Streator, Illinois
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| Streator | |
| City | |
 Buildings in downtown Streator
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| Motto: Quiet Surprise on the Prairie | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Illinois |
| Counties | LaSalle, Livingston |
| Townships | Bruce, Eagle, Otter Creek, Reading |
| Elevation | 620 ft (189 m) |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 5.8 sq mi (15 km²) |
| - land | 5.8 sq mi (15 km²) |
| - water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Population | 14,190 (2000) |
| Density | 2,460.6 /sq mi (950 /km²) |
| Founded | 1868 |
| Government | Mayor-council government |
| Mayor | Ray Schmitt |
| Timezone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Postal code | 61364 |
| Area code | 815 |
  Location of Streator within Illinois
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| Wikimedia Commons: Streator, Illinois | |
| Website: http://www.ci.streator.il.us/ | |
Streator is a city in LaSalle and Livingston counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 14,190 at the 2000 census.
Most of the city lies in LaSalle County, although a small portion extends into northwestern Livingston County. In the 2000 census, 13,948 of Streator's 14,190 residents (98.3%) lived in Marshall County and 242 (1.7%) lived in Livingston County.[1]
Streator is a principal city of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area, which was the ninth-most populous Micropolitan Statistical Area in the United States as of 2007. The small Livingston County portion of Streator is part of the Pontiac Micropolitan Statistical Area.
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[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 14,190 people, 5,746 households, and 3,660 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,460.6 people per square mile (949.5/km²). There were 6,176 housing units at an average density of 1,071.0/sq mi (413.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.28% White, 2.06% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.50% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.64% of the population.
There were 5,746 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,868, and the median income for a family was $43,774. Males had a median income of $34,932 versus $20,994 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,650. About 8.3% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Residents of Streator are known as Streatorites.
[edit] History
Streator began with coal, while areas north of the Illinois River prospered with lumber. The area was originally known as Hardscrabble. The town later was named for early industrialist Dr. Worthy L. Streator, who financed the regions first mining operation. The town was officially incorporated as The City of Streator in 1868. Colonel Ralph Plumb was brought in to manage the Vermilion Coal Company. Among his duties was overseeing the platting and incorporation of the quickly growing town. [3]
Scottish, German and Irish immigrants immigrated to the area, later followed by scores of Czechs, Slovaks, Austrians and Hungarians seeking new opportunities in the mines. Today many of the residents are direct descendants of these original miners.
[edit] Notable Natives
Streator is the birth town of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto (until 2006 considered a planet) in 1930.[4]
Clarence E. Mulford grew up in Streator. As an author, he wrote the Hopalong Cassidy series of books. The Hopalong Cassidy River Trail winds along the banks of the Vermilion River, which passes Mulford's boyhood home.[5]
Other notable Streator residents include George "Honeyboy" Evans who composed "In the Good Old Summertime".[6], Ed Plumb who directed the music for several Disney movies[7], Bob Tattersall who was the King of Midget Car Racing, and Mary Lee Robb Cline who was the third actress to play the part of Marjorie, the niece of Thockmorton P. Gildersleeve, the principal character in the radio program "The Great Gildersleeve."
[edit] Notable Structures
Streator has many historic structures, including an ornate Bauhaus-inspired National Guard Armory, the town's original City Hall (now a business), and a Carnegie Library. There are also many private homes of significant historical value, including homes on Broadway Street and Pleasant Avenue.
Founded in 1883, St. Stephens Catholic Church was the first Slovak Catholic church in the United States.[8]
[edit] Transportation
Streator is served by Illinois State Routes 23 and 18, which intersect in downtown. Streator is also easily accessible by I-39, exit 41. The Southwest Chief (Amtrak) also used to stop in Streator until 1996.
[edit] Economy
Streator's early industry was primarily the mining of coal. As the community matured, glass and brick became the primary industries. Through the 20th century Streator was known as the "Glass Container Capital of the World."
Vactor Manufacturingis the worlds leading producer of heavy-duty sewer cleaning equipment. They are the second largest employer in Streator with 530 employees. [9]
In addition, it was briefly home to the brass era automobile company Erie (which became Barley).
Owens-Illinois Streator Plant produces Duraglas XL (TM) glass, which is used to make lightweight, stronger beer bottles for the Miller Brewing Company. [10]
St. Mary's Hospital is the city's largest employer. Founded in 1886 by the Hospital Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis, this 251 bed hospital serves Streator and its outlying areas.
Current products of Streator include building and paving brick, milk and soda water bottles, auto parts, banana crates, sewer pipe, clothing, draintile, washing machines, auto truck dump bodies, and hydraulic hoists.
[edit] Geography
[edit] Topography
Streator is located at (41.1208668, -88.8353520).[11]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.8 square miles (15.0 km²), of which, 5.8 square miles (14.9 km²) of it is land and 0.17% is water.
The Vermilion River traverses the west side of Streator.
[edit] Climate
Streator has a continental climate, influenced by the Great Lakes. Its average winter temperature is 25.0°F (-3.89° C) and its average summer temperature is 75.0°F (23.88°C). Streator has an average annual rainfall of 34.68 in (88.08cm), with an annual snowfall of 22.0 in (55.88cm)[12]
[edit] The Future of Streator
Streator, in conjunction with the North Central Illinois Council of Governments (NCICG) recently finalized the Streator Comprehensive Plan[13]. The plan if approved is a roadmap for civic, transportation, housing, commercial and recreational improvements in the city for the next 20 years.
In 2006 Streator city officials have been in talks with Green Lion Bio-Fuels, LLC regarding a proposal for the creation of an ethanol production plant to be located in the Streator Industrial Park. As of February 2008, plans for this plant have been suspended.[14].
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Subcounty population estimates 2000-2006: Illinois (CSV). United States Census Bureau, Population Division (2007-06-28). Retrieved on 2008-06-03.
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Vermilion River Watershed Critical Trends Assessment. State of Illinois Department of Natural Resouces. Retrieved on 2007-11-25.
- ^ Clyde Tombaugh Obituary.
- ^ Hopalong Cassidy Trail.
- ^ Hometown of George "Honeyboy" Evans.
- ^ Ed Plumb - IMDB.
- ^ St. Stephens Church archive at the University of Minnesota.
- ^ "Vactor Sewer Cleaners website".
- ^ "Owens-Illinois Builds a Better Glass Bottle".
- ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ Community Profile, Streator, LaSalle County, Illinois. State of Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. Retrieved on 2007-06-28.
- ^ "Streator Comprehensive Plan".
- ^ "Green Lion still committed to Streator ethanol plant".
[edit] External links
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