Royal Lakes, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Royal Lakes is a village in Macoupin County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 190 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. Census Bureau
estimate placed the population at 184.
in southern Macoupin County. Royal Lakes lies at the southwestern corner of two intersecting roads, Illinois Route 16
and Illinois Route 159
. The nearest large cities are St. Louis
, approximately 50 miles (80.5 km) to the southwest and Springfield
, around 60 miles (96.6 km) northeast of the village.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), of which, 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (9.80%) is water.
developer in 1956. The 320 acres (1.3 km²) tract was to be developed as a resort-style community. Three small lakes – Meshach, Shad, and Shadrach – were constructed for recreational purposes and the remaining land was divided into 2,435 lots, each measuring 25 feet (7.6 m)-by-125 feet. Royal Lakes was marketed as an affordable resort location in a rural setting. The community was heavily promoted in the predominantly African American
neighborhoods of St. Louis
and East St. Louis
. In 1957, the first families moved into Royal Lakes. A communities church was organized in 1961 and the congregation moved into a permanent building seven years later.
Due to Royal Lakes' status as a "resort" area, a lack of zoning regulations meant that there had been no provisions for the developer to provide basic infrastructure. With no road maintenance, water supply, or proper sewage disposal, the overall quality of life for residents of the community deteriorated. By the early 1970s, residents agreed that the only way to improve conditions in the community was through incorporation. An incorporation election was held in October 1972. Of the 98 votes cast, 89 were in favor of incorporation and 9 opposed. Royal Lakes officially became the Village of Royal Lakes.
The village's first mayor, Thomas J. Stoddard, and other members of the municipal government took office in April 1973.
of 2000, there were 190 people, 80 households, and 46 families residing in the village. The population density
was 408.1 people per square mile (156.1/km²). There were 121 housing units at an average density of 259.9 per square mile (99.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 15.79% White, 80.53% African American, 0.53% Native American, 1.05% from other races
, and 2.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.
There were 80 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% were married couples
living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% 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 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $17,708, and the median income for a family was $21,042. Males had a median income of $41,667 versus $15,000 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $10,049. About 19.1% of families and 27.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 27.8% of those sixty five or over.
Macoupin County, Illinois
Macoupin County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 47,765, which is a decrease of 2.6% from 49,019 in 2000. The county seat is Carlinville. Macoupin County is an outlying county of the Metro-East region...
, 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 190 at the 2000 census. A July 1, 2008 U.S. 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...
estimate placed the population at 184.
Geography
Royal Lakes is located at 39°6′45"N 89°57′43"W (39.112532, -89.961892) in Hillyard TownshipHillyard Township, Macoupin County, Illinois
Hillyard Township is located in Macoupin County, Illinois, USA. The population was 733 at the 2000 census.- External links :***...
in southern Macoupin County. Royal Lakes lies at the southwestern corner of two intersecting roads, Illinois Route 16
Illinois Route 16
Illinois Route 16 is an arterial east–west highway in central Illinois. Its western terminus is at the Joe Page Bridge over the Illinois River in Hardin, while its eastern terminus is at Paris at Illinois Route 1 and U.S. Route 150, with Illinois Route 133. This is a distance of .- Route...
and Illinois Route 159
Illinois Route 159
Illinois Route 159 is a north–south state road in southwestern Illinois. Its southern terminus is at Illinois Route 3 and Illinois Route 154 in Red Bud and its northern terminus at Illinois Route 16 in Royal Lakes. This is a distance of ....
. The nearest large cities are St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
, approximately 50 miles (80.5 km) to the southwest and Springfield
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, around 60 miles (96.6 km) northeast of the village.
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 village has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), of which, 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²) of it (9.80%) is water.
Lakes
Three small lakes – Meshach, Shad, and Shadrach – are located within the village of Royal Lakes.- Meshach Lake is located in the east central portion of Royal Lakes. With an average depth of between nine and twelve feet, it is the deepest of the three lakes.
- Shad Lake covers approximately 1.5 acres (6,070.3 m²) with a maximum depth of two feet.
- Shadrach Lake is located north of Magnolia Drive and west of North Dogwood Drive. Its depth ranges from five to eight feet.
History
The site that would eventually become Royal Lakes was purchased by a ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
developer in 1956. The 320 acres (1.3 km²) tract was to be developed as a resort-style community. Three small lakes – Meshach, Shad, and Shadrach – were constructed for recreational purposes and the remaining land was divided into 2,435 lots, each measuring 25 feet (7.6 m)-by-125 feet. Royal Lakes was marketed as an affordable resort location in a rural setting. The community was heavily promoted in the predominantly African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
neighborhoods of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and East St. Louis
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
. In 1957, the first families moved into Royal Lakes. A communities church was organized in 1961 and the congregation moved into a permanent building seven years later.
Due to Royal Lakes' status as a "resort" area, a lack of zoning regulations meant that there had been no provisions for the developer to provide basic infrastructure. With no road maintenance, water supply, or proper sewage disposal, the overall quality of life for residents of the community deteriorated. By the early 1970s, residents agreed that the only way to improve conditions in the community was through incorporation. An incorporation election was held in October 1972. Of the 98 votes cast, 89 were in favor of incorporation and 9 opposed. Royal Lakes officially became the Village of Royal Lakes.
The village's first mayor, Thomas J. Stoddard, and other members of the municipal government took office in April 1973.
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 190 people, 80 households, and 46 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 408.1 people per square mile (156.1/km²). There were 121 housing units at an average density of 259.9 per square mile (99.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 15.79% White, 80.53% African American, 0.53% Native American, 1.05% 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 2.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.05% of the population.
There were 80 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.5% 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, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 40.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 22.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 3.26.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 21.6% 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 97.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $17,708, and the median income for a family was $21,042. Males had a median income of $41,667 versus $15,000 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 $10,049. About 19.1% of families and 27.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.7% of those under the age of eighteen and 27.8% of those sixty five or over.