 133. This is a distance of .- Route...
runs along a west-east route. Also, Illinois Route 109
Illinois Route 109
Illinois Route 109 is a minor north–south state road in southwest Illinois. It runs from Illinois Route 3 east of Newbern north to U.S. Route 67 in Jerseyville. This is a distance of .- Route description :...
has its northern terminus in Jerseyville at US Highway 67.
A four-lane expansion of US Highway 67 in Jerseyville has been in the planning stages for years, and is currently in Illinois' five-year road construction plan. The plan includes the Jerseyville Bypass, which is expected to go around the eastern portion of the city when it is completed. Construction of the bypass
Bypass (road)
A bypass is a road or highway that avoids or "bypasses" a built-up area, town, or village, to let through traffic flow without interference from local traffic, to reduce congestion in the built-up area, and to improve road safety....
has not started yet, but all of the work prior to actual road construction is scheduled to be completed by 2012. This is a part of the completion of the entire US Highway 67 four-lane project in Illinois between Godfrey and the Quad Cities
Quad Cities
The Quad Cities is a group of five cities straddling the Mississippi River on the Iowa–Illinois boundary. These cities, Davenport and Bettendorf and Rock Island, Moline, and East Moline , are the center of the Quad Cities Metropolitan Area, which, as of 2010, had an estimated population of...
area.
Recreation
The Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Department maintains and operates six parks:- Dolan Park - June and Spruce St.
- Easton Park - Lincoln and Easton Ave.
- Lions Club Park - Jefferson and Spruce St.
- Northmoor Park - Liberty St.
- Rotary Club Centennial Park - Liberty, Prairie, and Carpenter St. (Illinois Route 16Illinois Route 16Illinois Route 16 is an arterial east–west highway in central Illinois. Its western terminus is at the Joe Page Bridge over the Illinois River in Hardin, while its eastern terminus is at Paris at Illinois Route 1 and U.S. Route 150, with Illinois Route 133. This is a distance of .- Route...
) - Wittman Park - Jefferson St.
Local media
Print / Online:- Daily newspaper: The TelegraphThe Telegraph (Alton)The Telegraph is a newspaper that serves the St. Louis Metro-East. It was founded in 1836 as the Alton Telegraph by Lawson A. Parks.. It is published seven days a week and has an average daily circulation of 20,441. The paper is owned by Freedom Communications...
- published out of AltonAlton, IllinoisAlton is a city on the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about north of St. Louis, Missouri. The population was 27,865 at the 2010 census. It is a part of the Metro-East region of the Greater St. Louis metropolitan area in Southern Illinois...
, but also covers the Jerseyville and Jersey County areas - Weekly newspaperWeekly newspaperA weekly newspaper is a general-news publication that is published on newsprint once or twice a week.Such newspapers tend to have smaller circulations than daily newspapers, and are usually based in less-populous communities or small, defined areas within large cities; often, they may cover a...
: The Jersey County JournalJersey County JournalThe Jersey County Journal is a weekly newspaper that is distributed free to all residents in Jersey County, Illinois with a postal address. It can also be purchased at multiple locations in the county for a cost of 75 cents.-General information:...
- distributed every Wednesday and online - Weekly classifiedsPennysaverA pennysaver A pennysaver A pennysaver (or free ads paper, Friday Ad (British English or shopper) is a kind of free community periodical available in North America (typically weekly or monthly publications) that advertises items for sale. Frequently pennysavers are actually called The Pennysaver...
: The Jersey County Shopper - print only - Online newspaperOnline newspaperAn online newspaper, also known as a web newspaper, is a newspaper that exists on the World Wide Web or Internet, either separately or as an online version of a printed periodical....
: The Jersey County Star - online only
Radio:
- WJBMWJBMWJBM is a radio station broadcasting a News Talk Information format. It is licensed to Jerseyville, Illinois, United States. The station is currently owned by DJ Two Rivers Radio.-Current programming:Monday - Friday...
1480 kHz AMAM broadcastingAM broadcasting is the process of radio broadcasting using amplitude modulation. AM was the first method of impressing sound on a radio signal and is still widely used today. Commercial and public AM broadcasting is carried out in the medium wave band world wide, and on long wave and short wave...
- has a talk radioTalk radioTalk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
format - KXI70KXI70KXI70 is a NOAA Weather Radio station that serves Jerseyville, Illinois and surrounding cities as well as the northern and eastern portions of the Greater St. Louis area. It is programmed from the National Weather Service forecast office in St. Louis, Missouri with its transmitter located in...
162.450 mHz - NOAA Weather RadioNOAA Weather Radio All HazardsNOAA Weather Radio All Hazards is a network of radio stations broadcasting continuous weather information directly from a nearby National Weather Service office. It is operated by the NWS, an agency of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration within the United States Department of...
Utilities
Utility companies serving Jerseyville are AmerenCIPSAmeren
Ameren Corporation was created December 31, 1997 by the merger of Missouri's Union Electric Company and the neighboring Central Illinois Public Service Company . It is now a holding company for several power companies and energy companies. The company is based in St...
(natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
and electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
), Grafton Technologies and Frontier Communications (landline telephone
Telephone
The telephone , colloquially referred to as a phone, is a telecommunications device that transmits and receives sounds, usually the human voice. Telephones are a point-to-point communication system whose most basic function is to allow two people separated by large distances to talk to each other...
service and internet
Internet access
Many technologies and service plans for Internet access allow customers to connect to the Internet.Consumer use first became popular through dial-up connections in the 20th century....
), and Cass Communications (cable television
Cable television
Cable television is a system of providing television programs to consumers via radio frequency signals transmitted to televisions through coaxial cables or digital light pulses through fixed optical fibers located on the subscriber's property, much like the over-the-air method used in traditional...
). Water services are provided and maintained by the city.
Notable residents
- Russell DunhamRussell E. DunhamRussell Dunham was an American World War II veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor. On January 8, 1945, as a member of Company I, 30th Infantry, 3d Infantry Division, Dunham eliminated three German machine gun nests despite being injured himself.-Early life:Dunham and his brother Ralph, who...
- World War IIWorld War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veteran and recipient of the Medal of HonorMedal of HonorThe Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government. It is bestowed by the President, in the name of Congress, upon members of the United States Armed Forces who distinguish themselves through "conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his or her...
award - Brent HawkinsBrent HawkinsBrent Lee Hawkins is a American football defensive end who is currently under contract with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
- professional footballGridiron footballGridiron football , sometimes known as North American football, is an umbrella term for related codes of football primarily played in the United States and Canada. The predominant forms of gridiron football are American football and Canadian football...
player for the Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan RoughridersThe Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor...
of the CFLCanadian Football LeagueThe Canadian Football League or CFL is a professional sports league located in Canada. The CFL is the highest level of competition in Canadian football, a form of gridiron football closely related to American football....
, and formerly for the Jacksonville JaguarsJacksonville JaguarsThe Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL - Arthur Scott KingArthur Scott KingArthur Scott King was an American physicist and astrophysicist.He was born in Jerseyville, Illinois, the son of Robert Andrew and Miriam Munson King. In 1883 the family moved to Santa Rosa, California in an attempt to alleviate their son Arthur's chronic asthma...
(1876–1957) - noted physicistPhysicistA physicist is a scientist who studies or practices physics. Physicists study a wide range of physical phenomena in many branches of physics spanning all length scales: from sub-atomic particles of which all ordinary matter is made to the behavior of the material Universe as a whole...
and astrophysicist - Anthony L. KnappAnthony L. KnappAnthony Lausett Knapp was a U.S. Representative from Illinois, brother of Robert McCarty Knapp.Born in Middletown, New York, Knapp moved with his parents to Illinois in 1839 and settled in the city of Jerseyville. He completed preparatory studies and then studied law. He was admitted to the bar...
(1828–1881) - U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from IllinoisIllinoisIllinois 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,... - Robert M. KnappRobert M. KnappRobert McCarty Knapp was a U.S. Representative from Illinois, brother of Anthony Lausett Knapp.Born in New York City, Knapp moved with his parents to Jerseyville, Illinois, in 1839....
(1831–1889) - U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from IllinoisIllinoisIllinois 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,...
and former mayor of Jerseyville from 1871 to 1876 - Eric S. PistoriusEric S. PistoriusEric S. Pistorius , is currently a Circuit court Judge of the Seventh Circuit of Illinois, residing from Jerseyville, Illinois. He previously was an attorney at law for his law firm and specialized in the areas of: personal injury, litigation, criminal defense, and collections.-Educational...
- currently a circuit courtCircuit courtCircuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
JudgeJudgeA judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
of the Seventh Circuit in IllinoisIllinoisIllinois 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,... - Thomas J. SelbyThomas J. SelbyThomas Jefferson Selby was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Delaware County, Ohio, Selby attended the common schools.He studied law....
(1840–1917) - U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from IllinoisIllinoisIllinois 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,...
and former mayor of Jerseyville - Jana Shortal - news reporter for KAREKAREKARE, digital channel 11, is an NBC-affiliated television station licensed to Minneapolis, Minnesota, and serving the Minneapolis-St. Paul area of Minnesota and portions of western Wisconsin. It also operates KARE WX NOW, formerly known as NBC Weather Plus on its second digital subchannel...
television in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
Interesting Notes
Both the Jersey County Courthouse and the Jerseyville Downtown Historic District were placed on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1986. Also on the National Register, is the Col. William H. Fulkerson Farmstead (built in 1866), located just north of the city limits on US Highway 67. The farmstead was added to the Register in 1998.
Jerseyville was also a minor stopping point on the historic Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
. The “Little Red House” was utilized as a station for the Underground Railroad until the end of the Civil War and included a false cellar that was used to hide slaves searching for freedom.
Further reading
- Marshall M. Cooper, History of Jerseyville, Illinois, Brookhaven Press, 2001. ISBN 1581039425
- Robbi Courtaway, Spirits of St. Louis II: Further Hauntings in the Mound City, Virginia Publishing, 2002. ISBN 189144218X
- National Academy of SciencesUnited States National Academy of SciencesThe National Academy of Sciences is a corporation in the United States whose members serve pro bono as "advisers to the nation on science, engineering, and medicine." As a national academy, new members of the organization are elected annually by current members, based on their distinguished and...
Staff, Biographical Memoirs, National Academies PressNational Academies PressNational Academies Press was created by the United States National Academies, to publish the reports issued by the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, the Institute of Medicine, and the National Research Council. It publishes nearly 200 books a year on a wide range...
, 1996. ISBN 0309052386