Beecher, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Beecher is a village in Will County
, Illinois
, United States
. It is located on the old Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad
and the Dixie Highway
. Situated in the center of Washington Township
, it was originally named Washington Center. The population was 4,359 at the 2010 census. Named for Henry Ward Beecher
, Beecher was founded in 1870 and incorporated as a village in 1884. Originally governed by a village president and board of trustees, in 1988 a village administrator was hired to handle daily tasks. The city clerk is an appointed position.
, the village has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land. The majority of the village is in Section 16 of Washington Township.
A branch of Trim Creek runs through it but this carries very little water most of the year.
Beecher is located in the center of a primarily agricultural township. Beecher Consolidated School District provides educational services for Washington Township and 12 square miles (31.1 km²) of the neighboring, entirely rural, Will Township
.
The soil around Beecher is well suited for growing crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay. Generally, as you go southwest of the village the soil gets more fertile and as you go northeast it becomes less ideal for agricultural purposes.
The nearest towns are Crete, Illinois
, 7 miles (11.3 km) north; Grant Park, Illinois
, 7 miles (11.3 km) south; Peotone, Illinois
, 9 miles (14.5 km) west and Cedar Lake, Indiana
, 10 miles (16.1 km) east.
of 2000, there were 2,033 people, 830 households, and 590 families residing in the village. The population density
was 964.4 people per square mile (372.0/km²). There were 876 housing units at an average density of 415.6 per square mile (160.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.03% White, 0.15% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.34% from other races
, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population and 0.00% African American.
There were 830 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples
living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $51,250, and the median income for a family was $60,625. Males had a median income of $43,563 versus $26,786 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $23,454. About 3.0% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Will County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...
, 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...
. It is located on the old Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad
Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad
The Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad was a Class I railroad that linked Chicago to southern Illinois, St. Louis, and Evansville. Founded in 1877, it grew aggressively and stayed relatively strong throughout the Great Depression and two World Wars before being purchased by the Missouri Pacific...
and the Dixie Highway
Dixie Highway
The Dixie Highway was a United States automobile highway, first planned in 1914 to connect the US Midwest with the Southern United States. It was part of the National Auto Trail system, and grew out of an earlier Miami to Montreal highway. The final result is better understood as a small network of...
. Situated in the center of Washington Township
Washington Township, Will County, Illinois
Washington Township is located in Will County, Illinois. The population was 3,948 at the 2000 census. Washington Township was formed from Crete Township and Sherburn Township on an unknown date.-Bodies of Water:...
, it was originally named Washington Center. The population was 4,359 at the 2010 census. Named for Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher
Henry Ward Beecher was a prominent Congregationalist clergyman, social reformer, abolitionist, and speaker in the mid to late 19th century...
, Beecher was founded in 1870 and incorporated as a village in 1884. Originally governed by a village president and board of trustees, in 1988 a village administrator was hired to handle daily tasks. The city clerk is an appointed position.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land. The majority of the village is in Section 16 of Washington Township.
A branch of Trim Creek runs through it but this carries very little water most of the year.
Beecher is located in the center of a primarily agricultural township. Beecher Consolidated School District provides educational services for Washington Township and 12 square miles (31.1 km²) of the neighboring, entirely rural, Will Township
Will Township, Will County, Illinois
Will Township is located in Will County, Illinois. The population was 1,568 at the 2000 census. Will Township was formed from the former township of Carey, which included modern day Monee Township and Will Township, in January 1859.-Township Headquarters:...
.
The soil around Beecher is well suited for growing crops such as corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay. Generally, as you go southwest of the village the soil gets more fertile and as you go northeast it becomes less ideal for agricultural purposes.
The nearest towns are Crete, Illinois
Crete, Illinois
Crete is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,346 at the 2000 census. Originally named Wood's Corner, it was founded in 1836 by Vermonters Dyantha and Willard Wood.-Geography:Crete is located at ....
, 7 miles (11.3 km) north; Grant Park, Illinois
Grant Park, Illinois
Grant Park is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. Grant Park was incorporated in 1883.. In 2000, Grant Park, IL had a population of 1,358, and in 2009, a population of 1,701. It is part of the Kankakee–Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area and the...
, 7 miles (11.3 km) south; Peotone, Illinois
Peotone, Illinois
Peotone is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,385 at the 2000 census. The city is about south of Chicago...
, 9 miles (14.5 km) west and Cedar Lake, Indiana
Cedar Lake, Indiana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,279 people, 3,394 households, and 2,450 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,366.3 people per square mile . There were 3,681 housing units at an average density of 542.0 per square mile...
, 10 miles (16.1 km) east.
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 2,033 people, 830 households, and 590 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 964.4 people per square mile (372.0/km²). There were 876 housing units at an average density of 415.6 per square mile (160.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.03% White, 0.15% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.34% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.03% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.77% of the population and 0.00% African American.
There were 830 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% 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, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 27.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $51,250, and the median income for a family was $60,625. Males had a median income of $43,563 versus $26,786 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 $23,454. About 3.0% of families and 4.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.2% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.