La Salle, Illinois
Encyclopedia
LaSalle is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois
, United States, located at the intersection of Interstates 39
and 80
. It is part of the Ottawa
–Streator
Micropolitan Statistical Area. Originally plat
ted in 1837 over one square mile, the city has grown to 12 square miles (31.1 km²). City boundaries extend from the Illinois River
and Illinois and Michigan Canal
to a mile north of Interstate 80 and from the city of Peru
on the west to the village of North Utica
on the east. Starved Rock State Park
is located approximately 5 miles (8 km) to the east. The population was 9,796 at the 2000 census. LaSalle and its twin city, Peru
, make up the core of the Illinois Valley.
was built to connect the Illinois River
with Lake Michigan
. LaSalle was the southwestern terminus of the Canal; Chicago the northeastern. At first LaSalle was the larger of the two cities, but it was soon dwarfed by its partner on the Lake.
Although the original town of LaSalle was plat
ted in the 1830s, the city was not incorporated
until 1852.
In 1838 large groups of Irish immigrants moved to the area to work on the canal. In May 1838, the War of the Kerry Patch broke out at Marseilles, IL. The South Irish fought the North Irish, the South Irish won and were joined by two hundred men at the Kerry Patch, near Split Rock and the Pequamsoggin. They then marched on Peru and destroyed the shanties and beat up anny Connaught or Ulter man they could find. Sherrif Woodruff and his deputy, Zimri Lewis, along with canal contractor, William Byrne, formed a posse and met them near Buffalo Rock. The posse fired upon a mob of five hundred armed South Irishmen led by "General" Sweeney. The mob dispersed,some fled into the river and were shot, many were arrested, officially only ten were killed.
In 1849, Asiatic cholera came to the illinois Valley and killed hundreds.
The Illinois Central Railroad
originally crossed the Illinois river over a mile-long bridge through the eastern side of town on its way from Cairo
to Galena
. The railroad was the cause of a riot in 1853. In 1853 laborers working on the Illinois Central bridge disputed wages with the contractor, Albert Story. He promised to pay them one dollar and a quarter for their daily wage, but later lowered it to a dollar. Some did not read the notice and were incensed at seeing their paychecks on December 15. They broke downthe door Story's house with axes, picks and shovels. Story tried to flee on horse, but the men rushed the stable and with picks, shovels, and stones murdered him. Twelve were arrested and convicted. Governor Matteson commuted the death sentence to imprisonment for life and later granted them full pardons. When governor Matteson visited LaSalle, he was publicly burned in effigy.
On April 18, 1880, a cyclonic windstorm tore off the roofs of houses, St. Partrick's school, toppled the Baptist Church, the engine house, the glassworks, and "entirely destroyed all fences between Utica and LaSalle."
– established the Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company in LaSalle. This company would remain one of the largest employers in the city until its closure in the 1960s. Edward Hegeler built the world famous Hegeler Carus Mansion
near his company's site. His daughter, Mary, married Paul Carus
– Editor of the Open Court Publishing Company
. In 1915 Edward Hegeler Carus, a grandson of Edward Hegeler founded Carus Chemical Company. Matthiessen later went on to become the mayor of LaSalle.
Matthiessen would later get a local state park in his honor
and Hegeler owns the namesake of Hegeler City Park on St. Vincents Avenue.
Early Industries in LaSalle:
Centrally located along the Illinois and Michigan Canal
at the crossroads of I-39 and I-80, LaSalle is just six miles (10 km) from Starved Rock State Park
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²), of which 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (1.40%) is water.
In the Southwest Quadrant, North of the I&M Canal is LaSalle's Downtown. Downtown businesses include: KFC
, Marty's Barber Shop, La Salle Public Library, Monari's 101, King Tire, and Lawn And Garden Center, located at the former site of the Peru-LaSalle Station. Uptown Grill is located at 1st and Gooding. Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 16 and The Volunteer
operate here. The low-lying areas along the railroad were once home to LaSalle's earliest industries.
Bucklin Street is a wide boulevard splitting this neighborhood in half. There are many fine homes in this part of town. LaSalle-Peru Township High School is here.
The Southeastern Quadrant is home to the Hegeler-Carus Mansion and the Carus Chemical Co. Pulaski Park is located in front of Trinity Catholic Academy. This part of La Salle includes the 8th Street Business District, which contains a drug store, a Mexican restaurant, a casual dining center, and a bakery and toy train store.
The Northeastern quadrant of LaSalle was primarily workers' residences for the M&H Zinc Co. Early paternal improvement included the asbestos-filled Matthiessen School, Hegeler Park, and St. Mary's Hospital. East of the residential area are the ruins of M&H. Saint Vincent and Saint Hyacinth's cemeteries are located near the north end of city limits.
The Northwestern quadrant the public school system: Northwest Elementary School and Lincoln Jr. High; as well as LaSalle-Peru Christian Academy. There are several large stately residences on Bucklin Street. Parts of this neighborhood were built over an old horse racing track. It is also the site of where the LaSalle Chargers of the Illinois Valley Youth Football League play home games. The far north of this quadrant is industrial, built along Route 80. Flying J
and Denny's
are located at Illinois Route 351
and North 30th Road.
To the east of the Little Vermillion River is the Eastern Acquirement, supposedly the "future of LaSalle", 400 homes are expected to be here, which might rise the population to 11,500.Rotary Park is being constructed here. This is a low populated area with less than 1,000 residents, but is unseldom in popularity due to the LaSalle Speedway
.
distribution center and Retail Store, Machelle's Backstreet, along with many other local industries and businesses.
Mayor: Jeff Grove
Ward One Aldermen: James Demes, Jim Bacidore
Ward Two Aldermen: Joe Edgecomb, Tom Ptak
Ward Three Aldermen: John "Doc" Lavieri, John Duncan
Ward Four Aldermen: Mark Schneider, T. Boo Herman
City Clerk: Virginia Kochanowski
City Treasurer: Bob Kziazkiewicz
City Attorney: James McPhedran
City Engineer: Mike Furlan
City Comptroller: JoAnne Milby
Building Inspector: Brian Maddox
Director of Public Works: Sam McNielly
Economic Development Coordinator: Don Alesky
of 2010, there were 9,609 people, 4,161 households, and 2,471 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,543.6 people per square mile (595.6/km²). There were 4,510 housing units at an average density of 710.7 per square mile (274.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.73% White, 1.28% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.07% from other races
, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.22% of the population.
There were 4,161 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,491, and the median income for a family was $44,638. Males had a median income of $37,095 versus $21,334 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,099. About 12.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
and Interstate 39
. Illinois Route 351
separates the east and west of US Route 6. US Route 51 also runs through the city.
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, located at the intersection of Interstates 39
Interstate 39
Interstate 39 is a highway in the midwestern United States. I-39 runs from Normal, Illinois at Interstate 55 to Highway 29 in Rothschild, Wisconsin, approximately six miles south of Wausau. I-39 was designed to replace US Highway 51, which in the early 1980s was one of the busiest two-lane...
and 80
Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
. It is part of the Ottawa
Ottawa, Illinois
Ottawa is a city located at the confluence of the Illinois River and Fox River in LaSalle County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 18,786...
–Streator
Streator, Illinois
Streator is a city in LaSalle and partially in Livingston counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city is situated on the Vermilion River approximately southwest of Chicago, Illinois in the prairie and farm land of north-central Illinois. It is the center of the geographic region known as...
Micropolitan Statistical Area. Originally plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in 1837 over one square mile, the city has grown to 12 square miles (31.1 km²). City boundaries extend from the Illinois River
Illinois River
The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the State of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of . This river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route...
and Illinois and Michigan Canal
Illinois and Michigan Canal
The Illinois and Michigan Canal ran from the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago on the Chicago River to LaSalle-Peru, Illinois, on the Illinois River. It was finished in 1848 when Chicago Mayor James Hutchinson Woodworth presided over its opening; and it allowed boat transportation from the Great...
to a mile north of Interstate 80 and from the city of Peru
Peru, Illinois
Peru is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,295 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area...
on the west to the village of North Utica
North Utica, Illinois
North Utica is a village in Utica Township, LaSalle County, Illinois. The population was 977 at the 2000 United States Census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area....
on the east. Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park is a state park in Illinois, characterized by the many canyons within its 2360 acres. Located just southwest of the village of North Utica, in Deer Park Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, along the south bank of the Illinois River, the park hosts over two million visitors...
is located approximately 5 miles (8 km) to the east. The population was 9,796 at the 2000 census. LaSalle and its twin city, Peru
Peru, Illinois
Peru is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The population was 10,295 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, make up the core of the Illinois Valley.
History
LaSalle was named in honor of the early French explorer, Robert de LaSalle. In presettlement times the Illinois River was navigable upstream only to LaSalle; beyond LaSalle were a series of portages, in which boats had to be carried around rapids. During the 1830s, the Illinois and Michigan CanalIllinois and Michigan Canal
The Illinois and Michigan Canal ran from the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago on the Chicago River to LaSalle-Peru, Illinois, on the Illinois River. It was finished in 1848 when Chicago Mayor James Hutchinson Woodworth presided over its opening; and it allowed boat transportation from the Great...
was built to connect the Illinois River
Illinois River
The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the State of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of . This river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route...
with Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan
Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes of North America and the only one located entirely within the United States. It is the second largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third largest by surface area, after Lake Superior and Lake Huron...
. LaSalle was the southwestern terminus of the Canal; Chicago the northeastern. At first LaSalle was the larger of the two cities, but it was soon dwarfed by its partner on the Lake.
Although the original town of LaSalle was plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
ted in the 1830s, the city was not incorporated
Municipal corporation
A municipal corporation is the legal term for a local governing body, including cities, counties, towns, townships, charter townships, villages, and boroughs. Municipal incorporation occurs when such municipalities become self-governing entities under the laws of the state or province in which...
until 1852.
In 1838 large groups of Irish immigrants moved to the area to work on the canal. In May 1838, the War of the Kerry Patch broke out at Marseilles, IL. The South Irish fought the North Irish, the South Irish won and were joined by two hundred men at the Kerry Patch, near Split Rock and the Pequamsoggin. They then marched on Peru and destroyed the shanties and beat up anny Connaught or Ulter man they could find. Sherrif Woodruff and his deputy, Zimri Lewis, along with canal contractor, William Byrne, formed a posse and met them near Buffalo Rock. The posse fired upon a mob of five hundred armed South Irishmen led by "General" Sweeney. The mob dispersed,some fled into the river and were shot, many were arrested, officially only ten were killed.
In 1849, Asiatic cholera came to the illinois Valley and killed hundreds.
The Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
originally crossed the Illinois river over a mile-long bridge through the eastern side of town on its way from Cairo
Cairo, Illinois
Cairo is the southernmost city in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is the county seat of Alexander County. Cairo is located at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The rivers converge at Fort Defiance State Park, an American Civil War fort that was commanded by General Ulysses S. Grant...
to Galena
Galena, Illinois
Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...
. The railroad was the cause of a riot in 1853. In 1853 laborers working on the Illinois Central bridge disputed wages with the contractor, Albert Story. He promised to pay them one dollar and a quarter for their daily wage, but later lowered it to a dollar. Some did not read the notice and were incensed at seeing their paychecks on December 15. They broke downthe door Story's house with axes, picks and shovels. Story tried to flee on horse, but the men rushed the stable and with picks, shovels, and stones murdered him. Twelve were arrested and convicted. Governor Matteson commuted the death sentence to imprisonment for life and later granted them full pardons. When governor Matteson visited LaSalle, he was publicly burned in effigy.
On April 18, 1880, a cyclonic windstorm tore off the roofs of houses, St. Partrick's school, toppled the Baptist Church, the engine house, the glassworks, and "entirely destroyed all fences between Utica and LaSalle."
Industry
Six years after incorporation, two men – Frederich W. Matthiessen and Edward C. HegelerEdward C. Hegeler
Edward C. Hegeler was a United States zinc manufacturer and publisher.-Biography:...
– established the Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company in LaSalle. This company would remain one of the largest employers in the city until its closure in the 1960s. Edward Hegeler built the world famous Hegeler Carus Mansion
Hegeler Carus Mansion
The Hegeler Carus Mansion, located at 1307 Seventh Street in La Salle, Illinois is one of the midwest's great Second Empire structures.Built in 1876 by Edward C. Hegeler, partner in nearby Matthiessen Hegeler Zinc Company, the mansion was designed by Chicago architect William W. Boyington...
near his company's site. His daughter, Mary, married Paul Carus
Paul Carus
Paul Carus, Ph.D. was a German-American author, editor, a student of comparative religion, and professor of philosophy.-Life and education:...
– Editor of the Open Court Publishing Company
Open Court Publishing Company
The Open Court Publishing Company is a publisher with offices in Chicago and La Salle, Illinois. It is part of the Carus Publishing Company of Peru, Illinois.-History:...
. In 1915 Edward Hegeler Carus, a grandson of Edward Hegeler founded Carus Chemical Company. Matthiessen later went on to become the mayor of LaSalle.
Matthiessen would later get a local state park in his honor
Matthiessen State Park
Matthiessen State Park is an Illinois state park located a few miles south of the more famous Starved Rock State Park. The main entrances to both parks are located on Illinois State Route 178....
and Hegeler owns the namesake of Hegeler City Park on St. Vincents Avenue.
Early Industries in LaSalle:
- LaSalle Machine and Tool Company
- Kahn Shirt Factory
- LaSalle Pressed Brick Company.
- German American Portland Cement Company.
Mining
Coal was noted at LaSalle when a survey of the canal was made by Major Long in 1817. Coal mines fueled LaSalle's development. The town was the site of a furious firefight during the Bituminous Coal Miners' Strike of 1894. The earliest mine in the area was Dixwell Lathrop's Mine near Rockwell in 1839. LaSalle had one of the three mine rescue stations in Illinois, the others being in Springfield and Benton. Other mines in LaSalle include:- Kentucky Mine, 1856–1873
- Matthiessen and Hegeler Mine, 1874–1937
- Rockwell Mine, 1865–1912
- LaSalle Mine, 1874–1949
- Caledonia Mine, 1870–1884
- Blackball Mine
Geography
La Salle is located at 41°20′28"N 89°5′27"W (41.341056, −89.090834).Centrally located along the Illinois and Michigan Canal
Illinois and Michigan Canal
The Illinois and Michigan Canal ran from the Bridgeport neighborhood in Chicago on the Chicago River to LaSalle-Peru, Illinois, on the Illinois River. It was finished in 1848 when Chicago Mayor James Hutchinson Woodworth presided over its opening; and it allowed boat transportation from the Great...
at the crossroads of I-39 and I-80, LaSalle is just six miles (10 km) from Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park
Starved Rock State Park is a state park in Illinois, characterized by the many canyons within its 2360 acres. Located just southwest of the village of North Utica, in Deer Park Township, LaSalle County, Illinois, along the south bank of the Illinois River, the park hosts over two million visitors...
.
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 6.4 square miles (16.6 km²), of which 6.3 square miles (16.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (1.40%) is water.
Neighborhoods
LaSalle's older neighborhoods can be considered divided by Joliet/St. Vincents and 11th Street to form four residential neighborhoods formalized by wards.In the Southwest Quadrant, North of the I&M Canal is LaSalle's Downtown. Downtown businesses include: KFC
KFC
KFC, founded and also known as Kentucky Fried Chicken, is a chain of fast food restaurants based in Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. KFC has been a brand and operating segment, termed a concept of Yum! Brands since 1997 when that company was spun off from PepsiCo as Tricon Global...
, Marty's Barber Shop, La Salle Public Library, Monari's 101, King Tire, and Lawn And Garden Center, located at the former site of the Peru-LaSalle Station. Uptown Grill is located at 1st and Gooding. Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 16 and The Volunteer
The Volunteer (canal boat)
The Volunteer is a 76-foot replica of a 19th Century canal boat which is owned and operated by the Canal Corridor Association. The Volunteer operates on a restored section of the Illinois and Michigan Canal at LaSalle, Illinois.- Construction :...
operate here. The low-lying areas along the railroad were once home to LaSalle's earliest industries.
Bucklin Street is a wide boulevard splitting this neighborhood in half. There are many fine homes in this part of town. LaSalle-Peru Township High School is here.
The Southeastern Quadrant is home to the Hegeler-Carus Mansion and the Carus Chemical Co. Pulaski Park is located in front of Trinity Catholic Academy. This part of La Salle includes the 8th Street Business District, which contains a drug store, a Mexican restaurant, a casual dining center, and a bakery and toy train store.
The Northeastern quadrant of LaSalle was primarily workers' residences for the M&H Zinc Co. Early paternal improvement included the asbestos-filled Matthiessen School, Hegeler Park, and St. Mary's Hospital. East of the residential area are the ruins of M&H. Saint Vincent and Saint Hyacinth's cemeteries are located near the north end of city limits.
The Northwestern quadrant the public school system: Northwest Elementary School and Lincoln Jr. High; as well as LaSalle-Peru Christian Academy. There are several large stately residences on Bucklin Street. Parts of this neighborhood were built over an old horse racing track. It is also the site of where the LaSalle Chargers of the Illinois Valley Youth Football League play home games. The far north of this quadrant is industrial, built along Route 80. Flying J
Flying J
FJ Management Inc., formerly known as Flying J Inc., is a privately held U.S. corporation which operates oil & refining, banking, and insurance businesses. Along with Pilot Corporation and CVC Capital Partners, it is a joint-owner of Pilot Flying J, the largest truck stop chain in the United...
and Denny's
Denny's
Denny's is a full-service coffee shop/family restaurant chain. It operates over 1,500 restaurants in the United States , Canada, Curaçao, Costa Rica, Honduras, Jamaica, Japan , Mexico, New Zealand, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.Denny's is known for always being...
are located at Illinois Route 351
Illinois Route 351
Illinois Route 351 is a north–south state route that leads from Illinois Route 71 and Illinois Route 251 by Oglesby through downtown La Salle to Interstate 80. It is long.- Route description :...
and North 30th Road.
To the east of the Little Vermillion River is the Eastern Acquirement, supposedly the "future of LaSalle", 400 homes are expected to be here, which might rise the population to 11,500.Rotary Park is being constructed here. This is a low populated area with less than 1,000 residents, but is unseldom in popularity due to the LaSalle Speedway
LaSalle Speedway
The LaSalle Speedway is a 1/4 mile dirt track racing speedway founded in 1947 and located in LaSalle, Illinois.- History :...
.
Rockwell
The Rockwell Colony was founded in 1838 by a group from Norwich Connecticut. They hoped that he Illinois Central would cross the Illinois River and that the Illinois and Michigan Canal would terminate at that location. Instead these two events happened in nearby LaSalle. Soon after, the thriving colony of two hundred people was wiped out by a malaria epidemic.Climate
Culture
In the 1930s, the city was host to many casinos and dubbed "Little Reno". In fact, it was the least populated gambling town in the United States at the time. Currently, there are many nightclubs downtown.Entertainment and the Arts
LaSalle has performances by the Illinois Valley Symphony. Stage 212 and a ballet studio cultivate the performing arts.Parks
There are many parks and nature areas within the city. These include:- Hegeler Park
- Matthiessen Park, not to be confused with the local Matthiessen State ParkMatthiessen State ParkMatthiessen State Park is an Illinois state park located a few miles south of the more famous Starved Rock State Park. The main entrances to both parks are located on Illinois State Route 178....
. - Pulaski Park
- St. Mary's Park
- Mary Hegeler Carus Memorial Park
- Ninth Street Park
- Prairie Wildlife Park
- Rotary Park (under construction)
Economy
LaSalle is currently home to the Carus Chemical Company, Illinois Cement Company, Air Products, News Tribune, Buckman's Scrap, and the JC WhitneyJC Whitney
JC Whitney began its life in 1915 as The Warshawsky Company, a scrap metal yard on the South Side of Chicago. The company's founder was a Lithuanian immigrant named Israel Warshawsky. Throughout World War I, Israel bought failed auto manufacturers and added new parts to his inventory. The Warshawky...
distribution center and Retail Store, Machelle's Backstreet, along with many other local industries and businesses.
Revival
The arrival of the Volunteer (canal boat) on 06-07-2008 is expected to draw over 70,000 visitors a year and pump $5 million into the local economy in the next 3 years.Government
LaSalle's government is made up of a mayor, eight aldermen (two for each ward), a city clerk, city treasurer, attorney, head engineer, comptroller, building inspector, director of public works, and economic development coordinator. They are listed below:Mayor: Jeff Grove
Ward One Aldermen: James Demes, Jim Bacidore
Ward Two Aldermen: Joe Edgecomb, Tom Ptak
Ward Three Aldermen: John "Doc" Lavieri, John Duncan
Ward Four Aldermen: Mark Schneider, T. Boo Herman
City Clerk: Virginia Kochanowski
City Treasurer: Bob Kziazkiewicz
City Attorney: James McPhedran
City Engineer: Mike Furlan
City Comptroller: JoAnne Milby
Building Inspector: Brian Maddox
Director of Public Works: Sam McNielly
Economic Development Coordinator: Don Alesky
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 2010, there were 9,609 people, 4,161 households, and 2,471 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 1,543.6 people per square mile (595.6/km²). There were 4,510 housing units at an average density of 710.7 per square mile (274.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.73% White, 1.28% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.07% 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 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.22% of the population.
There were 4,161 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% 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, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,491, and the median income for a family was $44,638. Males had a median income of $37,095 versus $21,334 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 $19,099. About 12.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
The city is at the crossroads of Interstate 80Interstate 80
Interstate 80 is the second-longest Interstate Highway in the United States, following Interstate 90. It is a transcontinental artery running from downtown San Francisco, California to Teaneck, New Jersey in the New York City Metropolitan Area...
and Interstate 39
Interstate 39
Interstate 39 is a highway in the midwestern United States. I-39 runs from Normal, Illinois at Interstate 55 to Highway 29 in Rothschild, Wisconsin, approximately six miles south of Wausau. I-39 was designed to replace US Highway 51, which in the early 1980s was one of the busiest two-lane...
. Illinois Route 351
Illinois Route 351
Illinois Route 351 is a north–south state route that leads from Illinois Route 71 and Illinois Route 251 by Oglesby through downtown La Salle to Interstate 80. It is long.- Route description :...
separates the east and west of US Route 6. US Route 51 also runs through the city.
Notable people
- James T. Aubrey, Jr., television and film executive
- Paul Carus Ph.D.Paul CarusPaul Carus, Ph.D. was a German-American author, editor, a student of comparative religion, and professor of philosophy.-Life and education:...
, (1852‑1919), German-American editor and publisher of Open Court Publishing CompanyOpen Court Publishing CompanyThe Open Court Publishing Company is a publisher with offices in Chicago and La Salle, Illinois. It is part of the Carus Publishing Company of Peru, Illinois.-History:...
and The MonistThe MonistThe Monist: An International Quarterly Journal of General Philosophical Inquiry is an American academic journal in the field of philosophy. It was founded in October 1890 by Edward C. Hegeler, making it one of the longest-established journals in philosophy...
. - Mike GoffMike Goff (American football)Michael J. Goff is a retired American football guard. He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the third round of the 1998 NFL Draft. He played college football at Iowa....
, offensive guard for the Kansas City ChiefsKansas City ChiefsThe Kansas City Chiefs are a professional American football team based in Kansas City, Missouri. They are a member of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Originally named the Dallas Texans, the club was founded by Lamar Hunt in 1960 as a...
. attended LaSalle-Peru High SchoolLaSalle-Peru High SchoolLaSalle-Peru Township High School, also known as LaSalle-Peru High School, LPHS, or simply LP, is a public four-year high school located at 541 Chartres Street in LaSalle, Illinois, a small city in LaSalle County, Illinois, in the Midwestern United States. LPHS serves the communities and...
. - Thomas L. KilbrideThomas L. KilbrideThomas L. Kilbride , is the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Illinois since 2010. He has serves as the Illinois Supreme Court Justice for the Third District.-Biography:...
, Illinois Supreme Court Justice. - Daisetz Teitaro SuzukiDaisetz Teitaro SuzukiDaisetsu Teitaro Suzuki was a Japanese author of books and essays on Buddhism, Zen and Shin that were instrumental in spreading interest in both Zen and Shin to the West. Suzuki was also a prolific translator of Chinese, Japanese, and Sanskrit literature...
(1870–1966), world-famous BuddhismBuddhismBuddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and ZenZenZen is a school of Mahāyāna Buddhism founded by the Buddhist monk Bodhidharma. The word Zen is from the Japanese pronunciation of the Chinese word Chán , which in turn is derived from the Sanskrit word dhyāna, which can be approximately translated as "meditation" or "meditative state."Zen...
author who was instrumental in spreading interest in Zen to the West. - Hal CherneHal CherneHarold Thomas Cherne was an American football offensive lineman in the National Football League for the Boston Redskins. He played college football at DePaul University....
, (1907–1983), offensive lineman for the Boston RedskinsWashington RedskinsThe Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
. - Heinie BergerHeinie BergerCharles Carl "Heinie" Berger , was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Born in LaSalle, Illinois, Berger played for four seasons for the Cleveland Naps , making his debut May 6, 1907, and playing his final on July 22, 1910. His best years were 1908 and 1909, with Berger winning 13 games in each of...
, (1882–1954), pitcher for the Cleveland NapsCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. - John FitzpatrickJohn Fitzpatrick (baseball)John Arthur Fitzpatrick , nicknamed "Foghorn" and "Eagle Beak," was an American Major League Baseball coach and scout and minor league catcher and manager. He was born in LaSalle, Illinois....
, (1904–1990), Major League BaseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
coachCoach (baseball)In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
for the Los Angeles Angels. - Deacon Van BurenDeacon Van BurenEdward Eugene Van Buren , was a professional baseball player who played outfield during the 1904 season.-External links:...
(1870–1957) outfielder for the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
. Born in La Salle County, but some say it was the actual city of LaSalle. - Philip Godfrey ReinhardPhilip Godfrey ReinhardPhilip Godfrey Reinhard is a United States federal judge.Born in LaSalle, Illinois, Reinhard received a B.A. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1962 and a J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law in 1964. He was an Assistant state's attorney of Winnebago County,...
, federal judge - Alexander CampbellAlexander Campbell (Illinois politician)Alexander Campbell was a member of the US House of Representatives.Cambell was born in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. A former ironworker, he became wealthy managing mines and steel mills. He was the first mayor of LaSalle, Illinois and in the Illinois House of Representatives before entering the...
, LaSalle mayor and Illinois politician - Albert C. Martin, Sr.Albert C. Martin, Sr.Albert Carey Martin was an American architect and engineer.He founded the architectural firm of Albert C...
, architect and engineer