Morton, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Morton is a village in Tazewell County
, Illinois
, USA
, known for its pumpkin
s and annual Pumpkin Festival. The population was 15,198 at the 2000 census. Morton, the home of a Caterpillar distribution facility and a Libby's
pumpkin plant, is part of the Peoria, Illinois
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. Morton is also home to the corporate headquarters of Morton Buildings Inc. It holds its annual Morton Pumpkin Festival
in the second week of September. Morton is commonly known the "Pumpkin Capital of the World."
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 12.2 square miles (31.6 km²), of which, 12.2 square miles (31.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.33%) is water.
of 2000, there were 15,198 people, 6,021 households, and 4,244 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,247.6 people per square mile (481.8/km²). There were 6,299 housing units at an average density of 517.1 per square mile (199.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.87% White, 0.13% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races
, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 6,021 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% were married couples
living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% 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 2.96.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $53,869, and the median income for a family was $62,935. Males had a median income of $51,845 versus $30,973 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $26,531. About 2.8% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
is the local public school district; it has one high school (Morton High School), one junior high school for grades seven and eight, and four primary schools for preschool through grade six. Private schools in the village are Blessed Sacrament and Bethel Lutheran, both grade schools with preschool through eighth grade.
Tazewell County, Illinois
Tazewell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 135,394, which is an increase of 5.4% from 128,485 in 2000. Its county seat and largest city is Pekin. The majority of the population live in the suburbs and bedroom communities...
, 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,...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, known for its pumpkin
Pumpkin
A pumpkin is a gourd-like squash of the genus Cucurbita and the family Cucurbitaceae . It commonly refers to cultivars of any one of the species Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita mixta, Cucurbita maxima, and Cucurbita moschata, and is native to North America...
s and annual Pumpkin Festival. The population was 15,198 at the 2000 census. Morton, the home of a Caterpillar distribution facility and a Libby's
Libby's
Libby's is a U.S.-based food company known for its canned food.The company was founded as Libby, McNeill & Libby in Chicago, Illinois, by Archibald McNeill and the brothers Arthur and Charles Libby. The business began with a canned meat product, beef in brine, or corned beef...
pumpkin plant, 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...
. Morton is also home to the corporate headquarters of Morton Buildings Inc. It holds its annual Morton Pumpkin Festival
Morton Pumpkin Festival
The Morton Pumpkin Festival was first held in Morton, Illinois in 1967, however similar festivals had been held prior to this since the early 1900s. These early festivals weren’t always annual events and changed from year to year, depending on the theme and organization that ran it. Some years,...
in the second week of September. Morton is commonly known the "Pumpkin Capital of the World."
Geography
Morton is located at 40°36′42"N 89°27′48"W (40.611571, -89.463310).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 12.2 square miles (31.6 km²), of which, 12.2 square miles (31.6 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (0.33%) 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 15,198 people, 6,021 households, and 4,244 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 1,247.6 people per square mile (481.8/km²). There were 6,299 housing units at an average density of 517.1 per square mile (199.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.87% White, 0.13% African American, 0.18% Native American, 1.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.26% 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 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.
There were 6,021 households out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.6% 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, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.5% were non-families. 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.6% 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 2.96.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $53,869, and the median income for a family was $62,935. Males had a median income of $51,845 versus $30,973 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 $26,531. About 2.8% of families and 5.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.9% of those under age 18 and 3.9% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
Morton Community Unit School District 709Morton Community Unit School District 709
Morton Community Unit School District 709 a unit school district in Morton, Illinois. It has 6 schools:*Jefferson Elementary School*Lincoln Elementary School*Lettie Brown Elementary School*Grundy Elementary School*Morton Junior High School...
is the local public school district; it has one high school (Morton High School), one junior high school for grades seven and eight, and four primary schools for preschool through grade six. Private schools in the village are Blessed Sacrament and Bethel Lutheran, both grade schools with preschool through eighth grade.