Plano, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Plano is a city in Kendall County
, Illinois
, United States
near Aurora
, with a population of 5,633 at the 2000 census. The city is rapidly growing with new subdivisions such as Lakewood Springs completed and several other developments under construction or in the planning stages. Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert
lives at a farm north of Plano. According to the Beacon News, a local newspaper in nearby Aurora, Warner Bros.
decided to use Plano during 2011 for filming the new Superman
reboot Man of Steel, scheduled for release in June 14, 2013.
. In July, 1831, Cyrus Hall McCormick invented the mechanical reaper, known as the Plano Harvester. This harvester combined all the steps included in earlier harvesting machines, and McCormick's time-saving invention allowed farmers to more than double their crop size and spurred innovations in farm machinery.
Plano was the one-time headquarters for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now known as Community of Christ
). Joseph Smith III
, son of slain LDS movement founder Joseph Smith, Jr., moved to Plano in 1866 and ran the church's printing operation from there.
The historic Mies van der Rohe-designed Farnsworth House is located on the Fox River
, south of Plano.
as well as in Mendota, Illinois
. Plano and Sandwich have had a sibling-like relationship in the way they developed. Both deeply agricultural cities were situated along a major trading route and are along a major rail artery. Behavior between the communities developed into a rivalry betwixt the two respective high schools and is referred to in the press as the "War on 34" due to their location on US 34. The annual game is referred to as the "War of the Line" since Sandwich resides at an awkward juncture of LaSalle, DeKalb
, and Kendall
counties. Plano is only feet away, within Kendall County. Plano has also been the site of much construction and housing developments. Due to a housing crisis, most of the new developments, as well as many of the houses in town, experienced foreclosures. Nonetheless, at this juncture Waubonsee Community College
decided to better serve the people of the immediate area and slated the Plano satellite campus to open November 1, 2010. Students at the Plano campus can complete an Associate's degree as well as take personal enrichment courses. Another planned development, with a bank, grocery store, and a couple of strip malls, is planned on the western side of town, near the border with Sandwich. There are plans to build an indoor water park next to a hotel within the development, which is shared between the communities. The city also has many beautiful forest preserves and a State Wildlife Preserve in the immediate area.
was designated, down the road and across the river from Farnsworth's house, forever protecting the land from development. According to the preservation trust, if the land across from the house was not turned into a park or preserve of some kind, the area would have certainly been developed, and the house possibly destroyed to make room for future development.
, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) (1.12%) is water.
of 2000, there were 5,633 people, 1,901 households, and 1,437 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,603.3 people per square mile (619.6/km²). There were 1,973 housing units at an average density of 561.6 per square mile (217.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.34% White, 0.37% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 14.59% from other races
, and 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.79% of the population.
There were 1,901 households, from which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 60.0% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families; 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.46.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.4% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% age 65 years or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,526, and the median income for a family was $50,950. Males had a median income of $35,938 versus $23,409 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,837. About 4.6% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
Kendall County, Illinois
Kendall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, about 40 miles southwest of Chicago. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 114,736, which is an increase of 110% from 54,544 in 2000. It was the fastest-growing county in the United States between the years 2000 and...
, 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...
near Aurora
Aurora, Illinois
Aurora is the second most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and the 112th largest city in the United States. A suburb of Chicago, located west of the Loop, its population in 2010 was 197,899. Originally founded within Kane County, Aurora's city limits have expanded greatly over the past...
, with a population of 5,633 at the 2000 census. The city is rapidly growing with new subdivisions such as Lakewood Springs completed and several other developments under construction or in the planning stages. Former Speaker of the House of Representatives Dennis Hastert
Dennis Hastert
John Dennis "Denny" Hastert was the 59th Speaker of the House serving from 1999 to 2007. He represented as a Republican for twenty years, 1987 to 2007.He is the longest-serving Republican Speaker in history...
lives at a farm north of Plano. According to the Beacon News, a local newspaper in nearby Aurora, Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
decided to use Plano during 2011 for filming the new Superman
Superman
Superman is a fictional comic book superhero appearing in publications by DC Comics, widely considered to be an American cultural icon. Created by American writer Jerry Siegel and Canadian-born American artist Joe Shuster in 1932 while both were living in Cleveland, Ohio, and sold to Detective...
reboot Man of Steel, scheduled for release in June 14, 2013.
History
Plano is the birthplace of the ReaperReaper
A reaper is a person or machine that reaps crops at harvest, when they are ripe.-Hand reaping:Hand reaping is done by various means, including plucking the ears of grains directly by hand, cutting the grain stalks with a sickle, cutting them with a scythe, or with a later type of scythe called a...
. In July, 1831, Cyrus Hall McCormick invented the mechanical reaper, known as the Plano Harvester. This harvester combined all the steps included in earlier harvesting machines, and McCormick's time-saving invention allowed farmers to more than double their crop size and spurred innovations in farm machinery.
Plano was the one-time headquarters for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now known as Community of Christ
Community of Christ
The Community of Christ, known from 1872 to 2001 as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints , is an American-based international Christian church established in April 1830 that claims as its mission "to proclaim Jesus Christ and promote communities of joy, hope, love, and peace"...
). Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III
Joseph Smith III was the eldest surviving son of Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, and Emma Hale Smith...
, son of slain LDS movement founder Joseph Smith, Jr., moved to Plano in 1866 and ran the church's printing operation from there.
The historic Mies van der Rohe-designed Farnsworth House is located on the Fox River
Fox River (Illinois River tributary)
The Fox River is a tributary of the Illinois River in the states of Wisconsin and Illinois in the United States. There are two other "Fox Rivers" in southern Illinois: the Fox River and a smaller "Fox River" that joins the Wabash River near New Harmony, Indiana.-Wisconsin:The Fox River rises near...
, south of Plano.
1900-2010
Community development has centered around a strong agricultural setting, with the city situated along a major arm of the AMTRAK Rail System and its location along US Route 34, which runs from Chicago out through Plano and neighboring Sandwich and continues out to the west. The Plano Molding Company, manufacturer of fishing tackle equipment, as well as other plastic domestic containment units, has its headquarters in Plano. Both of its original factories are still within Plano, but the main bulk of the production is now in Sandwich, IllinoisSandwich, Illinois
Sandwich is a city in DeKalb, Kendall, and LaSalle counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 6,509 at the 2000 census. The 2008 population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau for the city is 7,337.-History:...
as well as in Mendota, Illinois
Mendota, Illinois
Mendota is a city located in north-central Illinois in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. The city has 7,272 residents, and is the fifth largest city in LaSalle County, though recent estimates have shown that the population has decreased to 6,995 residents. It is part of the...
. Plano and Sandwich have had a sibling-like relationship in the way they developed. Both deeply agricultural cities were situated along a major trading route and are along a major rail artery. Behavior between the communities developed into a rivalry betwixt the two respective high schools and is referred to in the press as the "War on 34" due to their location on US 34. The annual game is referred to as the "War of the Line" since Sandwich resides at an awkward juncture of LaSalle, DeKalb
DeKalb County, Illinois
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 105,160, which is an increase of 18.2% from 88,969 in 2000. Its county seat is Sycamore. DeKalb County is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area.-History:DeKalb County...
, and Kendall
Kendall County, Illinois
Kendall County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, about 40 miles southwest of Chicago. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 114,736, which is an increase of 110% from 54,544 in 2000. It was the fastest-growing county in the United States between the years 2000 and...
counties. Plano is only feet away, within Kendall County. Plano has also been the site of much construction and housing developments. Due to a housing crisis, most of the new developments, as well as many of the houses in town, experienced foreclosures. Nonetheless, at this juncture Waubonsee Community College
Waubonsee Community College
Waubonsee Community College is a two-year community college, founded in 1966, located in the western suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. Its four campuses are located in Sugar Grove, Aurora, and Plano....
decided to better serve the people of the immediate area and slated the Plano satellite campus to open November 1, 2010. Students at the Plano campus can complete an Associate's degree as well as take personal enrichment courses. Another planned development, with a bank, grocery store, and a couple of strip malls, is planned on the western side of town, near the border with Sandwich. There are plans to build an indoor water park next to a hotel within the development, which is shared between the communities. The city also has many beautiful forest preserves and a State Wildlife Preserve in the immediate area.
The Farnsworth House
Master Architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe had worked on a retreat for Dr. Edith Farnsworth, a doctor from Chicago, whose complicated relationship with the architect soured the project. Cost overruns as well as questions on the house's actual usefulness led to a lawsuit between the two parties, with van der Rohe winning the suit. In latter years, the County Board decided to buy some of Farnsworth's land in order to straighten Fox River Drive (Ben Street in Plano), which would need a new bridge as well. Farnsworth pleaded her case to the County Board, citing evidence that the Board would be doing construction on an old Indian Site, but to no avail. The road was straightened and the new bridge built; but, to this day, the old bridge piers are still visible. Ironically, roughly around the same time, Silver Springs State Park and Wildlife AreaSilver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area
Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area is an Illinois state park on in Kendall County, Illinois, United States. The park was established in the late 1960s and is named for the natural spring within its boundaries. The park has two artificial lakes and the Fox River flows through the northern...
was designated, down the road and across the river from Farnsworth's house, forever protecting the land from development. According to the preservation trust, if the land across from the house was not turned into a park or preserve of some kind, the area would have certainly been developed, and the house possibly destroyed to make room for future development.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 3.6 square miles (9.3 km²), of which 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) (1.12%) 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 5,633 people, 1,901 households, and 1,437 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 1,603.3 people per square mile (619.6/km²). There were 1,973 housing units at an average density of 561.6 per square mile (217.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.34% White, 0.37% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 14.59% 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 2.13% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 25.79% of the population.
There were 1,901 households, from which 41.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them; 60.0% 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, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families; 20.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.96 and the average family size was 3.46.
In the city the population was spread out with 31.4% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 31.7% from 25 to 44, 18.3% from 45 to 64, and 9.5% age 65 years or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $46,526, and the median income for a family was $50,950. Males had a median income of $35,938 versus $23,409 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 $17,837. About 4.6% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.1% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over.
See also
- Albert H. Sears HouseAlbert H. Sears HouseThe Albert H. Sears House, also known as "Robin's Nest," is a Queen Anne style house in the U.S. city of Plano, Illinois. The house was constructed in 1881 for prominent Plano businessman Albert H. Sears. The home sits on nearly two acres of forested land and is considered a good example of Queen...
- Farnsworth House (Plano, Illinois)
- Plano (Amtrak station)Plano (Amtrak station)The Plano Amtrak station, also known as the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Depot is a train station in Plano, Illinois, United States served by Amtrak, the national railroad passenger system. It is one of the smallest such stops in the United States. The station was added to the U.S...
- Plano HotelPlano HotelThe Plano Hotel is a 19th century hotel building located in Plano, Illinois, USA. It was built in 1868 by John K. Smith and reflects the Italianate architectural style. In 1993, the building was added to the U.S...
- Plano Stone ChurchPlano Stone ChurchThe Plano Stone Church, also known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, was constructed in 1868 to serve as the headquarters for the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints under the leadership of Joseph Smith III. Smith moved to Plano, Illinois in 1866...
- Silver Springs State Park