Meredosia, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Meredosia is a village in Morgan County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 1,041 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jacksonville
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), of which 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (8.00%) is water.
Meredosia is the home of the Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge
.
Meredosia is known as the catfishing capital of Illinois. and is also home to the Asian carp
. There have also been reports that these same fish are kept as pets in many pools throughout the Meredosia area.
Meredosia is also the site of the most northerly verified catch of the Alligator gar
; the most recent specimen verified by the Illinois Academy of Sciences was caught there in 1922.
of 2000, there were 1,041 people, 450 households, and 301 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,130.3 people per square mile (436.9/km²). There were 486 housing units at an average density of 527.7 per square mile (204.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.90% White, and 0.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.10% of the population.
There were 450 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,961, and the median income for a family was $40,917. Males had a median income of $31,979 versus $16,842 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $19,391. About 5.8% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
valley, with much of the surrounding topography composed of sand outwash hills formed when the last glaciers melted. At one time there were many farmers raising watermelon
s, cantaloupe
, and fresh vegetables, with much of this produce sold in roadside market stands. This has declined in recent years as farming has become less labor-intensive and many small farmers have sold off their land to larger concerns for irrigated row crop farming. Some have theorized that the decline also coincided with changing demographics as more of the young potential farmers turned to factory work or moved from the area.
Much of the alluvial soils in the valley are used for row cropping of corn and soybean
s by private farmers. A large area of farm ground east of town is leased for production of seed corn by Burrus Seed (and other seed companies).
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 1,041 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Illinois
Jacksonville is a city in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,940 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Morgan County....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Jacksonville, Illinois micropolitan area
The Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in west central Illinois, anchored by the city of Jacksonville....
.
Geography
Meredosia is located at 39°49′48"N 90°33′30"W (39.829947, -90.558426).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 a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), of which 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) (8.00%) is water.
Meredosia is the home of the Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge
Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge
The Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge is a national wildlife refuge located along the Illinois River in Cass County and Morgan County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The refuge is adjacent to Meredosia, Illinois, but is managed by the U.S...
.
Meredosia is known as the catfishing capital of Illinois. and is also home to the Asian carp
Asian carp
Many species of heavy-bodied cyprinid fish are collectively known in the United States as Asian carp. Cyprinids from the subcontinent [for example, catla and mrigal ] are not included in this classification, and are known collectively as "Indian carp".Eight Asian carp have been substantially...
. There have also been reports that these same fish are kept as pets in many pools throughout the Meredosia area.
Meredosia is also the site of the most northerly verified catch of the Alligator gar
Alligator gar
The Alligator Gar , Atractosteus spatula, is a primitive ray-finned fish. Unlike other Gars, the mature Alligator Gar possesses a dual row of large teeth in the upper jaw. Its name derives from the alligator-like appearance of these teeth along with the fish's elongated snout...
; the most recent specimen verified by the Illinois Academy of Sciences was caught there in 1922.
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 1,041 people, 450 households, and 301 families residing in the village. 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 1,130.3 people per square mile (436.9/km²). There were 486 housing units at an average density of 527.7 per square mile (204.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.90% White, and 0.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.10% of the population.
There were 450 households out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.85.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,961, and the median income for a family was $40,917. Males had a median income of $31,979 versus $16,842 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 $19,391. About 5.8% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.
Agriculture
Meredosia is located in the Illinois RiverIllinois 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...
valley, with much of the surrounding topography composed of sand outwash hills formed when the last glaciers melted. At one time there were many farmers raising watermelon
Watermelon
Watermelon is a vine-like flowering plant originally from southern Africa. Its fruit, which is also called watermelon, is a special kind referred to by botanists as a pepo, a berry which has a thick rind and fleshy center...
s, cantaloupe
Cantaloupe
"Rockmelon" redirects here, for the band see Rockmelons. See also Cantaloupe .Cantaloupe refers to a variety of Cucumis melo, a species in the family Cucurbitaceae which includes nearly all melons and squashes. Cantaloupes range in size from...
, and fresh vegetables, with much of this produce sold in roadside market stands. This has declined in recent years as farming has become less labor-intensive and many small farmers have sold off their land to larger concerns for irrigated row crop farming. Some have theorized that the decline also coincided with changing demographics as more of the young potential farmers turned to factory work or moved from the area.
Much of the alluvial soils in the valley are used for row cropping of corn and soybean
Soybean
The soybean or soya bean is a species of legume native to East Asia, widely grown for its edible bean which has numerous uses...
s by private farmers. A large area of farm ground east of town is leased for production of seed corn by Burrus Seed (and other seed companies).