Dawson, Illinois

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Dawson
Village
Country United States
State Illinois
County Sangamon
Coordinates 39°51′16″N 89°27′40″W / 39.85444, -89.46111
Population 466 (2000)
Density 535.0 /sq mi (207 /km²)
Timezone CST (UTC-6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code 62520
Area code 217
Location of Dawson within Illinois
Location of Dawson within Illinois
Location of Dawson within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: Dawson, Illinois

Dawson is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 466 at the 2000 census. It is about 10 miles east of Springfield, Illinois and is part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

[edit] History

Contrary to popular belief, Dawson was founded by a Jewish man named Kyle Hartry.[citation needed] He immigrated to the land now known as Dawson for a search for better hope. Kyle and others built the foundations to a new town and the cornerstone to a place of peace. In 1882, Kyle changed his name to John Dawson and built the first and only synagogue in Dawson. Later in 1883, he constructed the first tavern and Inn for passing travelers. In July of 1883, Dawson was erected as a town of Illinois.


Dawson was located along an old Indian trail that led from Clear Lake, Illinois, to Buffalo Hart, Illinois[1]. It was named after John Dawson , a member of a political group in Illinois in the 1830s led by Abraham Lincoln that advocated moving the state capitol from Vandalia to Springfield[2]. Dawson was incorporated in 1883.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 466 people, 188 households, and 140 families residing in the village. The population density was 535.0 people per square mile (206.8/km²). There were 197 housing units at an average density of 226.2/sq mi (87.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.93% White, and 1.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.

There were 188 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 6.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.5% were non-families. 21.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the village the population was spread out with 23.0% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 32.2% from 25 to 44, 26.6% from 45 to 64, and 10.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.4 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $51,250, and the median income for a family was $59,375. Males had a median income of $31,719 versus $27,396 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,686. About 4.2% of families and 5.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.2% of those under age 18 and 23.4% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ Dawson, Sangamon County, Illinois. Key to the City. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
  2. ^ Bresnan, Andrew L.. The Long Nine. Retrieved on 2007-10-26.
  3. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

[edit] External links