Cerro Gordo, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cerro Gordo
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Location of Cerro Gordo in Piatt County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| County | Piatt |
| Township | Cerro Gordo |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.73 sq mi (1.89 km2) |
| • Land | 0.73 sq mi (1.89 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 738 ft (225 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,316 |
| • Density | 1,805.21/sq mi (697.23/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
61818
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-12268 |
| GNIS ID | 2397594 |
Cerro Gordo, also known as Fat Hill, is a small town in Piatt County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 1,316 people lived there.
Contents
Geography
Cerro Gordo covers an area of about 0.77 square miles (1.99 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
History of Cerro Gordo
How Cerro Gordo Got Its Name
The town of Cerro Gordo got its name from a famous battle. This battle took place in Mexico during the Mexican–American War. A general named John S. Williams led his troops to victory there. After this win, he was often called "Cerro Gordo" Williams.
Around 1855, people from a nearby town called Griswold decided to move their homes. They wanted to be closer to the new Great Western Railroad line. General Williams was one of the people who moved. Since other citizens had also fought in the Battle of Cerro Gordo, they chose to name their new town after it.
Famous Inventor from Cerro Gordo
Cerro Gordo is also the birthplace of Charlie Taylor. He was an amazing inventor and mechanic. Charlie Taylor built the engine for the very first successful airplane flight. This famous flight was made by the Wright Brothers in 1903.
Population of Cerro Gordo
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 565 | — | |
| 1890 | 939 | 66.2% | |
| 1900 | 1,008 | 7.3% | |
| 1910 | 876 | −13.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,003 | 14.5% | |
| 1930 | 965 | −3.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,016 | 5.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,052 | 3.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,067 | 1.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,368 | 28.2% | |
| 1980 | 1,553 | 13.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,437 | −7.5% | |
| 2000 | 1,436 | −0.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,403 | −2.3% | |
| 2020 | 1,316 | −6.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,436 people living in Cerro Gordo. There were 560 households, which are groups of people living together. About 27.8% of the people were under 18 years old. The average age of people in the village was 37 years.
Notable Residents
- Fern Coppedge was an American painter born in Cerro Gordo. She was known for her impressionist style.
- David W. Tucker is a musician and educator. He directed the University of California Jazz Ensembles.
- Charles (Charlie) Edward Taylor was the first aircraft mechanic. He was born in Cerro Gordo.
Gallery
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"The Jack"
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A historical marker
See also
In Spanish: Cerro Gordo (Illinois) para niños
