Metamora, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Metamora is a village in Woodford County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 2,700 at the 2000 census. Metamora is a growing suburb of Peoria
and is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
by a consortium of land speculators called the Hanover Company. New post office conventions required towns to have unique names, forcing the town to differentiate itself from others in Illinois named Hanover. Early post office names included Black Partridge (1836) and Partridge Point (1837). The name of the village was finally changed to Metamora in 1845 based on the character in the popular play Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags
. The village still has a Hanover Street and Partridge Street, reflecting these earlier names.
, a courthouse from this period, is preserved as an Illinois state historic site
. Future President Abraham Lincoln
and future Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson I practiced law here.
of 2000, there were 2,700 people, 1,050 households, and 743 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,944.4 people per square mile (750.0/km²). There were 1,094 housing units at an average density of 787.9 per square mile (303.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.07% White, 0.26% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 1,050 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% were married couples
living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $46,691, and the median income for a family was $56,384. Males had a median income of $40,745 versus $26,505 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $20,200. About 1.8% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
The village is served by Metamora Community Consolidated School District 1 for Kindergarten through 8th grade and by Metamora Township High School
for 9th through 12th.
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 2,700 at the 2000 census. Metamora is a growing suburb of Peoria
Peoria, Illinois
Peoria is the largest city on the Illinois River and the county seat of Peoria County, Illinois, in the United States. It is named after the Peoria tribe. As of the 2010 census, the city was the seventh-most populated in Illinois, with a population of 115,007, and is the third-most populated...
and is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area
Peoria metropolitan area
The Peoria Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of five counties in Central Illinois, anchored by the city of Peoria...
.
Geography
Metamora is located at 40°47′N 89°22′W (40.7911, -89.3624).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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
Name
Metamora was founded as Hanover in 1836. It was named for Hanover, New HampshireHanover, New Hampshire
Hanover is a town along the Connecticut River in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 11,260 at the 2010 census. CNN and Money magazine rated Hanover the sixth best place to live in America in 2011, and the second best in 2007....
by a consortium of land speculators called the Hanover Company. New post office conventions required towns to have unique names, forcing the town to differentiate itself from others in Illinois named Hanover. Early post office names included Black Partridge (1836) and Partridge Point (1837). The name of the village was finally changed to Metamora in 1845 based on the character in the popular play Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags
Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags
Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags is a play originally starring Edwin Forrest. The play was written in 1829 by John Augustus StoneIt was first performed December 15, 1829, at the Park Theater in New York City....
. The village still has a Hanover Street and Partridge Street, reflecting these earlier names.
History
Metamora was the county seat of Woodford County from 1843 until 1896. The Metamora Courthouse State Historic SiteMetamora Courthouse State Historic Site
The Metamora Courthouse State Historic Site is a historic American courthouse located in Metamora, Illinois, the former county seat of Woodford County. The courthouse was built in 1845 as the governmental center for Woodford County and as a circuit court for the former Illinois Eighth Circuit...
, a courthouse from this period, is preserved as an Illinois state historic site
Illinois Historic Preservation Agency
The Illinois Historic Preservation Agency is a governmental agency of the U.S. state of Illinois. It is tasked with the duty of maintaining most State-owned historic sites within Illinois, and maximizing their educational and recreational value to visitors....
. Future President Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
and future Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson I practiced law here.
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 2,700 people, 1,050 households, and 743 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 1,944.4 people per square mile (750.0/km²). There were 1,094 housing units at an average density of 787.9 per square mile (303.9/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.07% White, 0.26% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.07% 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 0.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 1,050 households out of which 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.3% 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, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 23.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 25.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $46,691, and the median income for a family was $56,384. Males had a median income of $40,745 versus $26,505 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 $20,200. About 1.8% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.8% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.
The village is served by Metamora Community Consolidated School District 1 for Kindergarten through 8th grade and by Metamora Township High School
Metamora Township High School
Metamora Township High School is a public high school located in Metamora, Illinois with an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students. The school's athletic teams compete in the Mid-Illini Conference...
for 9th through 12th.
Education
Two school districts are in Metamora including one private Catholic grade school.- Metamora Grade School District 1 serves KindergartenKindergartenA kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
through Grade 8 in Metamora and parts of nearby Worth TownshipWorth Township, Woodford County, IllinoisWorth Township is located in Woodford County, Illinois. The population was 7,285 at the 2000 census.- External links :***...
. - Metamora Township High SchoolMetamora Township High SchoolMetamora Township High School is a public high school located in Metamora, Illinois with an enrollment of approximately 1,000 students. The school's athletic teams compete in the Mid-Illini Conference...
District 122 comprises a four-year high schoolSecondary educationSecondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
serving the village, along with nearby Germantown HillsGermantown Hills, IllinoisGermantown Hills is a village in Woodford County, Illinois, approximately northeast of Peoria. Germantown Hills is the only incorporated community in Worth Township. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 3,438...
, and Spring BaySpring Bay, IllinoisSpring Bay is a village in Woodford County, Illinois, United States. As of the census, the village population was 436 and is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Spring Bay is located at ....
. - St. Mary's Grade School
Events
At the beginning of August, Metamora hosts the annual "Metamora 4x50" race, an ultracycling event in which participants compete by riding a 50 mile loop four times. The Redbirds are the local high school team mascot, and students participate in a range of regional sports meets including golf, volleyball and soccer.External links
- Village of Metamora - official web site
- Historic Illinois (Bradley University)
- Metamora Township High School