Prophetstown, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Prophetstown is a city in Whiteside County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 2,080 at the 2010 census, up from 2,023 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.45%) is water.
(White Cloud), the prophet who lived upon the land. Wabokieshiek served as an advisor to Black Hawk
and took part in the Black Hawk War
. Wabokieshiek and his followers, the Sauk Indians, resided where the current Prophetstown State Park (of Illinois) is now located. They left the land in 1832 as the Black Hawk War ended, when Wabokieshiek was taken captive by the United States. This area is now a state park, but at one time it held a community of 14 villages.
It is believed that residents of Prophetstown petitioned to move the U.S. government from Washington D.C. to Prophetstown in the 1800s because of its supposed central location of the lower 48 states.
Prophetstown once held community events such as Cruise Night and showcased many classic cars. Eventually that event faded and Eclipse Park was replaced with a memorial to honor those who served in the Armed Forces. Prophetstown is still held in high esteem for having one of the largest Fourth of July
fireworks
shows in the area. Prophetstown also hosts a Lighted Christmas Parade as the highlight of the start of the holiday season the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Prophetstown is an Illinois Main Street Community. The downtown features a series of historical murals and Eclipse Square Park as well as an interesting selection of stores and dining possibilities.
of 2000, there were 2,023 people, 809 households, and 533 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,484.5 people per square mile (574.3/km²). There were 865 housing units at an average density of 634.7 per square mile (245.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.92% White, 0.89% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.25% from other races
, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 809 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples
living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% 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 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,452, and the median income for a family was $47,589. Males had a median income of $33,828 versus $21,438 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $19,572. About 3.9% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
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 2,080 at the 2010 census, up from 2,023 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Prophetstown is located at 41°40′14"N 89°56′9"W (41.670504, -89.935869).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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (1.45%) is water.
History
Prophetstown was named for WabokieshiekWabokieshiek
Wabokieshiek was an important Native American of the Ho-Chunk and Sauk tribes in 19th century Illinois, playing a key role in the Black Hawk War of 1832...
(White Cloud), the prophet who lived upon the land. Wabokieshiek served as an advisor to Black Hawk
Black Hawk (chief)
Black Hawk was a leader and warrior of the Sauk American Indian tribe in what is now the United States. Although he had inherited an important historic medicine bundle, he was not one of the Sauk's hereditary civil chiefs...
and took part in the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
. Wabokieshiek and his followers, the Sauk Indians, resided where the current Prophetstown State Park (of Illinois) is now located. They left the land in 1832 as the Black Hawk War ended, when Wabokieshiek was taken captive by the United States. This area is now a state park, but at one time it held a community of 14 villages.
It is believed that residents of Prophetstown petitioned to move the U.S. government from Washington D.C. to Prophetstown in the 1800s because of its supposed central location of the lower 48 states.
Prophetstown once held community events such as Cruise Night and showcased many classic cars. Eventually that event faded and Eclipse Park was replaced with a memorial to honor those who served in the Armed Forces. Prophetstown is still held in high esteem for having one of the largest 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...
fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
shows in the area. Prophetstown also hosts a Lighted Christmas Parade as the highlight of the start of the holiday season the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Prophetstown is an Illinois Main Street Community. The downtown features a series of historical murals and Eclipse Square Park as well as an interesting selection of stores and dining possibilities.
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 2,023 people, 809 households, and 533 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 1,484.5 people per square mile (574.3/km²). There were 865 housing units at an average density of 634.7 per square mile (245.6/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.92% White, 0.89% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.25% 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 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.
There were 809 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% 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, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.0% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% 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 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.4% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.3% from 45 to 64, and 23.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $37,452, and the median income for a family was $47,589. Males had a median income of $33,828 versus $21,438 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 $19,572. About 3.9% of families and 9.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 4.0% of those age 65 or over.
External links
- Prophetstown Official Municipal Site
- http://www.prophetstownil.com/