Pocahontas, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Pocahontas is a village in Bond County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 727 at the 2000 census. Pocahontas is the hometown of country music singer Gretchen Wilson
and also the hometown of alt-country noise rockers Grandpa's Ghost.
the Native American
who married John Rolfe
and according to legend saved the life of Captain John Smith.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.60%) is water.
of 2000, there were 727 people, 309 households, and 194 families residing in the village. The population density
was 968.3 people per square mile (374.3/km²). There were 330 housing units at an average density of 439.5 per square mile (169.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.62% White, 0.14% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.28% Asian, and 0.69% from two or more races.
There were 309 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% were married couples
living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $37,000. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $16,944 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $14,562. About 12.5% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.
-winning country
singer Gretchen Wilson
was born and raised in Pocahontas. She references the town in the song "Pocahontas Proud", the final track on her debut album Here for the Party
.
Bond County, Illinois
Bond County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is part of the St. Louis Metro Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 17,768, which is an increase of 0.8% from 17,633 in 2000. Its county seat is Greenville, 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 727 at the 2000 census. Pocahontas is the hometown of country music singer Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Frances Wilson is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman," a number-one hit on the Billboard country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut album, Here for the Party...
and also the hometown of alt-country noise rockers Grandpa's Ghost.
History
Pocahontas was originally known as Hickory Grove and then Amity. In 1850, the name was changed to Pocohontas (with an "o"). In 1855, the current spelling with an "a" came into place. Pocahontas was incorporated as a village in 1847. The town was named "Pocahontas" after PocahontasPocahontas
Pocahontas was a Virginia Indian notable for her association with the colonial settlement at Jamestown, Virginia. She was the daughter of Chief Powhatan, the head of a network of tributary tribal nations in Tidewater Virginia...
the 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...
who married John Rolfe
John Rolfe
John Rolfe was one of the early English settlers of North America. He is credited with the first successful cultivation of tobacco as an export crop in the Colony of Virginia and is known as the husband of Pocahontas, daughter of the chief of the Powhatan Confederacy.In 1961, the Jamestown...
and according to legend saved the life of Captain John Smith.
Geography
Pocahontas is located at 38°49′30"N 89°32′27"W (38.825014, -89.540812).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 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (2.60%) is water.
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 727 people, 309 households, and 194 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 968.3 people per square mile (374.3/km²). There were 330 housing units at an average density of 439.5 per square mile (169.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.62% White, 0.14% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.28% Asian, and 0.69% from two or more races.
There were 309 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.2% 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, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 30.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 10.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 96.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $28,750, and the median income for a family was $37,000. Males had a median income of $27,361 versus $16,944 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 $14,562. About 12.5% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.8% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable natives
Grammy AwardGrammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
singer Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Wilson
Gretchen Frances Wilson is an American country music artist. She made her debut in 2004 with the Grammy Award-winning single "Redneck Woman," a number-one hit on the Billboard country charts. The song served as the lead-off single of her debut album, Here for the Party...
was born and raised in Pocahontas. She references the town in the song "Pocahontas Proud", the final track on her debut album Here for the Party
Here for the Party
-Album:-Singles:-Certifications:-References:...
.