Waynesville, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Waynesville is a village in DeWitt County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 434 at the 2010 census.
In 1832, the first plats for the village were filed, and the name "Waynesville" (after the hero of the Revolutionary War
, General Anthony Wayne
) was selected. Town lots were auctioned off, and the sale announced in newspapers. However, economic circumstances meant that few lots were ever built upon. Within two or three decades, the village had reached a population of about 500, a figure where it would remain almost until the present.
Sadly, Waynesville, although one of the first villages in the area, never became a prominent one. When the new county of Dewitt was established in 1839, Waynesville found itself at the far northwest corner, and thus out of the running for county seat. As well, influential politicians in Bloomington
and Clinton
managed to have
the Illinois Central Railroad
routed through those cities and bypassing Waynesville.
Finally, when the system of state highways was laid out, the village was once again bypassed.
Today, Waynesville is a slowly-shrinking settlement, as younger people move away and older people die off. It no longer has a school of its own, in fact. Many of the buildings in its "uptown" business district have succumbed to the ravages of time.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 452 people, 185 households, and 133 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,404.0 people per square mile (545.4/km²). There were 203 housing units at an average density of 630.6 per square mile (244.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.67% White, 0.66% African American, and 0.66% from two or more races.
There were 185 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples
living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $40,588, and the median income for a family was $41,731. Males had a median income of $30,481 versus $22,115 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,640. About 4.2% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 10.3% 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 434 at the 2010 census.
History
Waynesville is one of the oldest settlements in central Illinois. The area was first settled around 1825, by Prettyman Marvel and his wife, Rebecca (Barr) Marvel. They cleared an area of land near the present location of the village and were followed shortly thereafter by several other settlers. As a result, a small settlement sprung up about a mile south of Kickapoo Creek.In 1832, the first plats for the village were filed, and the name "Waynesville" (after the hero of the Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, General Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne
Anthony Wayne was a United States Army general and statesman. Wayne adopted a military career at the outset of the American Revolutionary War, where his military exploits and fiery personality quickly earned him a promotion to the rank of brigadier general and the sobriquet of Mad Anthony.-Early...
) was selected. Town lots were auctioned off, and the sale announced in newspapers. However, economic circumstances meant that few lots were ever built upon. Within two or three decades, the village had reached a population of about 500, a figure where it would remain almost until the present.
Sadly, Waynesville, although one of the first villages in the area, never became a prominent one. When the new county of Dewitt was established in 1839, Waynesville found itself at the far northwest corner, and thus out of the running for county seat. As well, influential politicians in Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
and Clinton
Clinton, Illinois
Clinton is the largest city in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,225 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of DeWitt County.The city and the county are named for DeWitt Clinton, governor of New York, 1817-1823...
managed to have
the Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
routed through those cities and bypassing Waynesville.
Finally, when the system of state highways was laid out, the village was once again bypassed.
Today, Waynesville is a slowly-shrinking settlement, as younger people move away and older people die off. It no longer has a school of its own, in fact. Many of the buildings in its "uptown" business district have succumbed to the ravages of time.
Geography
Waynesville is located at 40°14′30"N 89°7′30"W (40.241666, -89.125081).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 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 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 452 people, 185 households, and 133 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 1,404.0 people per square mile (545.4/km²). There were 203 housing units at an average density of 630.6 per square mile (244.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.67% White, 0.66% African American, and 0.66% from two or more races.
There were 185 households out of which 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% 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, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.1% were non-families. 24.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $40,588, and the median income for a family was $41,731. Males had a median income of $30,481 versus $22,115 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 $16,640. About 4.2% of families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 10.3% of those age 65 or over.