Christopher, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Christopher
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Market Street
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Location of Christopher in Franklin County, Illinois.
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 Christopher
Location in Illinois
Christopher
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Franklin |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.64 sq mi (4.24 km2) |
| • Land | 1.62 sq mi (4.20 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.04 km2) |
| Elevation | 440 ft (130 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,697 |
| • Density | 1,662.76/sq mi (642.13/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62822
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-14286 |
| GNIS feature ID | 406104 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Christopher, Illinois |
| Website | http://www.cityofchristopher.org/ |
Christopher is a small city located in Franklin County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,697 people lived there. It's a friendly place with a history tied to railroads and coal mining.
Contents
History of Christopher
Christopher started in 1879 as a stop along a railroad line. It was named after Christopher Harrison, whose grandfather was an important early settler. A post office opened in the town the very next year. The community grew and officially became a village in 1903, then a city in 1910.
Coal Mining in Christopher
Coal mining was a big part of Christopher's history. In 1906, a coal mine called United Coal Mining Company No. 1 opened nearby. Sadly, there were accidents in the mines. For example, an explosion happened in 1915. This mine was later sold and renamed Old Ben Coal Mine No. 1 in 1916. It eventually closed in 1929. Another mine, Old Ben Coal Corporation's Mine No. 11, also had an explosion in 1917.
Geography of Christopher
Christopher is located in southern Illinois, about 20 miles northeast of a city called Carbondale. You can find it at these coordinates: 37°58′20″N 89°3′10″W / 37.97222°N 89.05278°W.
The city covers a total area of about 1.64 square miles (which is about 4.24 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.62 square miles (4.20 square kilometers), is land. A very small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.04 square kilometers), is water.
People of Christopher (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,825 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,830 | 109.9% | |
| 1930 | 4,244 | 10.8% | |
| 1940 | 3,833 | −9.7% | |
| 1950 | 3,545 | −7.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,854 | −19.5% | |
| 1970 | 2,910 | 2.0% | |
| 1980 | 3,086 | 6.0% | |
| 1990 | 2,774 | −10.1% | |
| 2000 | 2,836 | 2.2% | |
| 2010 | 2,382 | −16.0% | |
| 2020 | 2,697 | 13.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 census, 2,697 people lived in Christopher. There were 1,181 households, which are groups of people living together, and 616 families. The city had about 1,647 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Christopher are White (about 94.66%). There are also people of African American, Native American, and Asian backgrounds, as well as people from two or more races. About 0.93% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 25.2% of the households had children under 18 living with them. Around 33.28% were married couples. Many households (42.85%) were made up of individuals living alone, and about 21.17% of these individuals were 65 years old or older. The average age in Christopher was about 39.1 years.
The average income for a household in Christopher was around $33,184 per year. For families, the average income was about $38,750. About 29.6% of the people in Christopher were living below the poverty line, meaning they faced financial challenges. This included about 35.0% of those under 18 and 26.1% of those 65 or older.
Education in Christopher
Christopher is near several colleges and universities, which offer great opportunities for higher education:
- Rend Lake College
- John A. Logan College
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Notable People from Christopher
Many interesting people have come from Christopher, Illinois:
- Doug Collins – A famous basketball player and coach in the NBA.
- Al Glossop – A professional baseball player who played second base for several teams, including the New York Giants and Chicago Cubs.
- Louie E. Lewis – An important politician who served as Illinois state treasurer and speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives.
- John Malkovich – A well-known actor, producer, and director.
- Gene Rayburn – A popular radio and television personality, famous for hosting the game show Match Game.
See also
In Spanish: Christopher (Illinois) para niños
