New Boston, Illinois
Encyclopedia
New Boston is a city in Mercer County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 632 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (32.37%) is water.
The community is located at the state line, across the river from Iowa
.
New Boston is five miles south of Lock and Dam No. 17
on the Mississippi River
. New Boston is located on the east bank of the Mississippi at the confluence of the Mississippi and Eliza Creek. Directly across the Mississippi is the mouth of the Iowa River
. Much of the natural area surrounding New Boston is part of the Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge
. The river valley at New Boston is surrounded on both sides by gently rolling bluffs interspersed with rich parcels of wetlands that provide critical wildlife habitat; especially critical habitat for migratory birds.
Here's a panoramic photo of New Boston's river front as seen from across the Mississippi (large download).
Boston Bay is an area of water adjacent to the Mississippi River, at the mouth of Eliza Creek, to the north of New Boston. It is across the Mississippi from its confluence with the Iowa River.
of 2000, there were 632 people, 269 households, and 177 families residing in the city. The population density
was 672.6 people per square mile (259.6/km²). There were 317 housing units at an average density of 337.4 per square mile (130.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.53% White, 0.16% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% from other races
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
There were 269 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples
living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,231, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $32,361 versus $17,917 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,593. About 6.4% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
Mercer County, Illinois
Mercer County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 16,434, which is a decrease of 3.1% from 16,957 in 2000. Its county seat is Aledo...
, 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 632 at the 2000 census.
Geography
New Boston is located at 41°10′10"N 90°59′48"W (41.169570, -90.996709).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), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (32.37%) is water.
The community is located at the state line, across the river from Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
.
New Boston is five miles south of Lock and Dam No. 17
Lock and Dam No. 17
Lock and Dam No. 17 is a lock and dam located near New Boston, Illinois on the Upper Mississippi River near river mile 437. Its main lock is wide and long with its bottom at an elevation of . Normal pool elevation behind the dam is . The movable portion of the dam is long and consists of 3...
on the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
. New Boston is located on the east bank of the Mississippi at the confluence of the Mississippi and Eliza Creek. Directly across the Mississippi is the mouth of the Iowa River
Iowa River
The Iowa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. It is about long and is open to small river craft to Iowa City, about from its mouth...
. Much of the natural area surrounding New Boston is part of the Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge
Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Mississippi River at the border of Illinois and Iowa. The refuge is east of Wapello, in Louisa County, Iowa and in Mercer County, Illinois.- External links :*...
. The river valley at New Boston is surrounded on both sides by gently rolling bluffs interspersed with rich parcels of wetlands that provide critical wildlife habitat; especially critical habitat for migratory birds.
Here's a panoramic photo of New Boston's river front as seen from across the Mississippi (large download).
Boston Bay is an area of water adjacent to the Mississippi River, at the mouth of Eliza Creek, to the north of New Boston. It is across the Mississippi from its confluence with the Iowa River.
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 632 people, 269 households, and 177 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 672.6 people per square mile (259.6/km²). There were 317 housing units at an average density of 337.4 per square mile (130.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.53% White, 0.16% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.16% 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...
. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.32% of the population.
There were 269 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% 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, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 29.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 24.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 103.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $29,231, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $32,361 versus $17,917 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 $15,593. About 6.4% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.