Lewistown, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Lewistown is a city in Fulton County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 2,522 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Fulton County
. Located in central Illinois
, it is southwest of Peoria
. It is the source of Spoon River Anthology
by Edgar Lee Masters
, who lived there. Native American
burial mounds are nearby at Dickson Mounds
on Illinois Route 97
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), all of it land.
in his book titled Spoon River Anthology
.
The Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Illinois River just on the outskirts of Lewistown. It is one of the largest floodplain restoration projects in the United States outside the Florida Everglades.
Dickson Mounds Museum is an archaeological museum dedicated to American Indian artifacts. It is one of the major archaeological museums in the United States.
Rasmussen Blacksmith Shop Museum is located on Main Street of Lewistown. It is one of the few blacksmith shops left in the United States. It has been located in Lewistown since 1893.
The Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive is a huge tourist attraction as well. Once a year in the fall, Lewistown as well as the rest of Fulton County
hold a scenic drive. It includes a plethora of shops and stands that sell a variety of products.
of 2000, there were 2,522 people, 1,092 households, and 661 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,372.2 people per square mile (529.2/km²). There were 1,182 housing units at an average density of 643.1 per square mile (248.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.93% White, 0.08% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races
, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.
There were 1,092 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.1% 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 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,943, and the median income for a family was $40,431. Males had a median income of $31,979 versus $19,569 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,620. About 4.8% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Fulton County, Illinois
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 37,069, which is a decrease of 3.1% from 38,250 in 2000. Its county seat is Lewistown. Canton is the largest city. Both cities are southwest of Peoria, and the county is considered...
, 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 2,522 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 Fulton County
Fulton County, Illinois
Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 37,069, which is a decrease of 3.1% from 38,250 in 2000. Its county seat is Lewistown. Canton is the largest city. Both cities are southwest of Peoria, and the county is considered...
. Located in central 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,...
, it is southwest of Peoria
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
. It is the source of Spoon River Anthology
Spoon River Anthology
Spoon River Anthology , by Edgar Lee Masters, is a collection of short free-form poems that collectively describe the life of the fictional small town of Spoon River, named after the real Spoon River that ran near Masters' home town. The collection includes two hundred and twelve separate...
by Edgar Lee Masters
Edgar Lee Masters
Edgar Lee Masters was an American poet, biographer, and dramatist...
, who lived there. Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
burial mounds are nearby at Dickson Mounds
Dickson Mounds
Dickson Mounds is a Native American settlement site and burial mound complex near Lewistown, Illinois, is located in Fulton County on a low bluff overlooking the Illinois River. It is a large burial complex containing at least two cemeteries, ten burial mounds, and a platform mound. Dickson Mounds...
on Illinois Route 97
Illinois Route 97
Illinois Route 97 is a north–south state highway in the central and western portions of the U.S. state of Illinois. It extends from exit 98 on Interstate 55 in Springfield northwest to U.S. Highway 150 near Galesburg. It crosses over the Illinois River on a bridge west of...
.
Geography
Lewistown is located at 40°23′47"N 90°9′17"W (40.396254, -90.154609).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 1.8 square miles (4.7 km²), all of it land.
Tourist Attractions
Oak Hill Cemetery is located in Lewistown. This cemetery was made famous by Edgar Lee MastersEdgar Lee Masters
Edgar Lee Masters was an American poet, biographer, and dramatist...
in his book titled Spoon River Anthology
Spoon River Anthology
Spoon River Anthology , by Edgar Lee Masters, is a collection of short free-form poems that collectively describe the life of the fictional small town of Spoon River, named after the real Spoon River that ran near Masters' home town. The collection includes two hundred and twelve separate...
.
The Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Illinois River just on the outskirts of Lewistown. It is one of the largest floodplain restoration projects in the United States outside the Florida Everglades.
Dickson Mounds Museum is an archaeological museum dedicated to American Indian artifacts. It is one of the major archaeological museums in the United States.
Rasmussen Blacksmith Shop Museum is located on Main Street of Lewistown. It is one of the few blacksmith shops left in the United States. It has been located in Lewistown since 1893.
The Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive is a huge tourist attraction as well. Once a year in the fall, Lewistown as well as the rest of Fulton County
Fulton County
Fulton County is the name of eight counties in the United States of America. Most are named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the first practical steamboat:* Fulton County, Arkansas, named after Governor William Savin Fulton...
hold a scenic drive. It includes a plethora of shops and stands that sell a variety of products.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,522 people, 1,092 households, and 661 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 1,372.2 people per square mile (529.2/km²). There were 1,182 housing units at an average density of 643.1 per square mile (248.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.93% White, 0.08% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.04% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.20% 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 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.07% of the population.
There were 1,092 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% were non-families. 36.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.1% 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 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.6% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,943, and the median income for a family was $40,431. Males had a median income of $31,979 versus $19,569 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 $15,620. About 4.8% of families and 7.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Emiquon - A 7000 acres (28.3 km²) wetland restoration neighboring Lewistown