Altamont, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Altamont
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| Motto(s):
"Small enough to care large enough to serve."
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Location of Altamont in Effingham County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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 Altamont
Location in Illinois
Altamont
Location in the United States
Altamont
Location in North America
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Effingham |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.49 sq mi (3.86 km2) |
| • Land | 1.49 sq mi (3.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 617 ft (188 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,216 |
| • Density | 1,488.25/sq mi (574.71/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62411
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-01049 |
Altamont is a city in Effingham County, Illinois, United States. It is located in the state of Illinois. In 2020, about 2,216 people lived there. Altamont is part of the Effingham, Illinois Micropolitan Statistical Area. Its motto is "Small enough to care large enough to serve."
Contents
History of Altamont
The area around Altamont was once home to the Kickapoo Indians. A man named Griffin Tipsword, who was adopted by the Kickapoo, lived here. He was a pioneer and a preacher. Tipsword died in 1845, leaving behind three sons. Many of their family members still live in the area today.
Altamont is sometimes called the "City of Plain." It was planned in Mound Township. This area is known for its rich farmland and prairies. Early settlers here were German immigrants.
The name "Altamont" was chosen by J.W. Conlogue. It means "high mountain" or "mound," referring to a nearby elevated area. Before Altamont, there was a trading center called Montville. In 1871, the post office from Montville moved to the new place, Altamont. Altamont officially became a town in 1871.
On August 8, 1872, Altamont started a village government. It had a mayor and four council members. Later, on April 16, 1901, the people voted to change to a city government. This is how Altamont became the City of Altamont.
Geography of Altamont
Altamont is located at coordinates 39°3′25″N 88°44′51″W. This tells you its exact spot on a map. The city covers a total area of about 1.49 square miles (3.86 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People in Altamont (Demographics)
Demographics is the study of people in a certain area. It looks at things like how many people live there and their ages.
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 654 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,044 | 59.6% | |
| 1900 | 1,335 | 27.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,328 | −0.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,352 | 1.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,225 | −9.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,111 | 72.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,580 | −25.2% | |
| 1960 | 1,656 | 4.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,929 | 16.5% | |
| 1980 | 2,389 | 23.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,296 | −3.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,283 | −0.6% | |
| 2010 | 2,319 | 1.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,216 | −4.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2020 census, Altamont had 2,216 people. There were 993 households, which are groups of people living together. About 621 of these were families. The city has about 1,488 people per square mile.
When looking at ages, about 18.6% of the people were under 18 years old. About 25.8% were 65 years old or older. The average age in Altamont was 39.2 years.
Arts and Culture in Altamont
A painting called "The Moaning Betty" by Andre Wolff hangs in the city hall.
Fun Places to Visit
Altamont is home to the Effingham County Fairgrounds. The Effingham County Fair has been held here every year in early August since 1945. At the fair, you can see country music singers and a rodeo. There are also truck and tractor pulls, a queen pageant, and a talent show. You can watch horse races and a demolition derby. The fairgrounds also host other events like the Mill Road Thresherman's gathering and the annual Schützenfest.
The Dr. Charles M. Wright House is a historic Victorian-style home. It was built in 1889 by Dr. C.M. Wright. The house has 18 rooms and seven bedrooms. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.
Ballard Nature Center is a large nature preserve and education center. It is located east of Altamont. The center has 217 acres of land. This includes 107 acres of woodland and 15 acres of restored prairie. There are also 10 acres of shallow water wetlands. The center opened to the public in July 2000. It's a great place to learn about nature.
Parks and Recreation
Altamont has three main parks for everyone to enjoy.
- Gilbert Park is the largest park. It is named after Ray Gilbert, a former mayor. This park has four baseball/softball fields. It also has an indoor batting cage and playground equipment. You can find a soccer field and a nine-hole disc golf course here too.
- Schmidt Park offers picnic areas and playground equipment. It's a nice spot for families to relax.
- W.C. Klitzing Memorial Heritage Park is often called Heritage Park or "The Train Park." It is named after Walter C. Klitzing, a former mayor. This park has play equipment and a skateboard area. There are also covered picnic tables, a basketball court, and restrooms.
In downtown Altamont, there is also "The Triangle." This is a garden and pavilion area. It has benches, flower beds, and a flagpole. The covered pavilion often hosts bake sales and cookouts. These events help community groups raise money.
Education in Altamont
Altamont has several schools for students of all ages.
- Altamont Lutheran Interparish School (ALIS) is a private school. It serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade. The school is a joint effort of several Lutheran churches. Their sports teams are called the Rockets.
- Altamont Grade School is a public school. It serves students from kindergarten through 8th grade. In 2011, about 546 students attended this school. Their sports teams are known as the Wildcats.
- Altamont Community High School is a public high school. The main building was built in the 1950s. Students first started using it in 1954. In 2011, about 285 students were enrolled. Their sports teams are the Indians and Lady Indians.
Both Altamont Grade School and Altamont High School are part of the Altamont Community Unit School District #10.
Transportation
Getting around Altamont is easy with several major roads.
- Interstate 70, U.S. Route 40, and Illinois Route 128 all pass through the city. U.S. Route 40 was once known as the historic National Road.
- If you need to travel by train, Amtrak service is available. You can catch a train in Effingham, which is about 12 miles (19 km) to the east. These trains can take you to cities like Chicago and New Orleans.
Community Life
Altamont has active community groups that help make the city a great place to live.
- The Altamont Lions Club has been active since 1938. They run youth basketball and soccer programs. They also host an annual fishing rodeo and a golf tournament. The Lions Club supports Ballard Nature Center and local parks.
- The Altamont Garden Club helps beautify the town. They plant and care for many garden areas. They also pay for and water over thirty hanging baskets of flowers downtown during spring and summer. The Garden Club also installed lamp posts along the walking path in Schmidt Park.
See also
In Spanish: Altamont (Illinois) para niños
