Bushnell, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bushnell, Illinois
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The heart of rural Bushnell, bisected by two active railroad lines, one being Amtrak
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| Motto(s):
"Agricultura et industria"
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Location in McDonough County, Illinois
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 Bushnell, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | McDonough |
| Township | Bushnell |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.13 sq mi (5.50 km2) |
| • Land | 2.12 sq mi (5.48 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 646 ft (197 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,718 |
| • Density | 1,283.89/sq mi (495.62/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
61422
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| Area code(s) | 309 |
| FIPS code | 17-10110 |
| GNIS ID | 2393478 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Bushnell, Illinois |
Bushnell is a city in Illinois, located in McDonough County. In 2020, about 2,718 people lived there. It's a friendly place with a rich history and interesting facts.
Contents
About Bushnell, Illinois
Bushnell is a city found in the state of Illinois, in the United States. It is located in the northeastern part of McDonough County.
How Big is Bushnell?
Bushnell covers an area of about 2.13 square miles (5.5 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. A small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.02 square kilometers), is water.
Roads and Rivers in Bushnell
Two main roads, Illinois Route 9 and Illinois Route 41, go through the city. These roads help connect Bushnell to other towns. For example, Route 9 goes to Blandinsville and Canton. Route 41 connects to Galesburg. The county seat, Macomb, is also nearby.
The city is part of the Illinois River watershed. This means that water from Bushnell eventually flows into the Illinois River.
History of Bushnell
Bushnell was founded in 1854. It was named after Nehemiah Bushnell, who was the president of the Northern Cross Railroad. This railroad built a line through the area, which helped the town grow.
Railroads and Inventions
The railroad that helped start Bushnell later became part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. Today, it is known as the Burlington Northern Santa Fe. Another railroad, the Keokuk Junction Railway, also served Bushnell. While Amtrak trains pass through the city, they do not stop there.
An interesting invention came from Bushnell. The Nagel Brothers, who lived in Bushnell, found a new way to make rolled oats without steaming them first. This was a big deal because it made the process much easier. They later sold their invention to the Quaker Oats Company.
Local Businesses
Bushnell is home to a Vaughan & Bushnell hammer factory. This factory makes tools. The city also has a company called Kitchen Cooked Potato Chips, which makes tasty potato chips.
Population Changes in Bushnell
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 2,003 | — | |
| 1880 | 2,316 | 15.6% | |
| 1890 | 2,314 | −0.1% | |
| 1900 | 2,490 | 7.6% | |
| 1910 | 2,619 | 5.2% | |
| 1920 | 2,716 | 3.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,850 | 4.9% | |
| 1940 | 2,906 | 2.0% | |
| 1950 | 3,317 | 14.1% | |
| 1960 | 3,710 | 11.8% | |
| 1970 | 3,703 | −0.2% | |
| 1980 | 3,811 | 2.9% | |
| 1990 | 3,288 | −13.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,221 | −2.0% | |
| 2010 | 3,117 | −3.2% | |
| 2020 | 2,718 | −12.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Bushnell has changed over the years. In 2000, there were 3,221 people living in the city. By 2020, the population was 2,718.
Bushnell Horse Show
Since 1908, Bushnell has been famous for its horse shows. The Truman Pioneer Stud Farm hosted one of the biggest horse shows in the Midwest. These shows were known for featuring beautiful horses brought from Europe.
The Bushnell Horse Show returned in 2004. It is now one of the best shows for draft horses in the region. You can see amazing Belgian and Percheron horses competing there. Teams from many states and even Canada come to show off their horses.
Music in Bushnell
From 1991 to 2012, Bushnell was the home of the Cornerstone Festival. This was one of the largest Christian music and arts festivals in the world. Every year around the 4th of July, about 25,000 people visited the town. They came to see over 300 bands, authors, and artists perform.
The festival was held at the Cornerstone Farm Campgrounds. Local businesses often welcomed festival-goers with signs. Many live albums and videos were recorded in Bushnell because of the festival. The festival's 20th anniversary DVD even included interviews with local Bushnell citizens. The Cornerstone Festival held its last event in 2012.
Education in Bushnell
Bushnell has its own school district, called the Bushnell-Prairie City Community Unit School District 170. Students in Bushnell attend three schools:
- Bushnell-Prairie City Elementary School
- Bushnell-Prairie City Junior High School
- Bushnell-Prairie City High School
All of these schools are located within Bushnell.
Notable People from Bushnell
Many interesting people have come from Bushnell, including:
- Seibert Q. Duntley (1911–1999), a physicist and president of the Optical Society of America.
- Charles Kuhn (1892–1989), a famous cartoonist.
- E. C. Mills (1873–1962), an important educator.
- Earl Sheely (1893–1952), a baseball player who was a first baseman for the Chicago White Sox in the 1920s.
