Cambridge, Illinois

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Cambridge, Illinois
Coordinates: 41°18′12″N, 90°11′36″W
Country United States
State Illinois
County Henry
Township Cambridge
Government
 - President, Village Board of Trustees Dwaine VanMeenen[1]
 - Village Administrator Mike Palmer[2]
Area
 - Village  1.4 sq mi (3.7 km²)
 - Land  1.4 sq mi (3.7 km²)
 - Water  0 sq mi (0 km²)
Population (2000)
 - Village 2,180
 - Density 1,540.2/sq mi (592.7/km²)
Time zone CST (UTC-6)
 - Summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
ZIP Code 61238
Area code(s) 309

Cambridge is a village in Henry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,180 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Henry County.GR6

Contents

[edit] Geography

Cambridge is located at 41°18′12″N, 90°11′36″W (41.303327, -90.193411).GR1

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²). 3.7 km² (1.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.70% is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 2,180 people, 856 households, and 595 families residing in the village. The population density was 592.7/km² (1,540.2/mi²). There were 896 housing units at an average density of 243.6/km² (633.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.17% White, 0.78% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, and 0.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 856 households out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the village the population was spread out with 24.6% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $38,636, and the median income for a family was $46,786. Males had a median income of $31,442 versus $20,129 for females. The per capita income for the village was $17,842. About 8.1% of families and 10.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 4.9% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Court House

As the county seat of Henry County, Illinois, Cambridge hosts the county government. The Henry County Court House is the key architectural landmark of the village and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 2004.

[edit] Schools

Cambridge has a single school district, School District #227, which includes a single elementary school, junior high (attached to the high school), and high school.[3] The high school graduates around 50-60 students annually. Like many small towns, the cultural life of the community revolves around the arts and sports related to the school. The elementary school was selected as a 2006 Blue Ribbon School, part of the No Child Left Behind Act. It was one of only 18 selected in Illinois.[4]

[edit] Parks

Cambridge has two public parks. Hand Park on the West side of town hosts little league baseball and football, while College Square (former site of the High School) is the central park in the work with tennis courts, softball field and pavilion.

[edit] Links to Bishop Hill

Historically, Cambridge has been linked to nearby Bishop Hill, Illinois. Bishop Hill was founded in 1846 by a sect of Swedish immigrants led by their prophet, Erik Janson. For several years, local Americans and their Swedish neighbors traded and lived in peace. In 1850, Erik Janson was murdered by a former follower in the court house in Cambridge. The historic record reveals some tension between the Swedes the in Bishop Hill and the residents of Cambridge. Additionally, the influx of Swedish immigrants attracted additional immigrants from Sweden to the Henry County area. As the population grew, they called for religious leadership from the Lutheran Church of Sweden, an official branch of the Swedish government. Before they fled from Sweden, Erik Janson and his followers had a contentious break from the Lutheran Church. The Cambridge Lutheran church was established as an off shoot of Lars Esbjorn's Augustana Lutheran Church in nearby Andover, Illinois. This religious-related tension would remain between the Augustana Lutherans (including Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois) and the people of Bishop Hills well into the late 20th Century. For more information on Cambridge's relationship with Bishop Hill see Troy Swanson's "Those Crazy Swedes: Outside Influence on the Bishop Hill Colony" in Nobler things to View: Collected Essays on the Erik-Janssonists published by the Bishop Hill Heritage Association in 1998.

[edit] Henry County Fair

Cambridge is the proud home of the Henry County Fair for one week each summer. During this local festival, Henry County showcases its talent as one of the premier agriculture producing counties of Illinois. 4H members show horses, cattle, arts, and other talents. Citizens submit art works and garden grown produce for competition. There is often a tractor pull and demolition derby. The Henry County Queen pageant is a draw for many spectators. The beer tent is also a site for reunions of present and past residents.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Village of Cambridge. Elected Officials. Accessed February 22, 2007.
  2. ^ Village of Cambridge. Villages Employees. Accessed February 22, 2007.
  3. ^ Village of Cambridge. Schools. Accessed February 22, 2007.
  4. ^ United States Department of Education. 2006 No Child Left Behind-Blue Ribbon Schools. Accessed February 22, 2007.

[edit] External links


Flag of Illinois Municipalities and Communities of Henry County, Illinois
(County Seat: Cambridge)
Cities, Towns and Villages Alpha | Andover | Annawan | Atkinson | Bishop Hill | Cambridge | Cleveland | Coal Valley | Colona | Fairbank | Galva | Geneseo | Green Rock | Hooppole | Kewanee | Lynn Center | Nekoma | Opheim | Ophiem | Orion | Sunny Hill Estates | Sunny Hill | Swedona | Ulah | Warner | Woodhull
Townships Alba | Andover | Annawan | Atkinson | Burns | Cambridge | Clover | Colona | Cornwall | Edford | Galva | Geneseo | Hanna | Kewanee | Loraine | Lynn | Munson | Osco | Oxford | Phoenix | Weller | Western | Wethersfield | Yorktown
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