Bushnell, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Bushnell is a city in McDonough County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 3,221 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which, 2 square miles (5.2 km²) of it is land and 0.49% is water.
The town was founded in 1854 when the Northern Cross Railroad
built a line through the area. Nehemiah Bushnell was the President of the Railroad, and townspeople honored him by naming their community after him. The railroad later became part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
, which continues to operate through Bushnell under the name Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Bushnell was also served by the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway
, now the Keokuk Junction Railway
.
The Nagel Brothers of Bushnell were the first to invent a process of making rolled oats without having to steam the oats. Up until this time, the oats were first steamed to separate the groat from the hull. The patent for this new process was later sold to the Quaker Company.
of 2000, there were 3,221 people, 1,323 households, and 889 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,573.9 people per square mile (606.7/km²). There were 1,446 housing units at an average density of 706.6 per square mile (272.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.79% White, 0.12% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.43% from other races
, and 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There were 1,323 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% were married couples
living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,482, and the median income for a family was $38,450. Males had a median income of $27,266 versus $18,583 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,263. About 12.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
. Each year, around the 4th of July, 25,000 people from all over the world descend on the small farm town to watch over 300 bands, authors and artists perform at the Cornerstone Farm Campgrounds. The festival is generally well received by locals, and businesses in the area typically put up signs welcoming festival goers to their town.
As a result of the location of the music festival, numerous live albums and videos have been recorded or filmed in Bushnell, including the annual Cornerstone Festival DVD. The festival's 20th anniversary DVD also included interviews with local Bushnell citizens and business owners.
2005 album Illinois
.
(http://www.cornerstonefestival.com).
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 3,221 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Bushnell is located at 40°33′6"N 90°30′29"W (40.551667, -90.507921).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 city has a total area of 2 square miles (5.2 km²), of which, 2 square miles (5.2 km²) of it is land and 0.49% is water.
The town was founded in 1854 when the Northern Cross Railroad
Northern Cross Railroad
The Northern Cross Railroad was the first railroad to operate in Illinois, originating in Meredosia and eventually extending both east and west to the state borders...
built a line through the area. Nehemiah Bushnell was the President of the Railroad, and townspeople honored him by naming their community after him. The railroad later became part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad
The Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad was a railroad that operated in the Midwestern United States. Commonly referred to as the Burlington or as the Q, the Burlington Route served a large area, including extensive trackage in the states of Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Missouri,...
, which continues to operate through Bushnell under the name Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Bushnell was also served by the Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway
Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway
The Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway is a short-line railroad that operates of track from Mapleton, Illinois, through Peoria across Illinois to Logansport, Indiana, and includes a branch line between Logansport to Winamac, Indiana...
, now the Keokuk Junction Railway
Keokuk Junction Railway
The Keokuk Junction Railway Company , is a Class III railroad terminal railroad in the US states of Illinois and Iowa.KJRY started service as a terminal railroad operating over tracks built in 1857 as part of the Keokuk & Des Moines Valley Railroad...
.
The Nagel Brothers of Bushnell were the first to invent a process of making rolled oats without having to steam the oats. Up until this time, the oats were first steamed to separate the groat from the hull. The patent for this new process was later sold to the Quaker Company.
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 3,221 people, 1,323 households, and 889 families residing in the city. 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 1,573.9 people per square mile (606.7/km²). There were 1,446 housing units at an average density of 706.6 per square mile (272.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.79% White, 0.12% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.09% Asian, 0.43% 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 0.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.68% of the population.
There were 1,323 households out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.9% 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, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,482, and the median income for a family was $38,450. Males had a median income of $27,266 versus $18,583 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 city was $17,263. About 12.2% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.3% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.
Music
Since 1991, Bushnell has been the hometown to one of the largest Christian Music and Arts festivals in the world, known as the Cornerstone FestivalCornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
. Each year, around the 4th of July, 25,000 people from all over the world descend on the small farm town to watch over 300 bands, authors and artists perform at the Cornerstone Farm Campgrounds. The festival is generally well received by locals, and businesses in the area typically put up signs welcoming festival goers to their town.
As a result of the location of the music festival, numerous live albums and videos have been recorded or filmed in Bushnell, including the annual Cornerstone Festival DVD. The festival's 20th anniversary DVD also included interviews with local Bushnell citizens and business owners.
Popular culture
A short instrumental song titled "Let's Hear That String Part Again, Because I Don't Think They Heard It All the Way Out in Bushnell" appears on Sufjan Stevens'Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
2005 album Illinois
Illinois (album)
Illinois is a 2005 concept album by American indie folk songwriter Sufjan Stevens. His fifth studio album, Illinois features songs referencing places, events, and persons related to the U.S. state of Illinois...
.
Horse Show
Beginning in 1908, Bushnell was home to one of the largest horse shows in the Midwest. The Bushnell Horse Show returned in 2004 and has become one of the better draft horse hitch shows in the tri-state region. The Bushnell Horse Show features some of the best Belgian and Percheron hitches in the country. Teams have come from many different states and as far as Canada to compete.External links
Bushnell is home to Vaughan & Bushnell Hammer factory, Kitchen Cooked Potato Chips and since 1991; Cornerstone Music and Arts FestivalCornerstone Festival
Cornerstone Festival is a Christian music festival put on by Jesus People USA and held annually around the 4th of July near Bushnell, Illinois. In a given year, many artists that play at Cornerstone also play at other events such as Creation Festival and mainstream festivals and tours such as the...
(http://www.cornerstonefestival.com).