Creal Springs, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Creal Springs is a city in Williamson County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 702 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 1.00% is water.
Creal Springs is located in southeastern Williamson County, on the north slope of the Shawnee Hills
.
was an important road that connected Fort Kaskaskia
with Lusk's Ferry
on the Ohio River
. The original survey maps of Illinois show a short segment of this road south of Creal Springs, in Johnson County. This old road most likely ran from Marion
through Creal Springs before ascending to the summit of the Shawnee Hills. The modern road running toward the southeast into Creal Springs may be the old road. The road leading south out of Creal Springs toward Lake of Egypt links into the Wagon Creek Road, which leads to the segment mapped in the original survey. Modern maps also show traces of an older road that ran south out of Creal Springs along a less direct line.
The route south out of Creal Springs lead to a difficult passage over the Shawnee Summit. There was an easier, though longer, zigzag route east to New Burnside
, southwest along modern U.S. Highway 45, and then back east to Reynoldsburg. Creal Springs may at one time have served as the junction of these alternative routes.
From 1884 to 1916, Creal Springs was the home of the Creal Springs Seminary
, later the Creal Springs College and Conservatory of Music, which provided education at the preparatory, baccalaureate and master's levels.
of 2000, there were 702 people, 292 households, and 186 families residing in the city. The population density
was 709.1 people per square mile (273.8/km²). There were 318 housing units at an average density of 321.2 per square mile (124.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.29% White, 0.14% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.28% from other races
, and 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.
There were 292 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples
living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,272, and the median income for a family was $29,583. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $17,125 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,483. About 18.8% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.6% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.
Williamson County, Illinois
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*92.7% White*3.8% Black*0.4% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.0% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*1.7% Two or more races*0.4% Other races*2.0% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
, 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 702 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Creal Springs is located at 37°37′11"N 88°50′16"W (37.619805, -88.837699).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 1 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 1 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 1.00% is water.
Creal Springs is located in southeastern Williamson County, on the north slope of the Shawnee Hills
Shawnee Hills
The Shawnee Hills is a region of Southern Illinois that rests mainly in an east-west arc roughly following the outline of the southern end of the Illinois Basin. Whereas Mississippian and Pennsylvania Age rock layers are deep beneath the surface in central Illinois, these strata pierce the surface...
.
History
In the early 19th century, Lusk's Ferry RoadLusk's Ferry Road
Lusk's Ferry Road was an early road in Illinois that provided an overland connection between the main settlement, Fort Kaskaskia, on the Mississippi River, and Lusk's Ferry, an important crossing point on the Ohio River...
was an important road that connected Fort Kaskaskia
Kaskaskia, Illinois
Kaskaskia is a village in Randolph County, Illinois, United States. In the 2010 census the population was 14, making it the second-smallest incorporated community in the State of Illinois in terms of population. A major French colonial town of the Illinois Country, its peak population was about...
with Lusk's Ferry
Lusk's Ferry, Illinois
Lusk's Ferry was a place where pioneers crossed the Ohio River from Kentucky into Illinois. Some sources say that Golconda, Illinois was once called "Lusk's Ferry"...
on the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The original survey maps of Illinois show a short segment of this road south of Creal Springs, in Johnson County. This old road most likely ran from Marion
Marion, Illinois
The city of Marion is the county seat of Williamson County, Illinois. The 2010 census counted 17,193 residents, making Marion the 25th most populated city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area, in Illinois, and the second most populous city in Southern Illinois, outside of the Metro-East, behind...
through Creal Springs before ascending to the summit of the Shawnee Hills. The modern road running toward the southeast into Creal Springs may be the old road. The road leading south out of Creal Springs toward Lake of Egypt links into the Wagon Creek Road, which leads to the segment mapped in the original survey. Modern maps also show traces of an older road that ran south out of Creal Springs along a less direct line.
The route south out of Creal Springs lead to a difficult passage over the Shawnee Summit. There was an easier, though longer, zigzag route east to New Burnside
New Burnside, Illinois
New Burnside is a village in Johnson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 242 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Burnside is located at ....
, southwest along modern U.S. Highway 45, and then back east to Reynoldsburg. Creal Springs may at one time have served as the junction of these alternative routes.
From 1884 to 1916, Creal Springs was the home of the Creal Springs Seminary
Creal Springs Seminary
The Creal Springs Seminary, later known as the Creal Springs College and Conservatory of Music, was an educational institution in Creal Springs, Illinois, USA from 1884 to 1916. It was headed by Principal Gertrude Brown Murrah, a graduate of the Mount Carroll Seminary in Mount Carroll, Illinois...
, later the Creal Springs College and Conservatory of Music, which provided education at the preparatory, baccalaureate and master's levels.
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 702 people, 292 households, and 186 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 709.1 people per square mile (273.8/km²). There were 318 housing units at an average density of 321.2 per square mile (124.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.29% White, 0.14% African American, 0.57% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.28% 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 1.42% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.71% of the population.
There were 292 households out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% 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, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,272, and the median income for a family was $29,583. Males had a median income of $26,250 versus $17,125 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 $13,483. About 18.8% of families and 23.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.6% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.