Newton, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Newton is the county seat
of Jasper County
, Illinois
. The population was 3,069 at the 2000 Census and subsequently reported as 3,141 by a local newspaper in mid-2000. Newton is home to a large coal-fired power plant http://www.ameren.com/AEG/ADC_AU_Newton.asp and Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 3,069 people, 1,329 households, and 810 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,647.3 people per square mile (637.1/km²). There were 1,490 housing units at an average density of 799.8 per square mile (309.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.99% White, 0.10% African American, 0.20% Asian, 0.23% from other races
, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population. Among the White residents, the ancestral origin is primarily German with lesser contributions from England, France and Ireland.
There were 1,329 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples
living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,280, and the median income for a family was $42,788. Males had a median income of $31,808 versus $17,877 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,363. About 8.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
Jasper County was formed in 1831 and approved on Dec. 19, 1834. The county was named after American Revolutionary War hero, Sergeant Jasper. He and his close friend, Sergeant Newton, were patriots that saved American prisoners of war from certain death at the hands of British soldiers. Thus, the county and town became their namesakes.
A post office was established in Newton in March 1883. The post office was not established in a building, but rather in a man’s hat. A rider brought the mail from Vincennes, Ind., made a stop in Newton once a week and then continued delivering mail on his route north of Newton.
By 1841 the town had increased to five families. Lawrence Hollenbock and Samuel Garwood built a saw and grist mill and Benjamin Harris opened the first grocery store in Newton. In 1855, Newton had Miller’s Hotel and a small inn known as The
American House that is now Yesterday's and Today’s Pub.
By 1865, the population of Newton grew to 300 and a decade later reached 400 people. In 1874 Joe Litzelman’s Hack Express began traveling daily to and from Olney on what is now Route 130.
Today, Newton has a population near 3,000. The community is made up of local businesses, industry, a high school of more than 600 students and several organizations and churches.
, which is geographically the largest school district in Illinois. The schools in the town include Newton Community High School, Newton Elementary/Junior High School and Saint Thomas Elementary School, having enrollments of 624, 496, and 148, respectively.
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Jasper County
Jasper County, Illinois
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, 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,...
. The population was 3,069 at the 2000 Census and subsequently reported as 3,141 by a local newspaper in mid-2000. Newton is home to a large coal-fired power plant http://www.ameren.com/AEG/ADC_AU_Newton.asp and Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area
Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area is an Illinois state park on in Jasper County, Illinois, United States. The park's grasslands are home to the largest of the three remaining Greater Prairie Chicken flocks in Illinois....
.
Geography
Newton is located at 38°59′17"N 88°9′52"W (38.988119, -88.164390). The town is located in the geographic center of Jasper County on a bluff overlooking the Embarras RiverEmbarras River
The Embarras River is a tributary of the Wabash River in southeastern Illinois in the United States. The waters of the Embarras reach the Gulf of Mexico via the Wabash, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers. The river drains a watershed of approximately in an agricultural region...
.
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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
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 3,069 people, 1,329 households, and 810 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 1,647.3 people per square mile (637.1/km²). There were 1,490 housing units at an average density of 799.8 per square mile (309.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.99% White, 0.10% African American, 0.20% Asian, 0.23% 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 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.59% of the population. Among the White residents, the ancestral origin is primarily German with lesser contributions from England, France and Ireland.
There were 1,329 households out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% 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 39.0% were non-families. 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.9% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 21.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 84.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,280, and the median income for a family was $42,788. Males had a median income of $31,808 versus $17,877 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 $16,363. About 8.4% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.7% of those under age 18 and 10.1% of those age 65 or over.
History
Newton is the largest, oldest and only city (although several Villages) in Jasper County. Because of its favorable location within the county, it was named county seat in 1835.Jasper County was formed in 1831 and approved on Dec. 19, 1834. The county was named after American Revolutionary War hero, Sergeant Jasper. He and his close friend, Sergeant Newton, were patriots that saved American prisoners of war from certain death at the hands of British soldiers. Thus, the county and town became their namesakes.
A post office was established in Newton in March 1883. The post office was not established in a building, but rather in a man’s hat. A rider brought the mail from Vincennes, Ind., made a stop in Newton once a week and then continued delivering mail on his route north of Newton.
By 1841 the town had increased to five families. Lawrence Hollenbock and Samuel Garwood built a saw and grist mill and Benjamin Harris opened the first grocery store in Newton. In 1855, Newton had Miller’s Hotel and a small inn known as The
American House that is now Yesterday's and Today’s Pub.
By 1865, the population of Newton grew to 300 and a decade later reached 400 people. In 1874 Joe Litzelman’s Hack Express began traveling daily to and from Olney on what is now Route 130.
Today, Newton has a population near 3,000. The community is made up of local businesses, industry, a high school of more than 600 students and several organizations and churches.
Education
Newton resides in the Jasper County Community Unit School District 1Jasper County Community Unit School District 1
Jasper County Community Unit School District 1 is a unified school district based in Jasper County's county seat of Newton, Illinois; it is the only school district in the county and is, consequently, the main educational body in all of Jasper County, although it serves portions of Effingham County...
, which is geographically the largest school district in Illinois. The schools in the town include Newton Community High School, Newton Elementary/Junior High School and Saint Thomas Elementary School, having enrollments of 624, 496, and 148, respectively.