Griggsville, Illinois

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{{Geobox|Settlement | name = Griggsville | native_name = | other_name = | category = City | etymology = | official_name = | motto = | nickname = | image = | image_caption = | flag = | symbol = | country = United States | state = Illinois | region = Pike | region_type = County | district = | district_type = Township | municipality = | location = | elevation_imperial = | prominence_imperial = | lat_d = 39 | lat_m = 42 | lat_s = 30 | lat_NS = N | long_d = 90 | long_m = 43 | long_s = 33 | long_EW = W | coordinates_no_title = 1 | highest = | highest_location = | highest_region = | highest_state = | highest_elevation_imperial = | highest_lat_d = | highest_lat_m = | highest_lat_s = | highest_lat_NS = | highest_long_d = | highest_long_m = | highest_long_s = | highest_long_EW = | lowest = | lowest_location = | lowest_region = | lowest_state = | lowest_elevation_imperial = | lowest_lat_d = | lowest_lat_m = | lowest_lat_s = | lowest_lat_NS = | lowest_long_d = | lowest_long_m = | lowest_long_s = | lowest_long_EW = | length_imperial = | length_orientation = | area_imperial = 1.0 | area_land_imperial = 1.0 | area_water_imperial = | area_urban_imperial = | area_metro_imperial = | population = 1258 | population_date = 2000 | population_urban = | population_metro = | population_density = | population_density_imperial = 1215.0 | population_density_urban_imperial = | population_density_metro_imperial = | established = | date = | government = | government_location = | government_region = | government_state = | government_elevation_imperial = | government_lat_d = | government_lat_m = | government_lat_s = | government_lat_NS = | government_long_d = | government_long_m = | government_long_s = | government_long_EW = | mayor = | leader = | leader_type = Mayor | timezone = CST | utc_offset = -6 | timezone_DST = CDT | utc_offset_DST = -5 | postal_code = 62340 | area_code = [[\217| code = | whs_name = | whs_year = | whs_number = | whs_region = | whs_criteria = | iucn_category = | map = Illinois - outline map.svg | map_caption = Location of Griggsville within Illinois | map_background = Illinois - background map.png | map_locator = Illinois2 | commons = Griggsville, Illinois | statistics = | website = | footnotes = }} Griggsville is a city in Pike County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,258 at the 2000 census.

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[edit] Geography

Griggsville is located at 39°42′30″N, 90°43′33″W (39.708403, -90.725797).[1]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.7 km²), all of it land.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 1,258 people, 500 households, and 360 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,215.0 people per square mile (467.0/km²). There were 548 housing units at an average density of 529.3/sq mi (203.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.21% White, 0.16% African American, 0.08% Asian, 0.24% from other races, and 0.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.

There were 500 households out of which 36.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 27.9% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,875, and the median income for a family was $36,071. Males had a median income of $27,454 versus $18,182 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,578. About 10.2% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

From a prologue to the Genealogy of the Steads:

“ Griggsville was literally born with her boots on, more a transplant than the product of pioneering. Like a movie set she sprang to life amost ready made...There was Theodore Dickinson's boarding house and blacksmith shop (1833), Uriah Brown's house (1833),the "old post office" built as a store (1834) by John crow, who was succeeded by I.A. Hatch & Co., and Stanford, Jonas and Griggs store (1833), Ayers and Lombard store and bank (1834), the Weagly House hotel built by Wm. Lippincott (1834), a female & male academy (1836) and a warehouse at Griggsville Landing (1836). Griggsville was never a frontier town built around a saloon and brothel. The Illinois Valley Fair, sponsored by the Pike County Agricultural Society, had its beginnings in 1852 and the first newspaper, the Independent in 1853. ”
Images of Early Griggsville

Griggsville Square ca. 1900

Ayres & Lombard Bank & Store

Weagley Hotel

Griggsville Academy

[edit] The Purple Marlin Capital of the Nation

This 562-apartment high rise, reaching a height of 70 ft., was constructed in 1962.
This 562-apartment high rise, reaching a height of 70 ft., was constructed in 1962.

Griggsville is located between the Mississippi River and the Illinois River and the hot muggy summers are the perfect habitat for mosquitoes. Amid growing concern over the use of pesticides to control mosquitos, the town came up with an alternate abatement method. J.L. Wade, a Griggsville resident and owner of a local antenna manufacturing factory realized that Griggsville was right in the migration path of the Purple Martin, the largest bird in the swallow family, supposedly able to eat 2,000 mosquitoes in a single day.[3] J.L. Wade quickly realized that to get the purple martins to stay, he simply needed to give them a reason to stay, so he converted his antenna factory into a bird house building factory. The mosquito population dwindled, which lead the town to adopt the nickname "The Purple Martin Capital of the Nation", as well as labeling the Purple Martin "America's Most Wanted Bird." Additionally, Wade's Purple Martin business, formerly Trio Manufacturing, published a newsletter called The Nature Society News. The purple martin factory has been recently been sold to a Chicago businessman. Griggsville has installed over 5,000 birdhouses along the city streets, including a 562-apartment high rise, reaching a height of 70 ft.

Griggsville was a "dry" town until April 17, 2007, when a petition to allow liquor sales passed with an overwhelming majority, ending a 50 year alcohol sale prohibition.

Griggsville hosts an Apple Festival on the third weekend of each September, along with the Western Illinois Fair, traditionally held during the third week of June. The Western Illinois Fair, in its 120th year, is one of the oldest fairs in the state of Illinois.

Notable Griggsville natives include former Laker basketball star Lew Hitch, and the alt.post-folk.against band New Prairie Identity.

[edit] Points of interest

  • The 'Purple Martin High-Rise' is located in central Griggsville on Illinois Route 107.
  • Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area
  • Many visitors arrive in Griggsville annually for hunting the abundant wild life such as deer and turkey with hunting season beginning in late summer/early fall.
  • Summer visitors can find entertainment during the Western Illinois Fair 3rd week of June that hosts harness racing with cash prizes, farm related activities, music, carnival rides, beer tent, and camping facilities.
  • For those doing research on ancestors The Skinner House hosts a collections of books, photos, and cemetery records as well as genealogical records maintained by families since the town's founding. Local history is documented at The Skinner House as well as the legendary painting of Bethel Church by artist John Skelton who was raised in Griggsville.
    Bethel Church by John Skelton
    Bethel Church by John Skelton
  • Autumn activities include Fall Color Drive hosted during 3rd weekend in October for scenic driving tour, crafts, food, and yard sales throughout the county.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

v • d • e
Municipalities and communities of
Pike County, Illinois
County seat: Pittsfield
Cities

Barry | Griggsville | Pittsfield
Map of Illinois highlighting Pike County
Towns
Villages
Townships
Unincorporated
communities

Atlas | Chambersburg | East Hannibal | Fishhook | Griggsville Landing | Pike Station | Rockport | Seehorn | Straut | Summer Hill

[edit] Sources

  1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ The Nature Society

Stead, George A. "Prologue to the Genealogy of the Steads" [transcribed by JN Mahon - 1999] "Griggsville--Boom, Town on the Frontier" retrieved from archives at the Skinner House in Griggsville, IL. November 29, 2007