Beckemeyer, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Beckemeyer
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Location of Beckemeyer in Clinton County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Clinton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.62 sq mi (1.60 km2) |
| • Land | 0.62 sq mi (1.60 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 456 ft (139 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 923 |
| • Density | 1,495.95/sq mi (577.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62219
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-04533 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2398063 |
| Public Transit | South Central Transit |
| Wikimedia Commons | Beckemeyer, Illinois |
| Website | http://beckemeyeril.gov/ |
Beckemeyer is a small village located in Clinton County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 923 people lived there.
Contents
History of Beckemeyer
The first person to settle in the Beckemeyer area was Samuel B. Watkins, around 1817. The village started as a stop along the Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. It was officially set up in 1866. Back then, it was called "Buxton," named after a lawyer who worked for the railroad.
Growth from Coal Mining
A large amount of coal was found under the village and nearby areas. Mining started in 1894, which helped Buxton grow a lot. In 1905, the village held an election and changed its name to "Beckemeyer." The first school and bank opened in Beckemeyer in 1906.
Important Events
On March 25, 1947, a terrible coal mine accident happened nearby. It caused the death of 111 people. Nine of those who died were from Beckemeyer. In 1997, a special place called "Miners Memorial Park" was built in Beckemeyer. It honors the miners from the village who lost their lives in that explosion.
On February 7, 1976, a train crashed into a truck while going 56 miles per hour. This accident was very sad, as 12 people died, including 11 children. Four other people were hurt. It was the worst accident in the history of Clinton County.
Environmental Cleanup
A company called Circle Smelting Corp ran a zinc factory in Beckemeyer from 1904 to 1994. In 1993, a study showed that the town's soil was very polluted with over 10,000 cubic yards of industrial waste. This waste had high levels of lead from the factory.
Because of this pollution, the EPA made the factory close in 1994. They declared the site a Superfund site, which means it needed a major cleanup. About 35,000 cubic yards of contaminated material were removed from over 300 properties. This material was then safely covered with concrete.
Geography
Beckemeyer covers an area of about 0.61 square miles (1.60 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 764 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,153 | 50.9% | |
| 1930 | 850 | −26.3% | |
| 1940 | 900 | 5.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,045 | 16.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,056 | 1.1% | |
| 1970 | 1,069 | 1.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,119 | 4.7% | |
| 1990 | 1,070 | −4.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,043 | −2.5% | |
| 2010 | 1,040 | −0.3% | |
| 2020 | 923 | −11.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Beckemeyer had 923 residents living in 448 households. About 270 of these households were families. The village has about 1,505 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Beckemeyer are White (about 91%). A small number are African American, Native American, or Asian. About 5.5% of the population are of Hispanic or Latino background.
Age and Income
About 19% of the people in Beckemeyer are under 18 years old. Around 23% are 65 years or older. The average age in the village is about 44 years old.
The average income for a household in Beckemeyer was about $51,719. For families, the average income was about $59,097. A small number of families (3.7%) and individuals (7.7%) live below the poverty line.
Schools
Since Beckemeyer is a village, many children living there go to schools in nearby towns like Breese or Carlyle for their education.
Beckemeyer does have one elementary school, called Breese/Becky District #12. This school teaches students in grades 2 to 4. Younger and older elementary students attend District #12 in the town of Breese.
For high school, students from Beckemeyer attend Central Community High School. This high school was created in 1971 when the high schools in Breese and Aviston joined together.
See also
In Spanish: Beckemeyer para niños
