Coal City, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Coal City, Illinois
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Location within counties and Illinois
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Illinois | ||
| County | Grundy, Will | ||
| Townships | Braceville · Felix | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 5.88 sq mi (15.23 km2) | ||
| • Land | 5.77 sq mi (14.94 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 568 ft (173 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,705 | ||
| • Density | 989.25/sq mi (381.94/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP Code(s) |
60416
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| Area code(s) | 815, 779 | ||
| FIPS code | 17-15170 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2398586 | ||
Coal City is a village located in Grundy and Will Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. It's considered a "fringe town" of the Chicago metropolitan area, meaning it's on the edge of the big city's influence. In 2020, about 5,705 people lived there.
Contents
History of Coal City
Coal City became an official village in 1870. It got its name because of the many coal mines nearby. Large amounts of coal were found in the area around 1820, leading to the mines being built.
As time went on, especially during the 1900s, coal mining became less common. The local economy then started to rely more on factories and the building of power plants. Two important power plants nearby are the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant and the Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station.
Tornadoes in Coal City
Coal City has experienced powerful tornadoes.
2013 Tornado
On November 17, 2013, a tornado hit Coal City. It was part of a larger tornado outbreak. This tornado damaged many homes. The National Weather Service said it was an EF2 tornado, with winds reaching 122 miles per hour. It traveled for 12.9 miles, and three people were injured.
2015 Tornado
Another strong tornado struck Coal City on June 22, 2015. This one was an EF3 tornado. It first touched down near Morris, Illinois, before moving into Coal City. It caused a lot of damage, destroying homes and businesses. The National Weather Service reported that the winds reached 160 miles per hour. This made it the strongest tornado in the region since one hit Plainfield, Illinois, in August 1990.
Geography of Coal City
Coal City covers a total area of about 5.88 square miles (15.23 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 5.77 square miles (14.94 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.11 square miles (0.29 square kilometers), is water.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,672 | — | |
| 1900 | 2,607 | 55.9% | |
| 1910 | 2,667 | 2.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,744 | −34.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,637 | −6.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,852 | 13.1% | |
| 1950 | 2,220 | 19.9% | |
| 1960 | 2,852 | 28.5% | |
| 1970 | 3,040 | 6.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,028 | −0.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,907 | 29.0% | |
| 2000 | 4,797 | 22.8% | |
| 2010 | 5,587 | 16.5% | |
| 2020 | 5,705 | 2.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Coal City had a population of 5,705 people. The village has grown quite a bit over the years, as you can see from the table above.
Education in Coal City
Coal City has its own school district, called Unit School District 1. There are five schools and a main office in the district:
- The Coal City Early Childhood Center teaches students from pre-kindergarten to 1st grade.
- The Coal City Elementary School is for 2nd and 3rd graders.
- The Coal City Intermediate School serves students in 4th and 5th grades.
- Coal City Middle School has grades 6 through 8.
- Coal City High School is for students in grades 9 through 12.
The Coal City High School has also had success in sports. Their softball team won the IHSA State Championship in 2010. The football team also won a state championship in 1993.
Transportation
Interstate 55, a major highway, runs through Coal City. In the past, the Santa Fe Railway also had a station in Coal City, providing train service.
Notable People
Some well-known people have lived in Coal City:
- John R. Fronek was a farmer and a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly, which is like the state's law-making group.
- William E. Somerville was an early aviation engineer, a businessman, and even served as mayor of Coal City.
See also
In Spanish: Coal City (Illinois) para niños
