Taylorville, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Taylorville is a city in Christian County, Illinois
, United States. The population was 11,246 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
and largest city in Christian County.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 10.1 square miles (26.2 km²), of which, 8.1 square miles (21 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) of it (19.46%) is water.
, and 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
There were 4,856 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,235, and the median income for a family was $43,223. Males had a median income of $35,655 versus $23,647 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,162. About 6.8% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
The town newspaper is the Breeze-Courier, which is the only daily newspaper serving Christian County. Also, The State Journal-Register, published in Springfield, Illinois
covers Taylorville and Christian County quite extensively. The Decatur, Illinois
Herald & Review covers the area as well.
Taylorville was known (in the early-to-mid 1990s) to have had a high rate of neuroblastoma
, a cancer
affecting the brain and striking children. The local power company Central Illinois Public Service Company
was sued and lost for contaminating the groundwater in 1994.
The IHSA
single season Men's Basketball record of 45–0 was set by Taylorville High School in 1944. Ron Bontemps and Johnny Orr were team members.
Taylorville is known as the "Christmas Capital of Illinois."
Christian County, Illinois
Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 34,800, which is a decrease of 1.6% from 35,372 in 2000...
, United States. The population was 11,246 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
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....
and largest city in Christian County.
Geography
Taylorville is located at 39°32′27"N 89°17′17"W (39.540768, -89.288005).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 10.1 square miles (26.2 km²), of which, 8.1 square miles (21 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) of it (19.46%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,427 people, 4,856 households, and 3,039 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,416.6 people per square mile (546.7/km²). There were 5,208 housing units at an average density of 645.6 per square mile (249.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.67% White, 0.71% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other racesRace (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 0.55% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.
There were 4,856 households out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.3% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.4% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.1% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,235, and the median income for a family was $43,223. Males had a median income of $35,655 versus $23,647 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 $18,162. About 6.8% of families and 10.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
Other
Some outer homes and a business of Taylorville were damaged or destroyed by two EF2 tornadoes on April 2, 2006.The town newspaper is the Breeze-Courier, which is the only daily newspaper serving Christian County. Also, The State Journal-Register, published in Springfield, Illinois
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...
covers Taylorville and Christian County quite extensively. The Decatur, Illinois
Decatur, Illinois
Decatur is the largest city and the county seat of Macon County in the U.S. state of Illinois. The city, sometimes called "the Soybean Capital of the World", was founded in 1823 and is located along the Sangamon River and Lake Decatur in Central Illinois. In 2000 the city population was 81,500,...
Herald & Review covers the area as well.
Taylorville was known (in the early-to-mid 1990s) to have had a high rate of neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma
Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid cancer in childhood and the most common cancer in infancy, with an annual incidence of about 650 cases per year in the US , and 100 cases per year in the UK . Close to 50 percent of neuroblastoma cases occur in children younger than two years old...
, a cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
affecting the brain and striking children. The local power company Central Illinois Public Service Company
Central Illinois Public Service Company
The Central Illinois Public Service Company was an electric streetcar holding company and power utility first organized in 1902. Under its later quarter billion dollar holding company, CIPSCO Inc. , it merged in 1997 with the larger neighboring Union Electric Company of Missouri to form Ameren...
was sued and lost for contaminating the groundwater in 1994.
The IHSA
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
single season Men's Basketball record of 45–0 was set by Taylorville High School in 1944. Ron Bontemps and Johnny Orr were team members.
Taylorville is known as the "Christmas Capital of Illinois."
Notable people
- Ron BontempsRon BontempsRonald "Ron" Yngve Bontemps was an American basketball player who competed in the 1952 Summer Olympics. He attended Beloit College....
- OlympicOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
gold medalGold medalA gold medal is typically the medal awarded for highest achievement in a non-military field. Its name derives from the use of at least a fraction of gold in form of plating or alloying in its manufacture...
winner and team captain, 1952 Men's BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules... - Larry BucshonLarry BucshonLarry Dean Bucshon is a heart surgeon and the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.- Early life, education, and early career :Bucshon was born on May 31, 1962 and raised in Kincaid, Illinois...
- Indiana Congressman - Jon CorzineJon CorzineJon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
- former Governor of New JerseyGovernor of New JerseyThe Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be... - Yvonne CraigYvonne CraigYvonne Joyce Craig is an American actress best known for her role as Batgirl from the 1960s TV series Batman, and as the Orion Marta in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode “Whom Gods Destroy”.-Early life and career:...
- former ballet dancer with the Ballet De Russe Monte Carlo and actress, most famous for playing BatgirlBatgirlBatgirl is the name of several fictional characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics, frequently depicted as female counterparts to the superhero Batman...
in the 1960s television series Batman and Marta in Star Trek the Original Series episode "Whom Gods Destroy" - Randy HopperRandy HopperRandal B. "Randy" Hopper is a former Republican member of the Wisconsin Senate, representing the 18th District from 2009 until losing his seat to Jessica King in a 2011 recall election. The 18th District includes the cities of Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, and Waupun....
- WisconsinWisconsinWisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
SenatorUnited States SenateThe United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each... - Jens Kujawa - exchange student from Germany who later played basketball for the University of Illinois and in the 1992 summer Olympics for the seventh-place German National Team.
- Johnny OrrJohnny OrrJohn M. "Johnny" Orr is a retired American basketball player and coach, best known as the head coach of men's basketball at the University of Michigan and at Iowa State University.-Life as a player:...
- Iowa State UniversityIowa State UniversityIowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
men's basketball coach with most wins in the college's history; also coached the University of MichiganUniversity of MichiganThe University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
to national runner up in the 1976 NCAANational Collegiate Athletic AssociationThe National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
Championship - Pat PerryPat PerryWilliam Patrick Perry was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched from 1985-1990 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers.-External links:...
- St. Louis Cardinals Pitcher from 1985–1987 - Edward Mills PurcellEdward Mills PurcellEdward Mills Purcell was an American physicist who shared the 1952 Nobel Prize for Physics for his independent discovery of nuclear magnetic resonance in liquids and in solids. Nuclear magnetic resonance has become widely used to study the molecular structure of pure materials and the...
- 1952 Nobel PrizeNobel PrizeThe Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
winner in physics; discovered nuclear magnetic resonanceNuclear magnetic resonanceNuclear magnetic resonance is a physical phenomenon in which magnetic nuclei in a magnetic field absorb and re-emit electromagnetic radiation... - Sandy Stockton - fictional character on the series Funny FaceThe Sandy Duncan ShowFunny Face and The Sandy Duncan Show are two sitcoms aired by CBS starring Sandy Duncan as part of its 1971 and 1972 fall lineups, respectively...
and The Sandy Duncan ShowThe Sandy Duncan ShowFunny Face and The Sandy Duncan Show are two sitcoms aired by CBS starring Sandy Duncan as part of its 1971 and 1972 fall lineups, respectively...
played by actress Sandy DuncanSandy DuncanSandra Kay "Sandy" Duncan is an American singer, dancer and actress of stage and television, recognized through a blonde, pixie cut hairstyle and perky demeanor...
, was said to have been from Taylorville, and as such, Duncan had a street, Sandy Duncan Drive, named after her