Watseka, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Watseka is a city in and the county seat
of Iroquois County
, Illinois
, United States
. It is located approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) west of the Illinois-Indiana state line on U.S. Route 24
.
The population of Watseka was 5,255 according to the 2010 census, which was a 7.3 percent decrease from the 2000 census.
" derives from the Potawatomi
name "Watch-e-kee", "Daughter of the Evening Star", the wife of early eastern Illinois settler Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard
.
The Old Iroquois County Courthouse was constructed in 1866, with two additions built in 1881 and 1927. In the early 1960s, an Iroquois County resident, Mrs. Katherine Clifton, bequeathed to the county in her will a large sum of money and a site upon which to build a new courthouse. It is the only courthouse in the United States built entirely with private funds.
The old courthouse was advertised for sale and fell into disuse. In 1967, during the Centennial Celebration of Watseka, the Iroquois County Historical Society was organized, and circulated petitions throughout the county not to sell the Old Courthouse. The petitions were approved by the County Board of Supervisors, and the Old Courthouse re-opened as a museum that same year. In 1975, the Old Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
and Illinois Route 1
. The Iroquois River
winds along the north side of the town and is joined by Sugar Creek on the west side of town. The south half of the town is in Belmont Township
; the north half is in Middleport Township
. According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 5,670 people, 2,314 households, and 1,483 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,165.4 people per square mile (835.6/km²). There were 2,463 housing units at an average density of 940.6 per square mile (363.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.75% White, 0.62% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.86% from other races
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.61% of the population.
There were 2,314 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples
living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% 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 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,440, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $30,516 versus $19,680 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,638. About 12.7% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Iroquois County
Iroquois County, Illinois
Iroquois County is a county located in the northeast part of the U.S. state of Illinois along the border with Indiana. It is the third largest county in the state in terms of area, covering over . According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 29,718, which is a decrease of 5.2% from 31,334...
, 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 located approximately 15 miles (24.1 km) west of the Illinois-Indiana state line on U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 24 is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It originally ran from Pontiac, Michigan, in the east to Kansas City, Missouri, in the west. Today, the highway's eastern terminus is west of Clarkston, Michigan, at an intersection with I-75 and its western terminus is near...
.
The population of Watseka was 5,255 according to the 2010 census, which was a 7.3 percent decrease from the 2000 census.
History
Incorporated in 1865, the name "WatsekaWatseka
Watseka or Watchekee was a Potawatomi Native American woman, born in Illinois, and named for the heroine of a Potawatomi legend. Her uncle was Tamin, the chief of the Kankakee Potawatomi Indians....
" derives from the Potawatomi
Potawatomi
The Potawatomi are a Native American people of the upper Mississippi River region. They traditionally speak the Potawatomi language, a member of the Algonquian family. In the Potawatomi language, they generally call themselves Bodéwadmi, a name that means "keepers of the fire" and that was applied...
name "Watch-e-kee", "Daughter of the Evening Star", the wife of early eastern Illinois settler Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard
Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard
Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard was an American fur trader, insurance underwriter and land speculator. Hubbard first arrived in Chicago on October 1, 1818 as a voyageur...
.
The Old Iroquois County Courthouse was constructed in 1866, with two additions built in 1881 and 1927. In the early 1960s, an Iroquois County resident, Mrs. Katherine Clifton, bequeathed to the county in her will a large sum of money and a site upon which to build a new courthouse. It is the only courthouse in the United States built entirely with private funds.
The old courthouse was advertised for sale and fell into disuse. In 1967, during the Centennial Celebration of Watseka, the Iroquois County Historical Society was organized, and circulated petitions throughout the county not to sell the Old Courthouse. The petitions were approved by the County Board of Supervisors, and the Old Courthouse re-opened as a museum that same year. In 1975, the Old Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography
Watseka is located near the center of Iroquois County, at the intersection of U.S. Route 24U.S. Route 24
U.S. Route 24 is one of the original United States highways of 1926. It originally ran from Pontiac, Michigan, in the east to Kansas City, Missouri, in the west. Today, the highway's eastern terminus is west of Clarkston, Michigan, at an intersection with I-75 and its western terminus is near...
and Illinois Route 1
Illinois Route 1
Illinois Route 1 is a state highway in the U.S. state of Illinois. Running parallel to the Indiana border, it is also the longest state road, starting on the south side of Chicago as Halsted Street at the intersection with 95th Street, south to a free ferry crossing to Kentucky at Cave-In-Rock on...
. The Iroquois River
Iroquois River
The Iroquois River is a tributary of the Kankakee River in northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois in the United States. Via the Kankakee and Illinois rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.-Course:...
winds along the north side of the town and is joined by Sugar Creek on the west side of town. The south half of the town is in Belmont Township
Belmont Township, Iroquois County, Illinois
Belmont Township is one of twenty-six townships in Iroquois County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,600.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Belmont Township covers an area of .-Cities, towns, villages:...
; the north half is in Middleport Township
Middleport Township, Iroquois County, Illinois
Middleport Township is one of twenty-six townships in Iroquois County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,784. Middleport Township changed its name to Watseka Township in September 1863, but then changed back to Middleport Township on an unknown date.-Geography:According...
. 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 2.6 square miles (6.7 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 5,670 people, 2,314 households, and 1,483 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 2,165.4 people per square mile (835.6/km²). There were 2,463 housing units at an average density of 940.6 per square mile (363.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.75% White, 0.62% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.86% 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 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.61% of the population.
There were 2,314 households out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% 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 35.9% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% 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 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,440, and the median income for a family was $40,000. Males had a median income of $30,516 versus $19,680 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 $16,638. About 12.7% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.1% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Notable people
- Fern AndraFern AndraFern Andra was an American actress, film director, script writer and producer. Next to Henny Porten and Asta Nielsen she was one of the most popular and best-known actresses in German silent films of the 1910s...
(died 1974; birth name Vernal Andrews), stage and film actress; film director - Henry BaconHenry BaconHenry Bacon was an American Beaux-Arts architect who is best remembered for the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. , which was his final project.- Education and early career :...
(1866–1924), architect of the Lincoln MemorialLincoln MemorialThe Lincoln Memorial is an American memorial built to honor the 16th President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. It is located on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The architect was Henry Bacon, the sculptor of the main statue was Daniel Chester French, and the painter of the interior...
in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, and other notable public buildings - Sam CampbellSam CampbellSamuel Arthur Campbell was born August 1, 1895 in Watseka, Iroquois County, Illinois. He was one of three children born to Arthur J. and Katherine "Kittie" Campbell....
(1895–1962), popular author and nature enthusiast - Rex EverhartRex EverhartRex Everhart was an American film and musical theatre actor.Everhart appeared in such films as 1978's Superman...
(1920–2000), musical theatre and voice actor (Beauty and The BeastBeauty and the Beast (1991 film)Beauty and the Beast is a 1991 American animated fantasy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. The thirtieth film in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series and the third film of the Disney Renaissance period...
) - Mike L. FryMike L. FryMike Fry is an American serial entrepreneur, entertainer, trainer and marketing expert. He was the original Happy the Hobo on the children's television series Happy's Place, and the creative mind behind and owner of Fancy Fortune Cookies.-Entertainer:...
The original Happy the Hobo on the nationally syndicated children's television series Happy's Place - A.E. HenningA.E. HenningAugust E. Henning, known as A.E. Henning, was a civil engineer and businessman who was a member of the Los Angeles City Council between 1929 and 1933, disbursement officer for the California State Emergency Relief Administration from 1934 to 1937 and chief of the Park Division, California...
, Los Angeles City CouncilLos Angeles City CouncilThe Los Angeles City Council is the governing body of the City of Los Angeles.The Council is composed of fifteen members elected from single-member districts for four-year terms. The president of the council and the president pro tempore are chosen by the Council at the first regular meeting after...
member from 1929–33 - Curtis PainterCurtis PainterCurtis Jeffrey Painter is a quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. He was drafted in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football for the Purdue Boilermakers.-High school career:...
(born 1985), played collegiate football at Purdue UniversityPurdue UniversityPurdue University, located in West Lafayette, Indiana, U.S., is the flagship university of the six-campus Purdue University system. Purdue was founded on May 6, 1869, as a land-grant university when the Indiana General Assembly, taking advantage of the Morrill Act, accepted a donation of land and...
and currently a starting quarterback for the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... - Vaughn R. WalkerVaughn R. WalkerVaughn R. Walker served as a district judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California from 1989 to 2011.-Biography:Walker was born in Watseka, Illinois, in 1944...
(born 1944), chief judge of the United States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaUnited States District Court for the Northern District of CaliforniaThe United States District Court for the Northern District of California is the federal United States district court whose jurisdiction comprises following counties of California: Alameda, Contra Costa, Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Marin, Mendocino, Monterey, Napa, San Benito, San Francisco, San...
, noted for presiding over Perry v. SchwarzeneggerPerry v. SchwarzeneggerPerry v. Schwarzenegger is a federal lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California challenging the federal constitutionality of Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot initiative that amended the California Constitution to restrict marriage to opposite-sex couples,... - Mary Margaret WhippleMary Margaret WhippleMary Margaret Whipple is a Democratic member of the Senate of Virginia, representing the 31st District since 1996. She is the Chairman of the Senate Democratic Caucus, and she is the first woman to hold a leadership position in the Virginia General Assembly. On February 25, 2011, Whipple announced...
(born 1940), Virginia State Senator - Gordie WindhornGordie WindhornGordon Ray Windhorn is a former professional baseball player. He played in three seasons in Major League Baseball as an outfielder for the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics and Los Angeles Angels. He went on to play six seasons in Japan for the Hankyu Braves from...
(born 1933), former Major League Baseball player - Sam RiceSam RiceEdgar Charles "Sam" Rice was an American pitcher and right fielder in Major League Baseball. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963....
, Hall of Fame baseball outfielder - P.C. Cast, Popular young adult author (House of Night Series)