Mahomet, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Mahomet is a village in Champaign County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 7,258 at the 2010 census. Mahomet is located approximately ten miles west of Champaign at the junction of Interstate 74 and IL 47.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has an area of 17.7 km² land and none of it is covered by water, although satellite photos shows lakes and Sangamon River
.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 4,877 people, 1,654 households, and 1,374 families residing in the village. This figure does not include surrounding subdivisions which would almost double the population. The population density
was 711.6 people per square mile (274.9/km²). There were 1,700 housing units at an average density of 248.0 per square mile (95.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.18% White, 0.14% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.39% from other races
, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 1,654 households out of which 51.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.9% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.9% were non-families. 14.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the village the population was spread out with 34.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $57,574, and the median income for a family was $61,063. Males had a median income of $46,277 versus $30,956 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $21,990. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
The most popular tourist attractions in Mahomet are all Champaign County Forest Preserve District properties: Lake of the Woods Park and its award-winning Hartwell C. Howard Golf Course, and the River Bend Forest Preserve. Lake of the Woods Park is a 900 acres (3.6 km²) park along the Sangamon River
. The park features a botanical garden, a lake, a picturesque covered bridge and also offers activities like boating, fishing, cross country skiing, and sledding. Within Lake of the Woods Park is the Early American Museum, which has a collection that features life in the 19th and early 20th century in East-Central Illinois. The park has a 3.3 miles (5.3 km) bike path and a bell tower. The Hartwell C. Howard Golf Course is an 18 hole regulation course, a 9 hole par 3 course, and a practice range. The River Bend Forest Preserve is 275 acres (1.1 km²), of which 130 acre (0.5260918 km²) is water. The park has two large lakes, one of them being the largest lake in Champaign County
and 2.5 miles (4 km) of forest along the Sangamon River
.
ranked MSHS 49th regarding state test scores in 2007.
of the University of Illinois
play basketball and wrestle.
The village of Mahomet was first settled in 1832 on the banks of the Sangamon River
. It was the first community to be established in modern day Champaign County
. The original village name was Middletown, because it was half-way between the towns of Danville
and Bloomington
. In 1871, the name of the village was changed to Mahomet because there was already another Middletown in Illinois, which was causing mail problems. Most early settlers came from Ohio
, Virginia
, Kentucky
, and Pennsylvania
and chose to reside in Mahomet because there was abundant water from the Sangamon River
and abundant trees. Currently, most residents commute 10 miles (16 km) to the city of Champaign
to work, although the village has a thriving small business district.
The Illinois town's name derives from the "Mahomet Lodge," the local Masonic Lodge
at the time the town was searching for a new name. Its use as the name of the lodge was a manifestation of the Freemasons' liberal use of religious names and stonemason tools and symbols. An alternative theory states that the name Mahomet was arbitrarily assigned when the conflicting names were noted by the US Postal Service.
Although the unusual spelling, which is French for Mohammed, sometimes confuses newcomers, the pronunciation of Mahomet is muh-HOMM-it.
In 2007, the citizens of Mahomet voted to repeal the alcohol prohibition
order that had been in place since World War II
.
Champaign County, Illinois
Champaign County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 201,081, which is an increase of 11.9% from 179,669 in 2000.. It is the 10th most populous county in Illinois...
, 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 7,258 at the 2010 census. Mahomet is located approximately ten miles west of Champaign at the junction of Interstate 74 and IL 47.
Geography
Mahomet is located at 40°11′33"N 88°24′8"W (40.192384, -88.402115).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 village has an area of 17.7 km² land and none of it is covered by water, although satellite photos shows lakes and Sangamon River
Sangamon River
The Sangamon River is a principal tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in central Illinois in the United States. It drains a mostly rural agricultural area between Peoria and Springfield...
.
Demographics
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 4,877 people, 1,654 households, and 1,374 families residing in the village. This figure does not include surrounding subdivisions which would almost double the population. 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 711.6 people per square mile (274.9/km²). There were 1,700 housing units at an average density of 248.0 per square mile (95.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.18% White, 0.14% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.39% 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 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.
There were 1,654 households out of which 51.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.9% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.9% were non-families. 14.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.95 and the average family size was 3.27.
In the village the population was spread out with 34.3% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 31.8% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 6.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $57,574, and the median income for a family was $61,063. Males had a median income of $46,277 versus $30,956 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 village was $21,990. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.1% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Tourism
Sangamon River
The Sangamon River is a principal tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in central Illinois in the United States. It drains a mostly rural agricultural area between Peoria and Springfield...
. The park features a botanical garden, a lake, a picturesque covered bridge and also offers activities like boating, fishing, cross country skiing, and sledding. Within Lake of the Woods Park is the Early American Museum, which has a collection that features life in the 19th and early 20th century in East-Central Illinois. The park has a 3.3 miles (5.3 km) bike path and a bell tower. The Hartwell C. Howard Golf Course is an 18 hole regulation course, a 9 hole par 3 course, and a practice range. The River Bend Forest Preserve is 275 acres (1.1 km²), of which 130 acre (0.5260918 km²) is water. The park has two large lakes, one of them being the largest lake in Champaign County
Champaign County, Illinois
Champaign County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 201,081, which is an increase of 11.9% from 179,669 in 2000.. It is the 10th most populous county in Illinois...
and 2.5 miles (4 km) of forest along the Sangamon River
Sangamon River
The Sangamon River is a principal tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in central Illinois in the United States. It drains a mostly rural agricultural area between Peoria and Springfield...
.
Mahomet Schools
The Mahomet School District has 2,678 students in grades K-12, 185 instructors and 10 administrators, spread over five schools. The school colors are orange and blue and the school mascot is a bulldog.Mahomet-Seymour High School
Mahomet-Seymour High School was built in 1981 and has since undergone expansion as the community of Mahomet continues to grow. The latest expansion was completed in August 2000 and brought 16000 sq ft (1,486.4 m²). (when completed the building was over 80000 sq ft (7,432.2 m²)) of additional space to the building, increased student capacity to 1,100, and cost $8,701,400. As of the 2004-2005 school year, the school has an enrollment of 863 students and a faculty of fifty-two full time teachers.0n May 5 of 2007 School board members unanimously approved a Mahomet-Seymour Schools Foundation plan to raise money to build a greenhouse.http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2007-03-06/greenhouse-plans-move-forward.html In Early 2008 the Greenhouse was pronounced to be ready for spring.http://www.news-gazette.com/news/education/2008-01-03/m-s-greenhouse-ready-use.html The Chicago Sun-TimesChicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
ranked MSHS 49th regarding state test scores in 2007.
Mahomet-Seymour Junior High
Built in 1961, the building that is now MSJH was originally Mahomet- Seymour High School. In 1981 the high school moved to its current building. MSJH has gone through many renovations and additions, including ten new rooms in 1994. As of the 2004-2005 school year, there are 631 students enrolled at MSJH over three grade levels (6th-8th). An interesing fact about MSJH is that the floor in the Blue Gym was originally the flooring at the Assembly Hall, where the Fighting IlliniIllinois Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini are the intercollegiate athletic teams of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The University offers 10 men's and 11 women's varsity sports....
of the University of Illinois
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
The University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign is a large public research-intensive university in the state of Illinois, United States. It is the flagship campus of the University of Illinois system...
play basketball and wrestle.
History
Sangamon River
The Sangamon River is a principal tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in central Illinois in the United States. It drains a mostly rural agricultural area between Peoria and Springfield...
. It was the first community to be established in modern day Champaign County
Champaign County, Illinois
Champaign County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 201,081, which is an increase of 11.9% from 179,669 in 2000.. It is the 10th most populous county in Illinois...
. The original village name was Middletown, because it was half-way between the towns of Danville
Danville, Illinois
Danville is a city in Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. It is the principal city of the'Danville, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area' which encompasses all of Danville and Vermilion County. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 32,467. It is the county seat of...
and Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
. In 1871, the name of the village was changed to Mahomet because there was already another Middletown in Illinois, which was causing mail problems. Most early settlers came from Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, and Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
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...
and chose to reside in Mahomet because there was abundant water from the Sangamon River
Sangamon River
The Sangamon River is a principal tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in central Illinois in the United States. It drains a mostly rural agricultural area between Peoria and Springfield...
and abundant trees. Currently, most residents commute 10 miles (16 km) to the city of Champaign
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
to work, although the village has a thriving small business district.
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
at the time the town was searching for a new name. Its use as the name of the lodge was a manifestation of the Freemasons' liberal use of religious names and stonemason tools and symbols. An alternative theory states that the name Mahomet was arbitrarily assigned when the conflicting names were noted by the US Postal Service.
Although the unusual spelling, which is French for Mohammed, sometimes confuses newcomers, the pronunciation of Mahomet is muh-HOMM-it.
In 2007, the citizens of Mahomet voted to repeal the alcohol prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
order that had been in place since World War II
World War II
World 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...
.
Points of interest
- Mabery Gelvin Botanical GardenMabery Gelvin Botanical GardenThe Mabery Gelvin Botanical Garden is a botanical garden located just off State Route 47, one mile north of Interstate 74, in Mahomet, Illinois...
- Hazen BridgeHazen BridgeThe Hazen Bridge, also known as the Newcomb Bridge, is a steel bridge spanning the Sangamon River north of Mahomet in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. It was constructed at a location known as White's ford, a popular crossing location of that era because of its proximity to Mahomet...
- A registered historical bridge northeast on Mahomet.