Kinmundy, Illinois

Kinmundy is located in northeastern Marion County. Illinois Route 37 passes through the village center as 1st Street, leading southwest 12 miles (19 km) to Salem, the county seat, and northeast 6 miles (10 km) to Farina. Interstate 57 passes northwest of the city, with access from Exit 127. I-57 leads northeast 32 miles (51 km) to Effingham and southwest 38 miles (61 km) to Mount Vernon.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Kinmundy has a total area of 1.45 square miles (3.76 km²), of which 1.29 square miles (3.34 km²) are land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km²), or 17.44%, are water.[2] The water area consists of Kinmundy Lake, a reservoir 1 mile (1.6 km) west of the city proper. The city drains to the northwest, toward the East Fork of the Kaskaskia River.

Historic Illinois Central Railroad water tower, built in 1885

The origins of the town of Kinmundy are rooted in the expansion of the railroads in southern Illinois, with the first significant economic influence being construction work on the Chicago branch of the Illinois Central Railroad.[6] In April 1857, the town was initially laid out east of the railroad, in 15 blocks of varying sizes, and later, incorporated as a city in 1867.[6]

In January 1912, Illinois Central Railroad train No. 3, traveling at 50 miles per hour (80 km/h), collided with passenger train No. 25, which was standing at the station in Kinmundy taking water. The devastating train wreck demolished the private car at the rear of train No. 25, killing five passengers, among them James T. Harahan, the recently-retired president of the Illinois Central Railroad.[7]

• Marilyn Kaytor, journalist and internationally known food critic; born in Kinmundy in 1929.[14]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 892 people, 365 households, and 246 families residing in the city. The population density was 865.2 inhabitants per square mile (334.1/km²). There were 409 housing units at an average density of 396.7 per square mile (153.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.21% White, 0.34% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.34% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.

There were 365 households, out of which 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,500, and the median income for a family was $37,125. Males had a median income of $31,875 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,279. About 10.0% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.

Ameren's Kinmundy Power Plant, a combustion turbine generator (CTG) power plant, is located in Kinmundy.[17]

• Official website