Heyworth, Illinois

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

You have new messages (last change).

Heyworth is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It was founded in 1856. As of the 2003 census, the village population was 2,478.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Heyworth is located at 40°18′53″N, 88°58′40″W (40.314718, -88.977896)GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 4.0 km² (1.5 mi²), all land. 86-45

[edit] History

Before settlement, the locality now known as Heyworth was covered by a heavy growth of timber and underbrush which was inhabited by the Kickapoo Native Americans, and was supported a great number of deer, wild turkeys, and packs of large gray wolves.

As settlers began to move West, families such as the Rutledges, Funks, Passwaters,Bishops, Nobles, Karrs, Wakefields, and Martins settled in the immediate vicinity of the present Village of Heyworth as early as 1824. Campbell Wakefield was the primary founder of Heyworth. In the course of his achievements, Wakefield became the owner of a vast tract of land including what is now Heyworth. He continually added to his original tract until he obtained about fifteen hundred acres in one plot.

As the Western US population increased and industries began to spring up, railroads were becoming a great advantage. In 1852 and 1853, the Illinois Central Railroad was constructed through the Wakefield land. When the line became operational in 1855, the residents hoped to put a train station in the vicinity. Many property owners vied for the station, but Wakefield immediately donated a large tract of land for the station. Additionally he set aside adjacent land for the foundation of a town, a Presbyterian Church, and a district school.

The first post office was build in the municipality in 1856, when the new station was opened. The station was named “Elmwood,” but it was soon discovered that this name was already taken by a locality in Peoria County. The President of the Illinois Central Railroad proposed calling the new station “Heyworth,” after the name of an English director of the railroad.

After the establishment of the station, Campbell Wakefield made several donations to encourage trade and induce business men to locate in the new town. He became the proprietor of the new town, and the Village of Heyworth was incorporated on March 31, 1869.

Campbell Wakefield
Campbell Wakefield

[edit] Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 2,431 people, 898 households, and 687 families residing in the village. The population density was 609.5/km² (1,573.6/mi²). There were 956 housing units at an average density of 239.7/km² (618.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.82% White, 0.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.62% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.82% of the population.

There were 898 households out of which 42.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.4% were non-families. 19.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.71 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the village the population was spread out with 31.0% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 33.0% from 25 to 44, 19.3% from 45 to 64, and 10.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $53,043, and the median income for a family was $60,648. Males had a median income of $40,944 versus $26,708 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,655. About 2.9% of families and 3.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.8% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] References

  • Marker, Charles A., (1926) A History of Heyworth, The Heyworth Star

[edit] External links


Flag of Illinois Municipalities and Communities of McLean County, Illinois
(County Seat: Bloomington)
Cities, Towns and Villages Anchor | Arrowsmith | Bellflower | Bloomington | Carlock | Chenoa | Colfax | Cooksville | Danvers | Downs | Ellsworth | Gridley | Heyworth | Hudson | Le Roy | Lexington | McLean | Normal | Saybrook | Stanford | Towanda
Townships Allin | Anchor | Arrowsmith | Bellflower | Bloomington | Blue Mound | Cheney’s | Chenoa | Cropsey | Dale | Danvers | Dawson | Downs | Dry Grove | Empire | Funk’s Grove | Gridley | Hudson | Lawndale | Lexington | Martin | Money Creek | Mount Hope | Normal | Old Town | Randolph | Towanda | West | White Oak | Yates
Airports Central Illinois Regional Airport
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org../../../h/e/y/Heyworth%2C_Illinois_be73.html"