Morris, Illinois

Morris
City
Country United States
State Illinois
County Grundy
Townships Morris, Erienna, Saratoga, Wauponsee
Elevation 525 ft (160 m)
Coordinates 41°22′31″N 88°25′41″W / 41.37528°N 88.42806°W / 41.37528; -88.42806Coordinates: 41°22′31″N 88°25′41″W / 41.37528°N 88.42806°W / 41.37528; -88.42806
Area 9.81 sq mi (25 km2)
 - land 9.44 sq mi (24 km2)
 - water 0.36 sq mi (1 km2)
Population 13,636 (2010)
Density 1,734.0 / sq mi (670 / km2)
Founded 1842
Timezone CST (UTC-6)
 - summer (DST) CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code 60450
Area codes 815/779
Location of Morris within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: Morris, Illinois
Statistics: [1]
Website: City of Morris
[2]

The city of Morris is the county seat of Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,636 at the 2010 census, making it the largest community in Grundy County.

While not technically within the corporate limits of the city, Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, which provides a substantial portion of the electricity supply for the Chicago metropolitan area, has a Morris mailing address. Included among the Dresden plant's reactors is the first commercial nuclear reactor, housed in a spherical concrete and steel shell; it has since been decommissioned, and two more modern reactors (of 1970s vintage) now generate its electricity. Also nearby is the Morris Operation—the only de facto high-level radioactive waste storage site in the United States.

Description

Visitors and shoppers come a distance to enjoy the tranquil small town shopping atmosphere in the city's downtown. In addition to the downtown, there are outlying businesses such as five motels, a theater, restaurants, a furniture store, two drug stores, boat sales, three grocery stores, hardware stores, banquet hall, and numerous retail stores and gift shops.

Morris is the Grundy County seat and has a large hospital and modern schools. It is home to the Morris Redskins, who have won 3 state championships in football. There are many small parks, ball diamonds, tennis courts, two golf courses, a swimming pool as well as the Gebhard Woods State Park and the William G. Stratton State Park for boat launching on the Illinois River and a skatepark located near White Oak elementary school. Morris Community High School is known to be located on an abandoned mining network that stems for approximately five miles (8 kilometres). Morris is home to the Grundy County Speedway, and the city also hosts the annual Grundy County Fair and Grundy County Corn Fest.

Morris is situated along the Illinois River at the intersections of U.S. Route 6, Illinois Route 47, and Interstate 80.

Geography

Morris is located at 41°22′31″N 88°25′41″W / 41.37528°N 88.42806°W / 41.37528; -88.42806 (41.3751416, -88.4281240), at an elevation of 525 feet (160 m).[2] According to the 2010 census, Morris has a total area of 9.804 square miles (25.39 km2), of which 9.44 square miles (24.45 km2) (or 96.29%) is land and 0.364 square miles (0.94 km2) (or 3.71%) is water.[3]

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18602,105—
18703,13849.1%
18803,48611.1%
18903,053−12.4%
19004,27340.0%
19104,5636.8%
19204,505−1.3%
19305,56823.6%
19406,14510.4%
19506,92612.7%
19607,93514.6%
19708,1943.3%
19808,8337.8%
199010,27016.3%
200011,92816.1%
201013,63614.3%
Est. 201414,135[4]3.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]

As of the census[1] of 2000, there were 11,928 people, 4,831 households, and 3,067 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,734.0 people per square mile (669.4/km²). There were 5,084 housing units at an average density of 739.1 per square mile (285.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.7% White, 4.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 6.7% from other races, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.5% of the population.

There were 5,084 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $62,563 and the median income for a family was $54,987. Males had a median income of $44,071 versus $25,206 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,256. About 5.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

54% of Morris is Roman Catholic.[6]

Industries

The Lyondell Chemical Company is located about five miles (8 km) from the city center. The plant, located just off U.S. Route 6 heading eastbound away from Morris, employs many Morris residents. In addition to the chemical plant, three nuclear power plants are located within a 15-mile (24 km) radius of the center of Morris. The closest nuclear plant is only three miles (5 km) away, called the Dresden Nuclear Power Station. The LaSalle Nuclear Station is 14–15 miles (23–24 km) away, and Braidwood Generating Station is about 13 miles (21 km) away. All of the stations are owned by Exelon Corp. Among the stations, Dresden Generating Station generates energy for Chicago and surrounding areas.

Telephone switching history

Morris was the first place in the United States where an electronic switching system was used to serve telephone subscribers.[7] The installation was a limited trial of a system design that was only referenced as the Morris System.

Super Outbreak tornado

Morris was the first town hit by the Super Outbreak of April 3–4, 1974. However, the damage was relatively minor and nobody was injured.

Notable people

References

  1. 1 2 "Morris city, Illinois". American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. 2010. Retrieved 1 March 2010.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: City of Morris
  3. ↑ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  4. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  6. ↑ http://www.city-data.com/city/Morris-Illinois.html
  7. ↑ Duhnkrack, George (1960-04). The Electronic Switching System. Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated. p. 1. OL 24657942M. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ↑ "Billy Petrick Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 8, 2015.

External links

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