Harvard, Illinois

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Harvard is a city in McHenry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,996 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 9,104 as of 2005.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 Fire Protection
5 Post Office
6 Law Enforcement
7 Library
8 Transportation
9 People
10 External links

[edit] Geography

Harvard is located at 42°25′24″N, 88°37′5″W (42.423444, -88.618036)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.8 km² (5.3 mi²), all land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 7,996 people, 2,610 households, and 1,853 families residing in the city. The population density was 578.1/km² (1,498.2/mi²). There were 2,723 housing units at an average density of 196.9/km² (510.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 76.25% White, 0.85% African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.43% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 18.76% from other races, and 2.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 37.81% of the population.

There were 2,610 households out of which 39.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.0% were non-families. 24.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.56.

In the city the population was spread out with 30.1% under the age of 18, 12.7% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 16.8% from 45 to 64, and 9.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 29 years. For every 100 females there were 107.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 105.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $44,363, and the median income for a family was $48,087. Males had a median income of $30,578 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,253. About 6.9% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 1.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

In 1855 the Chicago & Northwestern Railway built toward Janesville, Wisconsin, from Cary. Projecting where trains from Chicago would have to stop for servicing in the days of wood fuel, Elbridge Gerry Ayer and two other North Western stockholders platted a community in southeastern Chemung Township on land that they had purchased without mentioning their railroad affiliation. In April 1856, the railroad accepted Ayer's town plat as a station named Harvard. When the North Western's Kenosha-Rockford line entered Harvard in 1859, the railroad built engine-handling facilities there.

As railroad employment expanded, Harvard's population ballooned. In 1868 voters incorporated the community, and elected Ayer as president.^[1]

In 1942, Harvard instituted an annual celebration called Harvard Milk Days. A lavish parade down whitewashed streets presided over by a large fiberglass Holstein cow named (since 1970) Harmilda attracted thousands. Celebrations, aside, dairy farming declined as farmers found it easier and as profitable to supply metropolitan Chicago's supermarkets with produce. Many Mexicans who came to work as temporary pickers and processors remained in Harvard as landscape laborers, significantly changing the community's population makeup.

In 2006, Harvard is conducting a year long Sesquicentennial Celebration.

The Greater Harvard Area Historical Society is located at 308 N. Hart Street. The ongoing mission of the society is the plaquing of historical sites in the area, obtaining Harvard family histories, and businesses and farms which have been in operation for more than 100 years.

Mayors of Harvard Illinois

- N.B. Helm : 1891 to 1893
- M.W. Lake : 1893 to 1895
- L.A. Gardner : 1895 to 1896
- James Logue : 1896 to 1899
- J.A. Sweeney : 1899 to 1901
- William D. Hall : 1901 to 1903
- Richard Phalen : 1903 to 1907
- J.H. Vickers : 1907 to 1915
- C.J. Henricks : 1915 to 1918
- Frank O. Thompson : 1918 to 1919
- B.F. Manley : 1919 to 1921
- J.G. Maxon : 1921 to 1927
- Frank O. Thompson : 1927 to 1929
- J.G. Maxon : 1929 to 1940
- R.L. Herrick : 1941 to 1946
- John L. McCabe : 1947 to 1957
- Ronald J. Morris : 1957 to 1973
- William R. LeFew : 1973 to 1981
- Frank Godo : 1981 to 1989
- Robert C. Iftner : 1989 to 1993
- William W. LeFew : 1993 to 1996
- Ralph Henning : 1996 to 2005
- Jay T. Nolan : 2005 to Current

[edit] Fire Protection

Harvard Fire Department

Harvard's Fire Protection District consists of 47 trained firefighters, of which 22 are EMT's and 14 are paramedics.

Brief History: In 1865, 5 men got together to purchase a fire engine for the village of Harvard. In 1871 the engine was sent to Chicago via the railroad to assist in the Great Chicago Fire. In 1892 it was again placed on a train to assist with a fire in the community of Kenosha, Wisconsin. In 1899 the first constitution and by-laws were drawn up for the Harvard Fire Department. The Harvard Rescue Squad was founded in 1956 with a $7000 donation from the Harvard Jaycees. In 1971 the City and Rural Fire Department merged to form the Harvard Fire Protection District.

[edit] Post Office

The U.S. Post Office in Harvard is located at 300 N. Eastman Street.

[edit] Law Enforcement

Harvard Police Department

The Harvard Police Department is located in the lower level of City Hall at 201 W. Front Street. It consists of 18 full time police officers, 4 full time emergency dispatchers, 3 part time emergency dispatchers and 2 full time police assistants. The department has two bicycles for officers to patrol the city streets, parks, and downtown area. It also has a canine unit.

[edit] Library

Harvard Diggins Library

Harvard Diggins Library, 900 E. McKinley St, Harvard, Illinois 60033

Brief History: The Delos F. Diggins Library opened its doors in 1909 as an endowed library made possible through the will of Delos F. Diggins. When the library moved to its new facilities in 2001, the name was changed to Harvard Diggins Library. The library is a municipal library and receives its financial support from city taxes and endowment funds. It is governed by a nine member City Library Board appointed by the mayor. The original Diggins Trustee Board assists with special funding. As an online member of the Prairie Area Library System's automation project, the library shares a database with other libraries in the system and patrons may access these materials as well as local materials. Patrons are also able to use their card at the PALS libraries.

[edit] Transportation

Harvard is currently the terminal of Metra's Union Pacific/Northwest Line, with daily passenger service to Ogilvie Transportation Center (Northwestern Station) in downtown Chicago. Harvard is the most remote point on the Metra system.

The St. Paul and Fond du Lac railroad came to town in 1856, the same year the town was founded. A roundhouse was built so engines could be turned around and head back to Chicago. Harvard was unique among communities in McHenry County in that it gave land to the railroad at no cost.