Potomac, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Potomac is a village in Vermilion County
, Illinois
, United States
. It is part of the 'Danville, Illinois
Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 681 at the 2000 census.
Potomac prospered into the late 20th century, with a population peaking at 900 during the 1970 census, due in part to its location along US Route 136, one of the primary East-West highways crossing the state of Illinois. The opening of Interstate 74
reduced the amount of travel through Potomac, leading to a rapid decline in the number of service stations, restaurants and small businesses in the downtown area in the early 1970s. In the early 1990s a fire destroyed several downtown buildings on the north side of Route 136, dramatically altering the appearance of the community.
Potomac is known for its Artesian wells
, and its local High School teams were known as the "Potomac Artesians" until area secondary school consolidation in the late 1980s. One of these wells spouted an 8-inch stream of water 32 feet into the air until the 1930s. Presently 3 wells operate in open areas, one located in the downtown area, another on the Southeast edge of the community, and another in West Side Park, on the west edge of town area where Fourth of July
celebrations were once held, locally referred to as "The Jubilee", in conjunction with an annual Horse Show.
. U.S. Route 136
passes east-west through town. The Middle Fork of the Vermilion River
passes just south of the town.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 681 people, 252 households, and 191 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,408.5 people per square mile (547.8/km²). There were 277 housing units at an average density of 572.9 per square mile (222.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.21% White, 0.29% Native American, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 1.62% from other races
, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.20% of the population.
There were 252 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% were married couples
living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the village the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $40,221, and the median income for a family was $44,583. Males had a median income of $32,031 versus $21,417 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $15,197. About 4.8% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.
Vermilion County, Illinois
Vermilion County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Illinois, between the Indiana border and Champaign County. It was established in 1826 and was the 45th of Illinois' 102 counties...
, 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...
. It is part of the 'Danville, Illinois
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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 681 at the 2000 census.
History
The town was originally named Marysville after the wives of the two founders, John Smith (a grocer) and Isaac Meneley (a blacksmith), who started businesses here in 1840. However, the Post Office found that mail was getting confused with mail for Myersville, ten miles to the east, and the name was changed to Potomac (although residents resented this and didn't accept the change for decades).Potomac prospered into the late 20th century, with a population peaking at 900 during the 1970 census, due in part to its location along US Route 136, one of the primary East-West highways crossing the state of Illinois. The opening of Interstate 74
Interstate 74
Interstate 74 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western end is at an intersection with Interstate 80 in Davenport, Iowa; the eastern end of its Midwest segment is at an intersection with Interstate 75 in Cincinnati, Ohio...
reduced the amount of travel through Potomac, leading to a rapid decline in the number of service stations, restaurants and small businesses in the downtown area in the early 1970s. In the early 1990s a fire destroyed several downtown buildings on the north side of Route 136, dramatically altering the appearance of the community.
Potomac is known for its Artesian wells
Artesian aquifer
An artesian aquifer is a confined aquifer containing groundwater under positive pressure. This causes the water level in a well to rise to a point where hydrostatic equilibrium has been reached. This type of well is called an artesian well...
, and its local High School teams were known as the "Potomac Artesians" until area secondary school consolidation in the late 1980s. One of these wells spouted an 8-inch stream of water 32 feet into the air until the 1930s. Presently 3 wells operate in open areas, one located in the downtown area, another on the Southeast edge of the community, and another in West Side Park, on the west edge of town area where Fourth of July
Independence Day (United States)
Independence Day, commonly known as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, declaring independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain...
celebrations were once held, locally referred to as "The Jubilee", in conjunction with an annual Horse Show.
Geography
Potomac is located at 40°18′23"N 87°48′0"W (40.306351, -87.799987), about 18 miles northwest of the county seat of DanvilleDanville, 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...
. U.S. Route 136
U.S. Route 136
U.S. Highway 136 is a spur of U.S. Highway 36. It runs from Edison, Nebraska, at U.S. Highway 6 and U.S. Highway 34 to the Interstate 74/Interstate 465 interchange in Speedway, Indiana. This is a distance of 804 miles .-Nebraska:...
passes east-west through town. The Middle Fork of the Vermilion River
Middle Fork Vermilion River
The Middle Fork of the Vermilion River is a tributary of the Vermilion River in Illinois. The Middle Fork rises in Ford County and flows southeast to join the Vermilion near Danville....
passes just south of the town.
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 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all of it land.
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 681 people, 252 households, and 191 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 1,408.5 people per square mile (547.8/km²). There were 277 housing units at an average density of 572.9 per square mile (222.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.21% White, 0.29% Native American, 0.29% Pacific Islander, 1.62% 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 2.20% of the population.
There were 252 households out of which 36.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.7% 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, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.2% were non-families. 21.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the village the population was spread out with 28.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 97.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $40,221, and the median income for a family was $44,583. Males had a median income of $32,031 versus $21,417 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 $15,197. About 4.8% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 15.3% of those age 65 or over.