Savanna, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Savanna is a city in Carroll County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 3,062 at the 2010 census, down from 3,542 at the 2000 census. Savanna is located along the Mississippi River
at the mouth of the Plum River
. Going from north to south, the second automobile bridge between Iowa
and Illinois
is located just north of Savanna, and is part of the U.S. Highway 52 route. The bridge leads to Sabula, Iowa
, which is across the river from Savanna. U.S. Highway 52 goes through Savanna.
Savanna has produced several notable natives. These include "America's Waltz King" Wayne King
, professional wrestler Tommy Treichel, Billy Zoom
(Tyson Kindell) founding member and original guitarist of the punk band X, and former NASA
astronaut Dale Gardner
.
purchased 13062 acres (53 km²) of land about seven miles (11 km) north of Savanna to construct the Savanna Army Depot
. Originally the land was to be used as a test range for munitions produced at the Rock Island, Illinois
Arsenal. In 1921, the mission of the installation was changed to be a depot.
By 1995, the Savanna Army Depot was identified by Congress
as one of the bases that would be closed under the Base Realignment and Closure Act. On March 18, 2000, the Savanna Army Depot was closed.
The Jo-Carroll Depot Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) was established in 1997 by an intergovernmental agreement between the Illinois counties of Jo Daviess and Carroll to redevelop the former Savanna Army Depot.
Savanna is located at 42°5′24"N 90°8′24"W (42.090069, -90.140050).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7 km²), of which, 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.33%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,542 people, 1,558 households, and 886 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,357.7 people per square mile (524.0/km²). There were 1,790 housing units at an average density of 686.1 per square mile (264.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.10% White, 1.52% African American,
0.34% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.57% from other races
, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.25% of the population.
There were 1,558 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,180, and the median income for a family was $38,255. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $20,954 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,150. About 14.2% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
.
The Savanna Chamber of Commerce and other community groups sponsor several activities throughout the year that include; the annual Ladies Day Out Luncheon, a Memorial Day parade and ceremony, the yearly Riverfront Festival, 4 July Fireworks, the Halloween Haunted Forest, and a downtown Christmas Walk.
Savanna contains the only stop light in all of Carroll County
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 3,062 at the 2010 census, down from 3,542 at the 2000 census. Savanna is located along the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
at the mouth of the Plum River
Plum River
The Plum River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, about long, in northwestern Illinois in the United States. It rises in Jo Daviess County and flows generally south-southwestwardly into Carroll County, where it joins the Mississippi at Savanna...
. Going from north to south, the second automobile bridge between Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
and 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,...
is located just north of Savanna, and is part of the U.S. Highway 52 route. The bridge leads to Sabula, Iowa
Sabula, Iowa
Sabula is a city in Jackson County, Iowa, United States. The population was 670 at the 2000 census. Sabula is the site of Iowa's only island city. The island has a beach and a campground. It also has a harbor with boat docks and storage sheds to store some boats during the winter...
, which is across the river from Savanna. U.S. Highway 52 goes through Savanna.
Savanna has produced several notable natives. These include "America's Waltz King" Wayne King
Wayne King
Wayne King was an American musician, songwriter, singer and orchestral leader. He was sometimes referred to as "the Waltz King" because much of his most popular music involved waltzes; "The Waltz You Saved For Me" was his standard set closing song in live performance and on numerous radio...
, professional wrestler Tommy Treichel, Billy Zoom
Billy Zoom
Billy Zoom is an American guitarist, best known as one of the founders of the punk rock band X.-Early life:...
(Tyson Kindell) founding member and original guitarist of the punk band X, and former NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
astronaut Dale Gardner
Dale Gardner
Dale Allan Gardner is a former NASA astronaut who flew two missions for NASA in the early 1980s.-NASA experience:...
.
Savanna Army Depot
In 1917, the United States ArmyUnited States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
purchased 13062 acres (53 km²) of land about seven miles (11 km) north of Savanna to construct the Savanna Army Depot
Savanna Army Depot
Savanna Army Depot was a installation, located on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River, in Carroll and Jo Daviess counties, around seven miles north of Savanna, Illinois. It was opened in 1917 as a proving and testing facility for weapons developed at Rock Island Arsenal. In 1921 it became a...
. Originally the land was to be used as a test range for munitions produced at the Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island, Illinois
Rock Island is the county seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The population was 40,884 at the 2010 census. Located on the Mississippi River, it is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring Moline, East Moline, and the Iowa cities of Davenport and Bettendorf. The Quad Cities...
Arsenal. In 1921, the mission of the installation was changed to be a depot.
By 1995, the Savanna Army Depot was identified by Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
as one of the bases that would be closed under the Base Realignment and Closure Act. On March 18, 2000, the Savanna Army Depot was closed.
The Jo-Carroll Depot Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) was established in 1997 by an intergovernmental agreement between the Illinois counties of Jo Daviess and Carroll to redevelop the former Savanna Army Depot.
Geography
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 2.7 square miles (7 km²), of which, 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (3.33%) 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 3,542 people, 1,558 households, and 886 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 1,357.7 people per square mile (524.0/km²). There were 1,790 housing units at an average density of 686.1 per square mile (264.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.10% White, 1.52% African American,
0.34% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.57% 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 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.25% of the population.
There were 1,558 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% 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, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,180, and the median income for a family was $38,255. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $20,954 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 $15,150. About 14.2% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Today
The downtown area has revived some since the mid-1990s closing of the Army Depot with the addition of new ornamental lighting to complement the late 19th century buildings. The city is trying to lure more shops to the main street in hopes of becoming more of a weekend destination, like nearby GalenaGalena, Illinois
Galena is the county seat of, and largest city in, Jo Daviess County, Illinois in the United States, with a population of 3,429 in 2010. The city is a popular tourist destination known for its history, historical architecture, and ski and golf resorts. Galena was the residence of Ulysses S...
.
The Savanna Chamber of Commerce and other community groups sponsor several activities throughout the year that include; the annual Ladies Day Out Luncheon, a Memorial Day parade and ceremony, the yearly Riverfront Festival, 4 July Fireworks, the Halloween Haunted Forest, and a downtown Christmas Walk.
Savanna contains the only stop light in all of Carroll County