Chatsworth, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Chatsworth is an incorporated town in Livingston County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 1,265 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
Chatsworth was laid out by Zeno Secor (1809 – 25 October 1875) and Cornelia Gilman on 8 June 1859. Both founders were from New York
. Secor was a member of the Board of Directors of the company that was building the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad. He was a noted civil engineer and marine engine designer, who was involved with a number of railroads. Secor was later president of the Toledo Peoria and Western Railroad. Secor is best known for building a number of ironclad warships for the Union Navy
. Cornelia Gilman was perhaps the person of that name who was the wife of Samuel Gilman, another director of the firm, and the man who gave his name to the nearby town of Gilman, Illinois
The town of Chatsworth is perhaps named for Chatsworth House
, the home of the Duke of Devonshire
. Trains were running along the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad before the town was platted. The railroad soon became the Toledo, Peoria and Western
.
Original Design of Chatsworth
Chatsworth was surveyed by Nelson Buck, the County Surveyor of Livingston County
. However the plan used was virtually identical to that used at Fairbury
, including the street names, and very similar to that used at Gridley
, El Paso
and other places along the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad. This suggests that the railroad supplied the plan from which Buck worked. Like these other towns, Chatsworth was centered a long narrow depot grounds rather than a public square. The plat of the Original Town was exceptionally large, covering 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) and consisting of forty-two blocks, most located north of the railroad. The early depot was on the south side of the tracks. Block 16 of the plat was not divided into lots and 1878 was being called the City Park. It was eventually planted with over 500 maple
trees and a pavilion was added in 1962.
Growth of Chatsworth
The first building was a story and a half frame structure used as both a residence and story, which was built by Charles D. Brooks and Truman Brockway of New York
. Brooks was also the first postmaster and the first grain dealer. Early growth of the town was very rapid and by 1870 Chatsworth had 1,493 people. The first hotel was the Cottage House built by Samuel Patton. Soon a newspaper, the Plaindealer, was being published. In 1879 a second railroad, the Kankakee and Southwestern, passed through the town and was given a right of way down Second Street. In 1887 the town rendered aid in the train accident known as the Great Chatsworth Train Wreck. Telephone service came in 1883 and an electric light plant was built in 1894. In March 1924 seventy to one hundred men arrived in town to work on a paved highway, at first known as the Corn Belt Trail, which soon became Route 24 and formed an important east-west route across Illinois.
of 2000, there were 1,265 people, 533 households, and 338 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,412.8 people per square mile (542.7/km²). There were 581 housing units at an average density of 648.9/sq mi (249.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.81% White, 0.32% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% from other races
, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 533 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% were married couples
living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,159, and the median income for a family was $42,679. Males had a median income of $31,848 versus $20,667 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,241. About 13.0% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
Livingston County, Illinois
Livingston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 38,950, which is a decrease of 1.8% from 39,678 in 2000. Its county seat is Pontiac....
, 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 1,265 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Chatsworth is located at 40°45′15"N 88°17′35"W (40.754256, -88.293023).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 town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), all of it land.
History
Founding of ChatsworthChatsworth was laid out by Zeno Secor (1809 – 25 October 1875) and Cornelia Gilman on 8 June 1859. Both founders were from New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Secor was a member of the Board of Directors of the company that was building the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad. He was a noted civil engineer and marine engine designer, who was involved with a number of railroads. Secor was later president of the Toledo Peoria and Western Railroad. Secor is best known for building a number of ironclad warships for the Union Navy
Union Navy
The Union Navy is the label applied to the United States Navy during the American Civil War, to contrast it from its direct opponent, the Confederate States Navy...
. Cornelia Gilman was perhaps the person of that name who was the wife of Samuel Gilman, another director of the firm, and the man who gave his name to the nearby town of Gilman, Illinois
Gilman, Illinois
Gilman is a city in Douglas Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,793 at the 2000 census, and 1,677 in 2009.-Geography:...
The town of Chatsworth is perhaps named for Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House
Chatsworth House is a stately home in North Derbyshire, England, northeast of Bakewell and west of Chesterfield . It is the seat of the Duke of Devonshire, and has been home to his family, the Cavendish family, since Bess of Hardwick settled at Chatsworth in 1549.Standing on the east bank of the...
, the home of the Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire
Duke of Devonshire is a title in the peerage of England held by members of the Cavendish family. This branch of the Cavendish family has been one of the richest and most influential aristocratic families in England since the 16th century, and have been rivalled in political influence perhaps only...
. Trains were running along the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad before the town was platted. The railroad soon became the Toledo, Peoria and Western
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...
.
Original Design of Chatsworth
Chatsworth was surveyed by Nelson Buck, the County Surveyor of Livingston County
Livingston County
Livingston County is the name of several counties in the United States:* Livingston County, Illinois* Livingston County, Kentucky* Livingston County, Michigan* Livingston County, Missouri* Livingston County, New York* Livingston Parish, Louisiana...
. However the plan used was virtually identical to that used at Fairbury
Fairbury, Illinois
Fairbury is a city in Livingston County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,968 at the 2000 census.-We Hear You America:In November 2010, the fundraising committee for Dominy Memorial Library began encouraging Fairbury citizens to visit the Reader's Digest web site and "Cheer" for the...
, including the street names, and very similar to that used at Gridley
Gridley, Illinois
Gridley is a village in McLean County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,432 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bloomington–Normal Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, El Paso
El Paso, Illinois
El Paso is a city in Woodford and McLean Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 2,695 at the 2000 census, and 2,870 in 2009...
and other places along the Peoria and Oquawka Railroad. This suggests that the railroad supplied the plan from which Buck worked. Like these other towns, Chatsworth was centered a long narrow depot grounds rather than a public square. The plat of the Original Town was exceptionally large, covering 160 acre (0.6474976 km²) and consisting of forty-two blocks, most located north of the railroad. The early depot was on the south side of the tracks. Block 16 of the plat was not divided into lots and 1878 was being called the City Park. It was eventually planted with over 500 maple
Maple
Acer is a genus of trees or shrubs commonly known as maple.Maples are variously classified in a family of their own, the Aceraceae, or together with the Hippocastanaceae included in the family Sapindaceae. Modern classifications, including the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group system, favour inclusion in...
trees and a pavilion was added in 1962.
Growth of Chatsworth
The first building was a story and a half frame structure used as both a residence and story, which was built by Charles D. Brooks and Truman Brockway of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. Brooks was also the first postmaster and the first grain dealer. Early growth of the town was very rapid and by 1870 Chatsworth had 1,493 people. The first hotel was the Cottage House built by Samuel Patton. Soon a newspaper, the Plaindealer, was being published. In 1879 a second railroad, the Kankakee and Southwestern, passed through the town and was given a right of way down Second Street. In 1887 the town rendered aid in the train accident known as the Great Chatsworth Train Wreck. Telephone service came in 1883 and an electric light plant was built in 1894. In March 1924 seventy to one hundred men arrived in town to work on a paved highway, at first known as the Corn Belt Trail, which soon became Route 24 and formed an important east-west route across Illinois.
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 1,265 people, 533 households, and 338 families residing in the town. 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 1,412.8 people per square mile (542.7/km²). There were 581 housing units at an average density of 648.9/sq mi (249.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.81% White, 0.32% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.08% 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 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.66% of the population.
There were 533 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.5% 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, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the town the population was spread out with 27.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,159, and the median income for a family was $42,679. Males had a median income of $31,848 versus $20,667 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 town was $15,241. About 13.0% of families and 14.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.3% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
Famous People
Greg Kurtenbach, the agent in the "State Farm Buffalo Commercial", is a Chatsworth native. The commercial begins with two teens in a vehicle eating what is presumed to be a Buffalo Burger when a Buffalo attacks their vehicle. Greg Kurtenbach is summoned by the 'magic jingle'. He saves the day and he magically transports them via his super-agent-powers. It is really impressive that he can warp travel.External links
[Chatsworth Illinois Memories]- http://sites.google.com/site/chatsworthillinoismemories