Minonk, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Minonk is a city in Woodford County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 2,168 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Peoria, Illinois
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
Minonk is surrounded by some of the best farm land in the world. Corn and soybeans are staple crops.
of 2000, there were 2,168 people, 841 households, and 587 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,587.6 people per square mile (611.0/km²). There were 885 housing units at an average density of 648.1 per square mile (249.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.99% White, 0.05% African American, 0.05% Asian, 0.28% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 841 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% were married couples
living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,028, and the median income for a family was $50,379. Males had a median income of $35,859 versus $22,500 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,688. About 7.0% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
. The Illinois Central Railroad
main line was completed in 1854, and ran through Section Seven, which eventually became the City of Minonk. The plat
of the town was first recorded on November 7, 1854.
David Neal, an agent with the Illinois Central Railroad
, is credited for naming the city. Local folklore
provides varying accounts about the origins of the name “Minonk.” One version states that he originally named the area after a street in Boston, MA, where he owned property. A second story suggests that he changed the name of the settlement, originally referred to as “Marquette” on old French maps, to the Ojibwe word “Minonk,” meaning “a good place.” Minonk is the only city in the world with that name.
Early settlers were attracted to Minonk by a variety of livelihoods. Many came to work on the railroad. Others settled in the area to farm on the abundant, rich farmland. However, coal mining
was the leading industry in the early years of Minonk. The first coal mines were developed in the 1860s, and at one point employed over 300 men. Two mines operated in Minonk: the first mine was located on the north edge of the city, and the second was situated a half-mile north of town. The distinctive slag piles
resulting from mine residue were referred to as “Jumbos” by local citizens. One slag heap currently remains on Minonk’s northern border.
In late 2011, a 75-turbine wind farm- that could deliver $360,000 in fees and permits for Woodford County- will start construction (another part of the project is in neighboring Livingston County, Illinois
, with 25 towers). The plot of land was purchased by Navitas Energy Inc. in 2009. In 2010, its application to use the land as a wind farm was approved. After approval, the land was sold to Minonk Wind farm LLC.
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 2,168 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Peoria, Illinois
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...
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
Minonk is located at 40°54′8"N 89°2′10"W (40.902357, -89.035992).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 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), all of it land.
Minonk is surrounded by some of the best farm land in the world. Corn and soybeans are staple crops.
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 2,168 people, 841 households, and 587 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 1,587.6 people per square mile (611.0/km²). There were 885 housing units at an average density of 648.1 per square mile (249.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.99% White, 0.05% African American, 0.05% 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 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population.
There were 841 households out of which 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.9% 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, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.2% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,028, and the median income for a family was $50,379. Males had a median income of $35,859 versus $22,500 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 $17,688. About 7.0% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.9% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
History
The founding of Minonk corresponds with the construction of the Illinois Central RailroadIllinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
. The Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
main line was completed in 1854, and ran through Section Seven, which eventually became the City of Minonk. The plat
Plat
A plat in the U.S. is a map, drawn to scale, showing the divisions of a piece of land. Other English-speaking countries generally call such documents a cadastral map or plan....
of the town was first recorded on November 7, 1854.
David Neal, an agent with the Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
, is credited for naming the city. Local folklore
Folklore
Folklore consists of legends, music, oral history, proverbs, jokes, popular beliefs, fairy tales and customs that are the traditions of a culture, subculture, or group. It is also the set of practices through which those expressive genres are shared. The study of folklore is sometimes called...
provides varying accounts about the origins of the name “Minonk.” One version states that he originally named the area after a street in Boston, MA, where he owned property. A second story suggests that he changed the name of the settlement, originally referred to as “Marquette” on old French maps, to the Ojibwe word “Minonk,” meaning “a good place.” Minonk is the only city in the world with that name.
Early settlers were attracted to Minonk by a variety of livelihoods. Many came to work on the railroad. Others settled in the area to farm on the abundant, rich farmland. However, coal mining
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
was the leading industry in the early years of Minonk. The first coal mines were developed in the 1860s, and at one point employed over 300 men. Two mines operated in Minonk: the first mine was located on the north edge of the city, and the second was situated a half-mile north of town. The distinctive slag piles
Slag
Slag is a partially vitreous by-product of smelting ore to separate the metal fraction from the unwanted fraction. It can usually be considered to be a mixture of metal oxides and silicon dioxide. However, slags can contain metal sulfides and metal atoms in the elemental form...
resulting from mine residue were referred to as “Jumbos” by local citizens. One slag heap currently remains on Minonk’s northern border.
In late 2011, a 75-turbine wind farm- that could deliver $360,000 in fees and permits for Woodford County- will start construction (another part of the project is in neighboring Livingston County, Illinois
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....
, with 25 towers). The plot of land was purchased by Navitas Energy Inc. in 2009. In 2010, its application to use the land as a wind farm was approved. After approval, the land was sold to Minonk Wind farm LLC.