Gorham, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Gorham is a village in Jackson County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 256 at the 2000 census. It is known locally for its near-annihilation during the deadly Tri-State Tornado
of 1925.
On June 15, 1999, resident George Morber and his grown daughter, Carolyn Frederick, were murdered by serial killer Angel Maturino Resendiz
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.81% is water.
Gorham is located in the middle of the Mississippi River delta flood plains, which are among the most fertile farming regions in the Midwestern United States. The village is at a particularly low elevated region of the delta known as the "Bottoms". This makes it more susceptible to flooding, as it was threatened in the infamous Great Flood of 1993
.
Less than one mile south of Gorham is a large hill named Fountain Bluff. Etched into cliffs on the north side of this landform are several Native American petroglyph
s.
of 2000, there were 256 people, 101 households, and 69 families residing in the village. The population density
was 210.2 people per square mile (81.0/km²). There were 116 housing units at an average density of 95.2 per square mile (36.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.44% White and 1.56% Native American.
There were 101 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% were married couples
living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.3% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $22,750, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $15,625 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $11,739. About 19.1% of families and 26.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 15.0% of those sixty five or over.
Jackson County, Illinois
Jackson County, incorporated January 10, 1816, is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 60,218, which is an increase of 1.0% from 59,612 in 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 256 at the 2000 census. It is known locally for its near-annihilation during the deadly Tri-State Tornado
Tri-State Tornado
The Tri-State Tornado of Wednesday, March 18, 1925, was the deadliest tornado in U.S. history. With 695 confirmed fatalities, the tornado killed more than twice as many as the second deadliest, the 1840 Great Natchez Tornado...
of 1925.
On June 15, 1999, resident George Morber and his grown daughter, Carolyn Frederick, were murdered by serial killer Angel Maturino Resendiz
Ángel Maturino Reséndiz
Angel Maturino Reséndiz, aka The Railroad Killer/The Railway Killer , was an itinerant Mexican serial killer responsible for as many as thirty murders across the United States and Mexico during the 1990s. Some also involved sexual assault...
.
Geography
Gorham is located at 37°43′1"N 89°29′9"W (37.716897, -89.485804).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 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) of it is land and 0.81% is water.
Gorham is located in the middle of the Mississippi River delta flood plains, which are among the most fertile farming regions in the Midwestern United States. The village is at a particularly low elevated region of the delta known as the "Bottoms". This makes it more susceptible to flooding, as it was threatened in the infamous Great Flood of 1993
Great Flood of 1993
The Great Mississippi and Missouri Rivers Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries, from April to October 1993. The flood was among the most costly and devastating to ever occur in the United States, with $15 billion in damages...
.
Less than one mile south of Gorham is a large hill named Fountain Bluff. Etched into cliffs on the north side of this landform are several Native American petroglyph
Petroglyph
Petroglyphs are pictogram and logogram images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving, and abrading. Outside North America, scholars often use terms such as "carving", "engraving", or other descriptions of the technique to refer to such images...
s.
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 256 people, 101 households, and 69 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 210.2 people per square mile (81.0/km²). There were 116 housing units at an average density of 95.2 per square mile (36.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.44% White and 1.56% Native American.
There were 101 households out of which 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.4% 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, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.7% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.16.
In the village the population was spread out with 31.3% under the age of 18, 6.3% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 19.5% from 45 to 64, and 13.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 33 years. For every 100 females there were 88.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $22,750, and the median income for a family was $30,000. Males had a median income of $33,333 versus $15,625 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 $11,739. About 19.1% of families and 26.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.0% of those under the age of eighteen and 15.0% of those sixty five or over.