Taylorville, Illinois

Taylorville is a city in and the county seat of Christian County, Illinois, United States.[4] The population was 10,506 at the 2020 census, making it the county's largest city.

Taylorville, Illinois
City and county seat
Motto(s): 
A Great Place To Live, Work, and Visit[1]
Location within Christian County and Illinois
Location within Christian County and Illinois
Location of Illinois in the United States
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 39°33′05″N 89°18′28″W[2]
Country United States
State Illinois
CountyChristian
Government
 • MayorBruce Barry
Area
[3]
 • Total12.22 sq mi (31.66 km2)
 • Land10.31 sq mi (26.72 km2)
 • Water1.91 sq mi (4.95 km2)
Elevation
[2]
617 ft (188 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total10,506
 • Density1,018.52/sq mi (393.26/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
62568
Area codes217, 447
FIPS code17-74574
GNIS ID2396035[2]
Websitetaylorville.net

History

Taylorville was founded on May 24, 1839, and was named after John Taylor, a planning commissioner for the state of Illinois.[5]

Taylorville was known (in the early to mid-1990s) to have had a high rate of neuroblastoma, a cancer affecting the adrenal gland and striking children.[6] The local power company Central Illinois Public Service Company was sued and lost for contaminating the groundwater in 1994.[7]

Some outer homes and a business in Taylorville were damaged by an F1 tornado on April 2, 2006.

On August 11, 2012, a Beechcraft Model 18 airplane crashed into a residential area of Taylorville, killing the pilot but injuring none on the ground.[8] A subsequent NTSB investigation into the accident concluded that an improper flap configuration and failure to maintain the correct airspeed due to pilot error, resulted in the crash.[9]

At about 5:15 PM on December 1, 2018, as part of the December 2018 tornado outbreak, a intense tornado hit Taylorville.[10][11] The tornado injured at least 26 residents and damaged more than 600 homes and businesses, 34 of which were completely destroyed.[12] Damage surveys by the National Weather Service rated the tornado EF3 with winds over 155 mph (249 km/h).[13]

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Taylorville has a total area of 12.23 square miles (31.68 km2), of which 10.32 square miles (26.73 km2) (or 84.38%) is land and 1.91 square miles (4.95 km2) (or 15.62%) is water.[14]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18802,237—
18902,82926.5%
19004,24850.2%
19105,44628.2%
19205,8066.6%
19307,31626.0%
19408,31313.6%
19509,18810.5%
19608,801−4.2%
197010,64420.9%
198011,3867.0%
199011,133−2.2%
200011,4272.6%
201011,246−1.6%
202010,506−6.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

As of the 2020 census[16] there were 10,506 people, 5,064 households, and 2,507 families residing in the city. The population density was 859.39 inhabitants per square mile (331.81/km2). There were 5,336 housing units at an average density of 436.48 per square mile (168.53/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 93.81% White, 0.90% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.94% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 3.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.65% of the population.

There were 5,064 households, out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.45% were married couples living together, 9.72% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.49% were non-families. 44.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.22% 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 2.07.

The city's age distribution consisted of 20.7% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 27% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $41,397, and the median income for a family was $63,885. Males had a median income of $42,474 versus $28,466 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,513. About 9.7% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 12.7% of those age 65 or over.

Watertower
Taylorville water tower

Education

The IHSA single season boys' basketball record of 45–0 was set by Taylorville High School in 1944. Ron Bontemps and Johnny Orr were team members.[17]

In 1911, the Taylorville Christians were a member of the Illinois–Missouri League, an American minor league baseball league. Future Baseball Hall of Famer Ray Schalk played on that team.

Media

The town newspaper is the Breeze-Courier, which is the only daily newspaper serving Christian County. 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.

Transportation

Taylorville is served by Illinois Route 29, Illinois Route 48 and Illinois Route 104.[18] By closest major city, Illinois Route 29 connects Taylorville to Springfield, Illinois; Illinois Route 48 connects to Decatur, Illinois – including, from there, highway access to Pana, Illinois via US Highway 51 and to Champaign, Illinois via Interstate 72; and Illinois Route 104 connects Taylorville to Jacksonville, Illinois.

Notable people

References
  1. Official City Website Retrieved on May 27, 2007
  2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Taylorville, Illinois
  3. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  5. "Historic Taylorville". Small Town Taylorville. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  6. Neuroblastoma Coal Tar Cancer. Clutterinvestigations.com. Retrieved on November 20, 2015.
  7. The case files for the case against the power plant. State.il.us. Retrieved on November 20, 2015.
  8. "Plane Crashes Into Residential Section of Taylorville; Pilot Killed". Taylorville Daily News. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  9. Reid, Tony. "Report cites pilot errors in fatal 2012 Taylorville plane crash". Herald & Review. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  10. Moore, Brenden. "Tornado causes injuries, severe damage in Taylorville". The State Journal-Register. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  11. Jackson, Clay. "100 Taylorville buildings damaged in storm; 'It looked like a war zone'". Herald & Review. Retrieved December 2, 2018.
  12. NWS Damage Survey for 12/01/18 Tornado Event Report #2 (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Lincoln, Illinois. December 2, 2018. Retrieved December 3, 2018.
  13. NWS Damage Survey for 12/01/18 Tornado Event #6 (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet. National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office in Lincoln, Illinois. December 3, 2018. Retrieved December 19, 2018.
  14. Bureau, US Census. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  17. Taylor Bell (2006). Glory Days Illinois: Legends of Illinois High School Basketball. Sports Publishing LLC. pp. 4–. ISBN 978-1-58261-945-3.
  18. "Taylorville, Illinois". taylorville.net. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  19. 'Illinois Blue Book 1917-1918,' Biographical Sketch of John J. Bullington, pg. 206-207
  20. Dave Bakke: When Corzine's in the news, media turn to Taylorville – News – The State Journal-Register – Springfield, IL. Sj-r.com (November 4, 2011). Retrieved on 2015-11-20.
  21. Dori Meinert (September 26, 2004) From Taylorville to Capitol Hill Sen. Jon Corzine a key fund-raiser for Democrats. Springfield State Journal Register.
  22. "MF Global Appoints Jon S. Corzine Chairman and Chief Executive Officer" (Press release). MF Global. March 23, 2010. Archived from the original on March 29, 2010. Retrieved March 23, 2010.
  23. 'Illinois Blue book 1927-1928,' Biographical Sketch of James H. Forrester, pg. 290=291
  24. Illinois Supreme Court-Harry B. Hershey Archived July 5, 2015, at the Wayback Machine. Illinoiscourts.gov (August 30, 1967). Retrieved on 2015-11-20.
  25. 'Wisconsin Blue Book 2009-2010), Biographical Sketch of Randy Hopper, pg. 54
  26. "Vern Mullen Stats". Pro Football Reference.
  27. William Yardley (January 2, 2014) Johnny Orr, Coach Who Turned Iowa State Into Contender, Dies at 86. New York Times
  28. Taylorville native, basketball coach Johnny Orr dies – Entertainment & Life – The State Journal-Register – Springfield, IL. Sj-r.com (December 31, 2013). Retrieved on 2015-11-20.
  29. Purcell, Edward Mills (1952). "Biography". The Nobel Prize in Physics 1952 Felix Bloch, E. M. Purcell. The Nobel Foundation. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  30. Illinois Supreme Court-James B. Ricks
  31. "James B. Ricks" (PDF). Illinois Supreme Court Historic Preservation Commission.
  32. 'Illinois Blue Book 1977-1978,' Biographical Sketch of Rolland F. Tipsword, pg. 169
  33. 'Illinois Blue Book 1965-1966,' Biographical Sketch of Stuart J. Traynor, pg. 180-181
  34. 'Illinois Blue Book 1933-1934, Biographical Sketch of Clifford J. Vogelsang, pg. 219
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