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Revision as of 12:33, 13 January 2008

Template:Geobox City

For the small town of the same name in New South Wales, Australia, see Jerseyville, New South Wales.

Jerseyville is a city in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,984 at the 2000 census, and the population was 8,291 at the 2006 unofficial census. It is the county seat of Jersey CountyTemplate:GR, and is also the largest city in the county. The city's current mayor is Yvonne Hartmann.

Jerseyville is a part of the Metro-East region and the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Jerseyville is located at 39°7′15″N 90°19′39″W / 39.12083°N 90.32750°W / 39.12083; -90.32750Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (39.120789, -90.327545).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²). None of it is covered by water.

History

In 1827, James Faulkner, a Pennsylvania native, and his family built a small framed structure that was named the "Little Red House," in the area that is now known as Jerseyville. The "Little Red House" served as the first stagecoach station, first tavern, first school, and first bank in the immediate area. By 1834, the small settlement that grew up around Faulkner’s home, then known as Hickory Grove by its residents, was surveyed and platted by two immigrants from New Jersey, John Lott and Edward M. Daly. Lott and Daly’s involvement marked the beginning of a proportionally large number of merchants, businessmen and settlers from New Jersey. A meeting was called in that same year at the "Little Red House" to vote for a town name, so a post office could be established. The name of Jerseyville was chosen to honor the native state of many of its inhabitants [1].

In 1839, Jersey County was formed out of Greene County and Jerseyville was named as its county seat. After the American Civil War ended, and the construction of the Alton & Chicago Railroad was completed, Jerseyville saw a period of commercial, industrial and urban growth. The first major period of growth in the city occurred from 1880 to 1916, and from that time to the present, Jerseyville's growth has since been steady and substantial. The majority of the commercial structures that are now located in the Downtown Historic District and Courthouse Square were built during this period. It was also during this time that the present Jersey County Courthouse was built. The two story, 124-foot tall Romanesque Revival building was completed in 1893, and is considered to be one of the most aesthetic courthouses in the area. Other nearby Victorian style buildings in the city include Queen Anne, Edwardian and Italianate features, with several of these buildings having been recently renovated.

The Downtown Historic District is presently home to some antique stores and gift shops, a few clothing stores, a pharmacy, and a couple of local restaurants and banks. Most of the growth that has occurred in the past fifteen years has been in the southern and southwestern areas of the city, where new residential subdivisions and retail shopping centers have been built, and where numerous land acquisitions have been made by the city.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850760—
18602,610243.4%
18702,576−1.3%
18802,89412.3%
18903,20710.8%
19003,5179.7%
19104,11617.0%
19203,839−6.7%
19304,30912.2%
19404,80911.6%
19505,79220.4%
19607,42028.1%
19707,4460.4%
19807,5060.8%
19907,382−1.7%
20007,9848.2%
Decennial US Census

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 7,984 people, 3,260 households, and 2,089 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,817.9 people per square mile (702.2/km²). There were 3,423 housing units at an average density of 779.4/sq mi (301.1/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.85% White, 0.09% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.63% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.54% of the population.

There were 3,260 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.9% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35, and the average family size was 2.97.

In the city, the population was spread out with 24.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $35,556, and the median income for a family was $46,832. Males had a median income of $37,312 versus $21,282 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,178. About 5.8% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Community

Education

Jerseyville is served by the public K-12 Jersey Community Unit School District 100. District schools in Jerseyville include East Elementary School, West Elementary School, Illini Middle School, and Jersey Community High School.

Private schools located in the city are Holy Ghost School (Pre-K through fourth grade) and St. Francis Xavier School (fifth through eighth grade). Both are Roman Catholic schools.

Nearby colleges and universities include Principia College, in Elsah, and Lewis and Clark Community College, in Godfrey.

Recreation

The Jerseyville Parks and Recreation Department maintains and owns six parks:

  • Dolan Park - June and Spruce St.
  • Easton Park - Lincoln and Easton Ave.
  • Lions Club Park - Jefferson and Spruce St.
  • Northmoor Park - Liberty St.
  • Rotary Club Centennial Park - Liberty, Prairie, and Carpenter St. (Illinois Route 16)
  • Wittman Park - Jefferson St.

Transportation

Two major highways run through the city. US Highway 67 runs along a north-south route, while Illinois Route 16 runs along a west-east route. Also, Illinois Route 109 has its northern terminus in Jerseyville at US Highway 67.

A four-lane expansion of US Highway 67 in Jerseyville has been in the planning stages for years, and is currently in Illinois' five-year road construction plan. The plan includes the Jerseyville Bypass, which is expected to go around the eastern portion of the city when it is completed. Construction of the bypass has not started yet, but all of the work prior to actual road construction is scheduled to be completed by 2012. This is a part of the completion of the entire US Highway 67 four-lane project in Illinois between Godfrey and the Quad Cities.

Local Media

Print:

Radio:

Notable Residents

Interesting Notes

Both the Jersey County Courthouse and the Jerseyville Downtown Historic District were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Also on the National Register, is the Col. William H. Fulkerson Farmstead (built in 1866), located just north of the city limits on US Highway 67. The farmstead was added to the Register in 1998.

Jerseyville was also a minor stopping point on the historic Underground Railroad.

See also

Further reading

References

  1. ^ Jerseyville description & history, retrieved August 24, 2007

External links


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