Arrowsmith, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Arrowsmith is a village in McLean County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 294 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bloomington
–Normal
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all land.
Arrowsmith was laid out on 7 December 1871 by Charles W. Holder ( 1808–1887) and Owen T. Reeves. (1829- ?) The founders kept their identities hidden for two years until the plat was officially recorded. Both proprietors lived in Bloomington, were experienced land dealers, .and were involved in the creation of the Lafayette Bloomington and Mississippi Railroad. Holder had been Jesse Fell’s partner in the founding of Towanda, Illinois
, one of his partners in the development of Normal, Illinois
, and the town of Holder, Illinois
would soon be named in his honor. Reeves was a Bloomington lawyer and judge who had been colonel of the short-lived 70th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. Arrowsmith Township had voted $30,000 in bonds to support the construction of the railroad on the condition that a station be established in their township. It was at first thought that the name of the town would be Weldon, but it was soon learned that this name had been taken by a newly-founded town in DeWitt County. Arrowsmith takes its name from the township in which it was located, which had been named for early settler Ezekiel Arrowsmith. Several of the first buildings in Arrowsmith were moved to the new own from Senex, located about three miles to the southwest near the edge of Old Town Timber. Taking advantage of cold weather John Thompson had used thirty-two horses to skid his store from Senex to Arrowsmith in just over two hours. The Senex blacksmith shop and the post office were moved in the same year. However, most of the buildings in the new town were newly constructed and many of the early merchants were from places other than Senex.
Original Town Design and Development
The design of the Original Town was centered on a wide railroad ground with eight blocks north of the tracks and eight blocks south of the tracks. Most of the early businesses were along Main Street north of the tracks. Both grain elevators and the early stockyards were north of the tracks, but the depot was on the south side. In 1876 the Lafayette Bloomington and Mississippi Railroad was leased to the Lake Erie and Western Railroad
which purchased the line in 1879.and the railroad is usually remembered under this name. Arrowsmith was incorporated as a village in April 1890. The growth of Arrowsmith was slow; in 1900 it had only 317 people.
of 2000, there were 298 people, 108 households, and 87 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,464.4 inhabitants per square mile (575.3/km²). There were 117 housing units at an average density of 575.0 per square mile (225.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.99% White, 0.34% Native American, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 108 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.4% were married couples
living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $49,375, and the median income for a family was $54,375. Males had a median income of $36,667 versus $25,179 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $17,261. About 4.4% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 3.2% of those sixty five or over.
McLean County, Illinois
McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 294 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bloomington
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
–Normal
Normal, Illinois
Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
Arrowsmith is located at 40°26′56"N 88°37′54"W (40.448897, -88.631541).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 0.2 square mile (0.517997622 km²), all land.
History
Founding of ArrowsmithArrowsmith was laid out on 7 December 1871 by Charles W. Holder ( 1808–1887) and Owen T. Reeves. (1829- ?) The founders kept their identities hidden for two years until the plat was officially recorded. Both proprietors lived in Bloomington, were experienced land dealers, .and were involved in the creation of the Lafayette Bloomington and Mississippi Railroad. Holder had been Jesse Fell’s partner in the founding of Towanda, Illinois
Towanda, Illinois
Towanda is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 480 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, one of his partners in the development of Normal, Illinois
Normal, Illinois
Normal is an incorporated town in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It had a population of 52,497 as of the 2010 census. Normal is the smaller of two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
, and the town of Holder, Illinois
Holder, Illinois
Holder is an unincorporated community in Old Town Township, McLean County, Illinois.-Geography:Holder is located at , and is located east of Bloomington.-History:...
would soon be named in his honor. Reeves was a Bloomington lawyer and judge who had been colonel of the short-lived 70th Illinois Infantry during the Civil War. Arrowsmith Township had voted $30,000 in bonds to support the construction of the railroad on the condition that a station be established in their township. It was at first thought that the name of the town would be Weldon, but it was soon learned that this name had been taken by a newly-founded town in DeWitt County. Arrowsmith takes its name from the township in which it was located, which had been named for early settler Ezekiel Arrowsmith. Several of the first buildings in Arrowsmith were moved to the new own from Senex, located about three miles to the southwest near the edge of Old Town Timber. Taking advantage of cold weather John Thompson had used thirty-two horses to skid his store from Senex to Arrowsmith in just over two hours. The Senex blacksmith shop and the post office were moved in the same year. However, most of the buildings in the new town were newly constructed and many of the early merchants were from places other than Senex.
Original Town Design and Development
The design of the Original Town was centered on a wide railroad ground with eight blocks north of the tracks and eight blocks south of the tracks. Most of the early businesses were along Main Street north of the tracks. Both grain elevators and the early stockyards were north of the tracks, but the depot was on the south side. In 1876 the Lafayette Bloomington and Mississippi Railroad was leased to the Lake Erie and Western Railroad
Lake Erie and Western Railroad
The Lake Erie and Western Railroad was a railroad that operated in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois.-The beginning:The Seney Syndicate linked several short railroads in Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois to form the Lake Erie and Western Railroad in 1879 and 1880...
which purchased the line in 1879.and the railroad is usually remembered under this name. Arrowsmith was incorporated as a village in April 1890. The growth of Arrowsmith was slow; in 1900 it had only 317 people.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 298 people, 108 households, and 87 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,464.4 inhabitants per square mile (575.3/km²). There were 117 housing units at an average density of 575.0 per square mile (225.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.99% White, 0.34% Native American, and 0.67% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 108 households out of which 37.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 70.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 4.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 19.4% were non-families. 14.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.09.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.5% under the age of 18, 10.4% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 87.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $49,375, and the median income for a family was $54,375. Males had a median income of $36,667 versus $25,179 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $17,261. About 4.4% of families and 3.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including none of those under the age of eighteen and 3.2% of those sixty five or over.