Warsaw, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Warsaw is a city in Hancock County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 1,793 at the 2000 census. The city is notable for its historic downtown and the Warsaw Brewery, which operated for more than 100 years beginning in 1861. After renovation, it was reopened as a bar, restaurant and microbrewery in 2006.
founded Fort Johnson
on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River across from the mouth of the Des Moines River
. Fort Johnson was occupied only for a few weeks before it was burned. In 1815 another military camp, Fort Edwards, was built nearby at a different location. Warsaw became an important fur trading post and one of the earliest European-American settlements in western Illinois.
During the 1840s, Warsaw was one of the centers of opposition to the Mormons at Nauvoo
. This was largely due to the writing of Thomas C. Sharp
, who edited the Warsaw Signal
at this time. The Latter-day Saints tried to set up a settlement at Warren, a site just south of Warsaw. In 1841 Willard Richards
moved to Warsaw to oversee the settlement of Warren, but due to the antagonism fanned by Sharp and other problems, the Mormon settlement was abandoned in 1842.
The city is notable for its well-preserved downtown with a number of remaining historic businesses. Founded by German immigrants, the Warsaw Brewery opened in 1861 and operated for more than 100 years, ending production in 1971. The facility was renovated and reopened in 2006 as a bar and restaurant.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²), of which, 6.6 square miles (17.1 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (11.62%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,793 people, 726 households, and 500 families residing in the city. The population density
was 271.0 people per square mile (104.6/km²). There were 807 housing units at an average density of 122.0 per square mile (47.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.77% White, 0.11% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races
, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 726 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $39,808. Males had a median income of $29,770 versus $20,039 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,279. About 6.4% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.
Hancock County, Illinois
Hancock County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 19,104, which is a decrease of 5.1% from 20,121 in 2000. Its county seat is Carthage. Hamilton is the largest city in Hancock County, with Carthage being the second largest...
, 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 1,793 at the 2000 census. The city is notable for its historic downtown and the Warsaw Brewery, which operated for more than 100 years beginning in 1861. After renovation, it was reopened as a bar, restaurant and microbrewery in 2006.
History
The city of Warsaw began in 1814, when young Major Zachary TaylorZachary Taylor
Zachary Taylor was the 12th President of the United States and an American military leader. Initially uninterested in politics, Taylor nonetheless ran as a Whig in the 1848 presidential election, defeating Lewis Cass...
founded Fort Johnson
Fort Johnson
This article is about the War of 1812 fortification:*For the community in New York, see Fort Johnson, New York*For the Revolutionary War British garrison named Fort Johnson see Wilmington, North Carolina...
on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River across from the mouth of the Des Moines River
Des Moines River
The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately long to its farther headwaters, in the upper Midwestern United States...
. Fort Johnson was occupied only for a few weeks before it was burned. In 1815 another military camp, Fort Edwards, was built nearby at a different location. Warsaw became an important fur trading post and one of the earliest European-American settlements in western Illinois.
During the 1840s, Warsaw was one of the centers of opposition to the Mormons at Nauvoo
Nauvoo, Illinois
Nauvoo is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois, United States. Although the population was just 1,063 at the 2000 census, and despite being difficult to reach due to its location in a remote corner of Illinois, Nauvoo attracts large numbers of visitors for its historic importance and its...
. This was largely due to the writing of Thomas C. Sharp
Thomas C. Sharp
Thomas Coke Sharp was a prominent opponent of Joseph Smith, Jr. and the Latter Day Saints in Illinois in the 1840s. Sharp promoted his anti-Mormon views largely through the Warsaw Signal newspaper, of which he was the owner, editor, and publisher...
, who edited the Warsaw Signal
Warsaw Signal
The Warsaw Signal was a newspaper edited and published in Warsaw, Illinois during the 1840s and early 1850s. For most of its history, the Signals editorial stance was one of vigorous anti-Mormonism and the advancement of the policies of the Whig Party....
at this time. The Latter-day Saints tried to set up a settlement at Warren, a site just south of Warsaw. In 1841 Willard Richards
Willard Richards
Willard Richards was an early leader in the Latter Day Saint movement and served as Second Counselor in the First Presidency to church president Brigham Young in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from 1847 until his death.Willard Richards was born in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, to...
moved to Warsaw to oversee the settlement of Warren, but due to the antagonism fanned by Sharp and other problems, the Mormon settlement was abandoned in 1842.
The city is notable for its well-preserved downtown with a number of remaining historic businesses. Founded by German immigrants, the Warsaw Brewery opened in 1861 and operated for more than 100 years, ending production in 1971. The facility was renovated and reopened in 2006 as a bar and restaurant.
Notable residents
- John Milton Hay, an American statesman, diplomat, author, journalist, and private secretary and assistant to Abraham Lincoln, was raised in Warsaw. He served as United States Secretary of StateUnited States Secretary of StateThe United States Secretary of State is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with foreign affairs. The Secretary is a member of the Cabinet and the highest-ranking cabinet secretary both in line of succession and order of precedence...
from 1898 to 1905 under presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. - Illinois politician Benjamin F. MarshBenjamin F. MarshBenjamin Franklin Marsh was a U.S. Representative from Illinois in the late 19th century to early 20th century. He was also a lawyer, soldier, agriculture manager, stock raiser, and Illinois State Railroad and Warehouse Commissioner....
represented the area and is buried in Warsaw.
Geography
Warsaw is located at 40°21′N 91°26′W (40.3552,-91.4329).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 7.5 square miles (19.4 km²), of which, 6.6 square miles (17.1 km²) of it is land and 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it (11.62%) 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 1,793 people, 726 households, and 500 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 271.0 people per square mile (104.6/km²). There were 807 housing units at an average density of 122.0 per square mile (47.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.77% White, 0.11% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.17% Pacific Islander, 0.06% 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 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.89% of the population.
There were 726 households out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.1% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 98.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,000, and the median income for a family was $39,808. Males had a median income of $29,770 versus $20,039 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 $18,279. About 6.4% of families and 8.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.9% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.