Pittsfield, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Pittsfield is a city in Pike County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 4,211 at the 2000 census.
. It is the county seat
of Pike County
. It was home to John Hay
, Lincoln's
personal secretary, ambassador to England under President William McKinley
, later Secretary of State for Theodore Roosevelt
and creator of the Open Door Policy
in China
. As county seat, the town was one of the various places in central Illinois where Abraham Lincoln practiced law as part of the circuit court, working on 34 cases between 1839 and 1852. One local newspaper, now known as the Pike Press, was then owned by another of Lincoln's future secretaries, John Nicolay, and featured an editorial containing one of the first known suggestions of Lincoln as the Republican nominee for the presidency.
Pittsfield is the self-proclaimed "Pork Capital" of the Midwest, owing to the long history of pork production in the region, which fed into the large meat-packing industry of Chicago. Though agriculture in the region is no longer so dependent on pork, the town still hosts a yearly "Pig Days" festival.
The local high school football team, the Saukees, still holds the record for longest winning streak in the state. Starting with their season opening 6-0 win over North Greene in 1966, the Pittsfield Saukees reeled off 64 consecutive wins, which included 15 straight shutouts between 1969 and 1971. The streak extended all the way through to the second game of the 1973 season, when Pittsfield dropped a 12-0 decision to Winchester.
Pittsfield is the setting for Jamie Gilson
's book Hello, My Name is Scrambled Eggs. Singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens
wrote a song about Pittsfield on his album The Avalanche
.
The East Ward School
, built between 1861 and 1866, was designed by Architect John M. Van Osdel
, who also designed the Palmer House in Chicago, as well as the Governor's Mansion
in Springfield
. John Houston of Griggsville
built the school for the contract price of $35,000, which was financed by bonding. The building is stone (boated from Joliet on the Illinois river) and brick burned in Pittsfield. Both the grade school and high school were located in this building. Its large clock and bell were donated by Colonel Ross and mounted in the tower. The school closed in 1955 and was unoccupied until 1978 when it was renovated and became the home of the Pike County Historical Society and the Pike County Historic Museum.
There are nine homes still in existence in Pittsfield that are connected to Abraham Lincoln
, including the Shastid House
, where Lincoln often stayed while practicing cases in the county.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which, 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.11%) is water.
Pittsfield's drinking water supply is provided by Lake Pittsfield, an artificial reservoir held in by an earth and concrete dam. The 200 acre (0.809372 km²) lake is located within a 680 acres (2.8 km²) park that has become a prime recreational area offering boating, fishing, RV and primitive camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Pittsfield, along with the bulk of Pike County, is located in the land between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers as they move toward convergence in St. Louis. The land is riddled with streams and bottom lands mostly draining through the McGee Creek drainage basin into the Illinois River. Thus, the land around Pittsfield and Pike County is much more hilly and forested than the rest of the plains of central Illinois. This geography, combined with a relative lack of heavy development, make the areas around Pittsfield particularly suited to wildlife. Pittsfield regularly attracts large numbers of out-of-state game hunters, and Pike county consistently leads all other Illinois counties in the number of deer harvested during fall hunting seasons.
of 2000, there were 4,211 people, 1,805 households, and 1,126 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,178.2 people per square mile (455.4/km²). There were 1,985 housing units at an average density of 555.4 per square mile (214.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.43% White, 0.21% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.17% from other races
, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62% of the population.
There were 1,805 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 25.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,129, and the median income for a family was $42,000. Males had a median income of $26,989 versus $18,255 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,628. About 7.9% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
Pike County, Illinois
Pike County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 16,430, which is a decrease of 5.5% from 17,384 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...
. The population was 4,211 at the 2000 census.
History
The city was named after Pittsfield, MassachusettsPittsfield, Massachusetts
Pittsfield is the largest city and the county seat of Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is the principal city of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Berkshire County. Its area code is 413. Its ZIP code is 01201...
. 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 Pike County
Pike County, Illinois
Pike County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 16,430, which is a decrease of 5.5% from 17,384 in 2000...
. It was home to John Hay
John Hay
John Milton Hay was an American statesman, diplomat, author, journalist, and private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln.-Early life:...
, Lincoln's
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
personal secretary, ambassador to England under President William McKinley
William McKinley
William McKinley, Jr. was the 25th President of the United States . He is best known for winning fiercely fought elections, while supporting the gold standard and high tariffs; he succeeded in forging a Republican coalition that for the most part dominated national politics until the 1930s...
, later Secretary of State for Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
and creator of the Open Door Policy
Open Door Policy
The Open Door Policy is a concept in foreign affairs, which usually refers to the policy in 1899 allowing multiple Imperial powers access to China, with none of them in control of that country. As a theory, the Open Door Policy originates with British commercial practice, as was reflected in...
in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
. As county seat, the town was one of the various places in central Illinois where Abraham Lincoln practiced law as part of the circuit court, working on 34 cases between 1839 and 1852. One local newspaper, now known as the Pike Press, was then owned by another of Lincoln's future secretaries, John Nicolay, and featured an editorial containing one of the first known suggestions of Lincoln as the Republican nominee for the presidency.
Pittsfield is the self-proclaimed "Pork Capital" of the Midwest, owing to the long history of pork production in the region, which fed into the large meat-packing industry of Chicago. Though agriculture in the region is no longer so dependent on pork, the town still hosts a yearly "Pig Days" festival.
The local high school football team, the Saukees, still holds the record for longest winning streak in the state. Starting with their season opening 6-0 win over North Greene in 1966, the Pittsfield Saukees reeled off 64 consecutive wins, which included 15 straight shutouts between 1969 and 1971. The streak extended all the way through to the second game of the 1973 season, when Pittsfield dropped a 12-0 decision to Winchester.
Pittsfield is the setting for Jamie Gilson
Jamie Gilson
Jamie Gilson is an American author of twenty children’s books. Explaining her approach to writing, Gilson says, “I watch what kids are doing and write stories based on what I see.”- Life:...
's book Hello, My Name is Scrambled Eggs. Singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
wrote a song about Pittsfield on his album The Avalanche
The Avalanche
The Avalanche: Outtakes and Extras from the Illinois Album is an album by indie rock singer/songwriter Sufjan Stevens, consisting of outtakes and other recordings from the sessions for his album Illinois...
.
Landmarks
There are many historic landmarks within the city limits, the most notable of which is the Pike County Courthouse. It was built in 1894 by Robert Franklin, a master mason who designed and supervised the keystone architecture of this courthouse. It was the third courthouse in the town, but the fourth in Pike County. The courthouse is fashioned of Cleveland sandstone, and is widely recognized as one of the most beautiful courthouses in the state and the midwest.The East Ward School
Pittsfield East School
Pittsfield East School is located in Pittsfield, Illinois, Pike County, United States. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1971.- History :...
, built between 1861 and 1866, was designed by Architect John M. Van Osdel
John M. Van Osdel
John Mills Van Osdel was an American architect who is considered the first Chicago architect. He is considered a peer of the most prominent architects in the history of Chicago...
, who also designed the Palmer House in Chicago, as well as the Governor's Mansion
Illinois Executive Mansion
The Illinois Executive Mansion is the official residence of the Governor of Illinois. It is located at 410 E. Jackson Street in Springfield, Illinois and is open to tours on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, free of charge. The Georgian style Mansion was designed by Chicago architect John M....
in Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
. John Houston of Griggsville
Griggsville, Illinois
Griggsville is a city in Pike County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,258 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Griggsville is located at ....
built the school for the contract price of $35,000, which was financed by bonding. The building is stone (boated from Joliet on the Illinois river) and brick burned in Pittsfield. Both the grade school and high school were located in this building. Its large clock and bell were donated by Colonel Ross and mounted in the tower. The school closed in 1955 and was unoccupied until 1978 when it was renovated and became the home of the Pike County Historical Society and the Pike County Historic Museum.
There are nine homes still in existence in Pittsfield that are connected to Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
, including the Shastid House
John Shastid House
The John Shastid House is located in the Pike County, Illinois city of Pittsfield. The Shastid House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a status bestowed upon the home on June 26, 2003....
, where Lincoln often stayed while practicing cases in the county.
Geography
Pittsfield is located at 39.609599°N 90.808389°W.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 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which, 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.11%) is water.
Pittsfield's drinking water supply is provided by Lake Pittsfield, an artificial reservoir held in by an earth and concrete dam. The 200 acre (0.809372 km²) lake is located within a 680 acres (2.8 km²) park that has become a prime recreational area offering boating, fishing, RV and primitive camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Pittsfield, along with the bulk of Pike County, is located in the land between the Illinois and Mississippi rivers as they move toward convergence in St. Louis. The land is riddled with streams and bottom lands mostly draining through the McGee Creek drainage basin into the Illinois River. Thus, the land around Pittsfield and Pike County is much more hilly and forested than the rest of the plains of central Illinois. This geography, combined with a relative lack of heavy development, make the areas around Pittsfield particularly suited to wildlife. Pittsfield regularly attracts large numbers of out-of-state game hunters, and Pike county consistently leads all other Illinois counties in the number of deer harvested during fall hunting seasons.
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 4,211 people, 1,805 households, and 1,126 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 1,178.2 people per square mile (455.4/km²). There were 1,985 housing units at an average density of 555.4 per square mile (214.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.43% White, 0.21% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.17% 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 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.62% of the population.
There were 1,805 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% 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, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 21.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.3% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 25.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,129, and the median income for a family was $42,000. Males had a median income of $26,989 versus $18,255 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 $16,628. About 7.9% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.7% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Ryan CarnesRyan CarnesRyan Gregg Carnes is an American actor. He attended Duke University where he was a member of DUMB, the Duke University Marching Band. He is currently working on a collaboration with other musicians and is an accomplished drummer of 15 years.In 2003 Carnes was part of a national campaign for...
TV actor - Charles Russell DavisCharles Russell DavisCharles Russell Davis was a member of the United States House of Representatives from Minnesota.He was born in Pittsfield, Illinois but moved with his father to Le Sueur County, Minnesota in 1854, where he attended the public schools and was also instructed by private tutor. He graduated from a...
- Woodbridge Nathan FerrisWoodbridge Nathan FerrisWoodbridge Nathan Ferris was an educator from New York, Illinois and Michigan, as well as Democratic statesman and the 28th Governor of Michigan .-Early life in New York, Michigan and Illinois:...
- James E. FlynnJames E. FlynnJames Edward Flynn was a Union Army soldier during the American Civil War. He received the Medal of Honor for gallantry during the Siege of Vicksburg on May 22, 1863.-Union assault:...
- Jamie GilsonJamie GilsonJamie Gilson is an American author of twenty children’s books. Explaining her approach to writing, Gilson says, “I watch what kids are doing and write stories based on what I see.”- Life:...
- John HayJohn HayJohn Milton Hay was an American statesman, diplomat, author, journalist, and private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln.-Early life:...
(October 8, 1838 – July 1, 1905) was an AmericanUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
statesman, diplomat, author, journalist, and private secretarySecretary to the President of the United StatesThe Secretary to the President was an old 19th and early 20th century White House position that carried out all the tasks now spread throughout the modern White House Office...
and assistant to Abraham LincolnAbraham LincolnAbraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
. - Russell W. KeeneyRussell W. KeeneyRussell Watson Keeney was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Pittsfield, Illinois, Keeney attended grade and high schools in Naperville, Illinois....
- Terry R. ParkeTerry R. ParkeTerry R. Parke served as a Republican member of the Illinois House of Representatives representing the 44th district, where he served for 22 years from 1985 to 2007. On November 7, 2006, Parke lost his reelection bid to Democrat Fred Crespo...
- Scott Riley Illinois single season home run record holder
- Sid SimpsonSid SimpsonSidney Elmer Simpson was a U.S. Representative from Illinois, husband of Edna Oakes Simpson.Born in Carrollton, Illinois, Simpson attended the public schools and was graduated from Carrollton High School....
- Scott WikeScott WikeScott Wike was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, Wike moved with his parents to Quincy, Illinois, in 1838 and to Pike County in 1844....
- William E. WilliamsWilliam E. WilliamsWilliam Elza Williams was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born near Detroit, Illinois, Williams attended the public schools and Illinois College, Jacksonville, Illinois.He studied law....
- John WiseJohn WiseJohn Wise may refer to:* John Wise , Massachusetts divine who protested taxation* John Wise , American ballooning pioneer* John Ayshford Wise , British MP for Stafford...
two-time Illinois state wrestling champion
External links
- County seat and official municipal site http://www.pittsfieldil.org
- Pike County Chamber of Commerce http://www.pikeil.org/index.html
- The Pike Press, local newspaper for Pittsfield http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=606
- Pike County Express, local newspaper for Pittsfield http://www.pikecountyexpress.com
- Pittsfield High School http://www.phs.net
- Pikeland CUSD #10 http://www.pikeland.net