Effingham, Illinois
Effingham, Illinois | ||
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FIPS code 17-22736 | | |
GNIS ID | 2394628[2] | |
Wikimedia Commons | Effingham, Illinois | |
Website | www |
Effingham is a city in and the
The city bills itself as "The Crossroads of Opportunity" because of its location at the intersection of two major Interstate highways:
Geography
Effingham is located at 39°7′15″N 88°32′45″W / 39.12083°N 88.54583°W (39.120903, −88.545909).[3]
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Effingham has a total area of 10.56 square miles (27.35 km2), of which 10.49 square miles (27.17 km2) (or 99.34%) is land and 0.07 square miles (0.18 km2) (or 0.66%) is water.[4]
Effingham is served by a total of 5 highways, only 2 of them being interstates.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1870 | 2,383 | — | |
1880 | 3,065 | 28.6% | |
1890 | 3,260 | 6.4% | |
1900 | 3,774 | 15.8% | |
1910 | 3,898 | 3.3% | |
1920 | 4,024 | 3.2% | |
1930 | 4,978 | 23.7% | |
1940 | 6,180 | 24.1% | |
1950 | 6,892 | 11.5% | |
1960 | 8,172 | 18.6% | |
1970 | 9,458 | 15.7% | |
1980 | 11,270 | 19.2% | |
1990 | 11,851 | 5.2% | |
2000 | 12,384 | 4.5% | |
2010 | 12,328 | −0.5% | |
2020 | 12,252 | −0.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[5][6] |
As of the
There were 5,205 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.77% were married couples living together, 11.82% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.81% were non-families. 33.26% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.64% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 2.29.
The city's age distribution consisted of 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,551, and the median income for a family was $69,405. Males had a median income of $37,288 versus $26,182 for females. The
History
Effingham was first settled in 1814, and was known from then until 1859 as Broughton.[8] In 1859, it became the county seat with buildings relocated from nearby (now deserted) Ewington.[9] The community was named after General E. Effingham, a local surveyor.[10]
In the late 1880s, local citizens founded Austin College, which lasted for several decades, and ultimately was purchased to become the Illinois College of Photography, also known as Bissel College. That school closed due to the Great Depression in the 1930s.[11]
On April 4, 1949,
Effingham was a sundown town;[13] daytime segregation was enforced until at least the mid-1960s.[14]
Rail transportation
Effingham is historically important as a rail junction. The old Pennsylvania Railroad and the former Illinois Central Railroad crossed in downtown Effingham.[15]
The former Illinois Central line was taken over by
Education
Effingham has several schools, both public and private. The private schools are both religiously affiliated and include Saint Anthony and Sacred Heart. Saint Anthony Grade School (SAGS) serves grades preschool (age 3+) to eighth grade. SAGS has the Bullpup as its mascot. Sacred Heart Grade School (SHS) serves preschool (age 3+) to eighth grade. SHS's mascot is the Shamrock. The public schools include the Early Learning Center, South Side Elementary, Central Grade School, Effingham Junior High School (EJHS), and Effingham High School. The Early Learning Center serves preschool and kindergarten age children. South Side Elementary serves first and second graders. Aspire is a school for students who are likely to drop out or those who get expelled. Central Grade School serves third through fifth grade students. Central Grade school's mascot is the Mustang. EJHS serves junior high students in grades six to eight. EJHS's mascot is the Mustang.
Effingham High School (EHS) is the public high school.[17] The new EHS opened in the fall of 1998, and has a current enrollment of 849.[18] The former EHS building, built in 1939 as a WPA project and expanded in 1965, is currently the junior high, serving grades 6–8. The old junior high, Central School, is now a grade school serving grades 3–5. EHS athletics were originally known as the Warriors but the name was changed after Ada Kepley, a city resident, referred to Effingham as the "Heart of America" in a campaign to attract visitors to the city. The name stuck, with references in the city government and the downtown movie theater named the Heart Theater. EHS athletics are now known as the Flaming Hearts.
Effingham is also home to
Monument
The Cross at the Crossroads, a 198-foot (60 m) steel cross erected by the Cross Foundation is located in Effingham and was inaugurated in 2001. The cross is made out of over 180 tons of steel and cost over $1 million.[19] The Cross Foundation claims that the cross is the largest in the United States, standing at 198-foot (60 m) with a span of 113-foot (34 m).[20]
Notable people
- George J. Bauer, Illinois state representative
- Jack Berch, singer and radio personality; raised in Effingham
- Uwe Blab, center for the Dallas Mavericks, Golden State Warriors, and San Antonio Spurs; attended high school in Effingham
- Charles H. Constable, judge and Illinois state senator; died in Effingham
- Nick Gardewine, pitcher for the Texas Rangers; graduate of Effingham High School[21]
- Chad Green, pitcher for the New York Yankees; graduate of Effingham High School[22]
- Ada Kepley, first American woman to graduate from law school
- Jimmy Kite, driver with IndyCar and NASCAR
- Miles E. Mills, Illinois politician
- Mary Ann Brown Newcomb, Civil War nurse
- Brian Shouse, left-handed pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays and Milwaukee Brewers in Major League Baseball
- Daniel Winkler, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs; born and raised in Effingham, attended St. Anthony High School[23]
- Benson Wood, U.S. Congressman, 1895–1897
In popular culture
Comedians and authors have poked fun at the "Effing" portion of the name Effingham and its use in North American and UK slang as a
References
- ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Effingham, Illinois
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- ^ "Effingham city, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 14, 2022. Retrieved February 14, 2022.
- ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
- ^ History of Effingham Archived July 28, 2012, at archive.today
- ^ "EDN Bicentennial Series: Ewington was first Effingham County seat".
- ^ Illinois Central Magazine. Illinois Central Railroad Company. 1922. p. 46.
- ^ Perkins, Kevin. "Austin College". www.frontiernet.net. Retrieved August 28, 2018.
- ^ a b LIFE. Time Inc. April 18, 1949.
- ^ Loewen, James W. (July 9, 2006). "Honda's All-American Sundown Town". History News Network. The George Washington University. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
- ISBN 1595586741.
- ^ Worman, Roger (1973). A Geographic Analysis of the Impact of Interstate Highways 57 and 70 on Certain Aspects of the Economy of the City of Effingham, Illinois (Masters thesis).
- ISBN 978-0-7385-5074-9. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
- ^ "EFFINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL". Effingham Community Schools. Retrieved December 29, 2012.
- ^ "EFFINGHAM HIGH SCHOOL". Illinois Report Card. Illinois State Board of Education. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
- ^ "World's Largest Cross FAQ". worldslargestthings.com. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
- ^ Gregory, Ted. "Landmark speaks volumes". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 6, 2015.
- ^ "Nick Gardewine Stats".
- ^ "Chad Green Amateur, College & Minor Leagues Statistics & History".
- ^ "Daniel Winkler Register Statistics & History | Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 5, 2016.
- ^ "Eff". dictionary.cambridge.org. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
- ^ The Effing House Family Restaurant, retrieved September 19, 2017
- ^ Charlie Amter (October 21, 2008). "Small town Mayor to Ben Folds: We will bury you". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 15, 2009.