Morris, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Morris is a city in Grundy County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 13,636 at the 2010 census.
Morris is home to the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant
, which provides a substantial portion of the electricity
supply for the Chicago metropolitan area. Included among the Dresden plant's reactors is the first commercial nuclear reactor, housed in a spherical concrete and steel shell; it has since been decommissioned, and two more modern reactors (of 1970s vintage) now generate its electricity.
Currently, Morris has one of the few prospering and historically intact downtowns in Illinois. Visitors and shoppers come a distance to enjoy the tranquil small town shopping atmosphere.
In addition to the downtown, there are outlying businesses such as five motels, a theater, restaurants, a furniture store, two drug stores, boat sales, three grocery stores, hardware stores, banquet hall, and numerous retail stores and gift shops.
Morris enjoys the benefit of being the Grundy County seat and has a large hospital and modern schools. There are many small parks, ball diamonds, tennis courts, two golf courses, a swimming pool as well as the Gebhard Woods State Park and the William G. Stratton State Park for boat launching on the Illinois River and a skatepark located near White Oak elementary school. Morris Community High School is known to be located on an abandoned mining network that stems for approximately five miles. Each summer a live re-enactment of "King of the Hill" is performed daily by the Morris Players club at the intersection of Black St and Bedford Rd.
Morris is situated along the Illinois River at the intersections of U.S. Route 6
, Illinois Route 47
, and Interstate 80
.
Morris is located at 41°22′31"N 88°25′41"W (41.3751416, -88.4281240), at an elevation of 525 feet (160 m). According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (3.91%) is water.
of 2000, there were 11,928 people, 4,831 households, and 3,067 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,734.0 people per square mile (669.4/km²). There were 5,084 housing units at an average density of 739.1 per square mile (285.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.7% White, 4.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 6.7% from other races
, and 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.5% of the population.
There were 5,084 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples
living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $62,563 and the median income for a family was $54,987. Males had a median income of $44,071 versus $25,206 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $22,256. About 5.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
. One of the others is 14–15 miles away; this station is called LaSalle Nuclear Station. The last is called Braidwood Generating Station
; this station is about 13 miles away. All of the stations are owned by Exelon Corp.
Among the stations, Dresden Generating Station generates energy for Chicago and surrounding areas.
tornado system of April 3–4, 1974. However the damage was relatively minor and nobody was injured.
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 13,636 at the 2010 census.
Morris is home to the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant
Dresden Nuclear Power Plant
Dresden Generating Station is the first privately financed nuclear power plant built in the United States. Dresden 1 was activated in 1960 and retired in 1978. Operating since 1970 are Dresden units 2 and 3, two General Electric boiling water reactors...
, which provides a substantial portion of the electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
supply for the Chicago metropolitan area. Included among the Dresden plant's reactors is the first commercial nuclear reactor, housed in a spherical concrete and steel shell; it has since been decommissioned, and two more modern reactors (of 1970s vintage) now generate its electricity.
Description
Currently, Morris has one of the few prospering and historically intact downtowns in Illinois. Visitors and shoppers come a distance to enjoy the tranquil small town shopping atmosphere.
In addition to the downtown, there are outlying businesses such as five motels, a theater, restaurants, a furniture store, two drug stores, boat sales, three grocery stores, hardware stores, banquet hall, and numerous retail stores and gift shops.
Morris enjoys the benefit of being the Grundy County seat and has a large hospital and modern schools. There are many small parks, ball diamonds, tennis courts, two golf courses, a swimming pool as well as the Gebhard Woods State Park and the William G. Stratton State Park for boat launching on the Illinois River and a skatepark located near White Oak elementary school. Morris Community High School is known to be located on an abandoned mining network that stems for approximately five miles. Each summer a live re-enactment of "King of the Hill" is performed daily by the Morris Players club at the intersection of Black St and Bedford Rd.
Morris is situated along the Illinois River at the intersections of U.S. Route 6
U.S. Route 6 in Illinois
In the state of Illinois, U.S. Route 6 is an east–west arterial surface road that runs from the city of Moline in the Quad Cities area to Lansing at the Indiana state line. This is a distance of approximately .-Quad Cities to LaSalle–Peru:...
, Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 47 is a largely rural north–south state highway that runs from the Wisconsin state border at Highway 120 near Hebron, to Illinois Route 10, just south of Interstate 72 near Seymour. This is a distance of . Even though Route 47 is primarily rural, in several suburbs of Chicago,...
, and Interstate 80
Interstate 80 in Illinois
In the U.S. state of Illinois, Interstate 80 is an Interstate Highway that runs from the Quad Cities east to south of Chicago. It is a main east–west route for trafficcoming and going through Illinois, especially for cross-country truckers....
.
Geography
Morris is located at 41°22′31"N 88°25′41"W (41.3751416, -88.4281240), at an elevation of 525 feet (160 m). 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 7.2 square miles (18.6 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²) of it is land and 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²) of it (3.91%) is water.
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 11,928 people, 4,831 households, and 3,067 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 1,734.0 people per square mile (669.4/km²). There were 5,084 housing units at an average density of 739.1 per square mile (285.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.7% White, 4.3% African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.4% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 6.7% 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 2.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 15.5% of the population.
There were 5,084 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% 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, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $62,563 and the median income for a family was $54,987. Males had a median income of $44,071 versus $25,206 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 $22,256. About 5.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.
Environmental Information
The Lyondell Chemical Company is about five miles from the city center. The plant, located just off U.S. Route 6 heading eastbound away from Morris, employs many Morris residents. Along with the chemical plant, there are 3 nuclear power plants within a 15 mile radius of the center of Morris. The closest nuclear plant is only 3 miles away, called the Dresden Nuclear Power StationDresden Nuclear Power Plant
Dresden Generating Station is the first privately financed nuclear power plant built in the United States. Dresden 1 was activated in 1960 and retired in 1978. Operating since 1970 are Dresden units 2 and 3, two General Electric boiling water reactors...
. One of the others is 14–15 miles away; this station is called LaSalle Nuclear Station. The last is called Braidwood Generating Station
Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station
Braidwood Generating Station is located in Will County in northeastern Illinois, USA. The nuclear power plant serves Chicago and northern Illinois with electricity. The plant was originally built by Commonwealth Edison company, and subsequently transferred to Com Ed's parent company, Exelon...
; this station is about 13 miles away. All of the stations are owned by Exelon Corp.
Exelon
Exelon Corporation is an electricity generating and distributing company headquartered in the Chase Tower in the Chicago Loop area of Chicago. It was created in October, 2000 by the merger of PECO Energy Company and Unicom, of Philadelphia and Chicago respectively. Unicom owned Commonwealth Edison...
Among the stations, Dresden Generating Station generates energy for Chicago and surrounding areas.
Start of Super Outbreak
Morris was the first town hit by the Super OutbreakSuper Outbreak
The Super Outbreak is the second largest tornado outbreak on record for a single 24-hour period, just behind the tornado outbreak of April 25–28, 2011...
tornado system of April 3–4, 1974. However the damage was relatively minor and nobody was injured.
Notable people
- Ed BradyEd BradyEd John Brady is a former American football player.Brady was raised in Morris, Illinois and attended Morris Community High School, where he led the Morris Redskins football team to a state championship...
, (b. 1960), former NFL linebacker. - Jessie Bartlett DavisJessie Bartlett DavisJessie Bartlett Davis was an American operatic singer and actress from Morris, Illinois, who was billed as "America's Representative Contralto".-Opera and acting:...
, (c. 1859–1861–1905), operatic singer and actress. - Kelly DransfeldtKelly DransfeldtKelly Daniel Dransfeldt is a former Major League Baseball shortstop for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. He is a graduate of Morris Community High School in Morris, Illinois, as an excellent shortstop and infielder...
, (b. 1975), former Major League Baseball shortstop for the Texas Rangers and Chicago White Sox. - Careen M. GordonCareen M. GordonCareen M. Gordon is a former member of the Illinois House of Representatives, representing the 75th District since 2003 as a Democrat. She was voted out of office on November 2, 2010 when voters of the 75th district elected Republican Sue Rezin...
, (b. 1972), Democratic member of the Illinois House of Representatives from the 75th District. - Philip C. HayesPhilip C. HayesPhilip Cornelius Hayes was a U.S. Representative from Illinois, as well as an officer in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Biography:...
, (1833–1916), U.S. Representative from Illinois. - Albert KingsburyAlbert KingsburyAlbert Kingsbury [1] was an American engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. He was responsible for over fifty patents obtained between the years 1902 to 1930. [2] Kingsbury is most famous for his tilting pad thrust bearing which uses a thin film of oil to support weights of up to 220 tons...
, (1863–1943), engineer, inventor and entrepreneur. - Eric J. MagnusonEric J. MagnusonEric John Magnuson is an American lawyer in private practice. He was the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court from 2008 to 2010.-Education and professional background:...
, (b. 1951), lawyer and as of 2008, Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. - James MoranJames Moran (supercentenarian)James Moran was an Irish immigrant who came to Morris, Illinois to work on the Illinois and Michigan Canal. At his death in 1914, Moran claimed to be 111 years old...
, (c. 1803–1914), Irish immigrant worker on the Illinois and Michigan Canal, who at the time of his death, claimed to be 111 years old. - Billy PetrickBilly PetrickWilliam John Petrick III is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who is currently with the Joliet Slammers....
, (b. 1984), former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. - Walter M. PierceWalter M. PierceWalter Marcus Pierce was an American politician, a Democrat, who served as the 17th Governor of Oregon and a member of the United States House of Representatives from . A native of Illinois, he served in the Oregon State Senate before the governorship, and again after leaving the U.S. House...
, (1861–1954), Democrat politician, 17th Governor of Oregon, and member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 2nd congressional district. - Scott SpiezioScott SpiezioScott Edward Spiezio is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He is currently an infielder for the Newark Bears of the independent Atlantic League . He is well known for his time as a member of the Anaheim Angels, when he hit a 3-run home run in Game Six of the 2002 World Series against the...
, (b. 1972), former Major League Baseball third baseman. - Jimmy Stafford, (b. 1964), lead guitarist and original member of the Grammy award winning band Train.
- Ronald SteelRonald SteelRonald Lewis Steel is an award-winning American writer, historian, and professor. He is the author of the definitive biography of Walter Lippman.-Biography:Ronald Steel was born in 1931 in Morris, Illinois outside of Chicago...
, (b. 1931), award-winning writer, historian, and professor. - Jerry WellerJerry WellerGerald C. "Jerry" Weller is an American politician who was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives, representing .- Early life:...
, (b. 1957), former Republican U.S. Congressman from the 11th District.