Dix, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dix, Illinois
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Location of Dix in Jefferson County, Illinois
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jefferson |
| Township | Rome |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.08 sq mi (5.40 km2) |
| • Land | 2.07 sq mi (5.37 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 587 ft (179 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 469 |
| • Density | 226.13/sq mi (87.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62830
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-20123 |
| GNIS ID | 2398729 |
| Public Transit | South Central Transit |
| Wikimedia Commons | Dix, Illinois |
Dix is a small village located in Jefferson County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2010, about 461 people lived there. It is part of the wider Mount Vernon area.
Contents
Exploring Dix: Location and Landscape
Dix is found in the northern part of Jefferson County. It is about 9 miles (14 km) north of Mount Vernon, which is the county seat. You can reach Dix using Illinois Route 37, which runs through the village.
Highways and Roads in Dix
Interstate 57, a major highway, goes through the western side of Dix. You can get on or off I-57 at Exit 103. This highway connects Dix to other cities. It goes south to Mount Vernon and north towards Effingham.
Rivers and Creeks Near Dix
Dix is built on high ground. This land acts as a natural border between two important waterways. One is the Big Muddy River. The other is Casey Creek, which flows into the Big Muddy River.
Dix's Historical Location
When Dix was first settled, it was on the Goshen Road. This was a very important road for travel between the eastern and western parts of Illinois. It connected Old Shawneetown on the Ohio River to areas near East St. Louis on the Mississippi River.
The Story of Dix: From Rome to Dix
The first settlers in the Dix area arrived around 1830. They were two brothers named Andrews, possibly Arba and Nelson. They came from a town called Rome in New York. One of the brothers started a post office named "Jordan's Prairie." This name came from the grassy area to the south. Later, he planned out a village and called it "Rome," after his hometown. The post office moved into the village in 1852, and its name also changed.
Early Buildings and Businesses
Hiram Milburn moved to Rome between 1853 and 1855. He built a storehouse in 1853. In 1854, he started building a hotel. There's a story that a strong wind blew the hotel down while it was being built, but luckily, no one was hurt. In 1855, Milburn bought Leuty's Mill and moved it to Rome.
Why the Name Changed to Dix
Even though the area is still called Rome Township, the village's post office name changed to "Dix" in 1865. This happened because there was another town named Rome, Illinois in the state. The Postal Service needed a unique name for this village. The community officially became the village of Rome in 1873. However, the village's name was not legally changed to Dix until the 1960s.
The Mystery Behind the Name "Dix"
There are a few ideas about where the name "Dix" came from. One popular story is that the town was renamed to honor General John Adams Dix. During the start of the Civil War, General Dix sent a famous message. He told his agents in New Orleans: "If any man pulls down the American flag, shoot him on the spot." Even though the message was stopped by Confederate agents and never reached its destination, the words became known through newspapers. This made General Dix a hero in the North.
Railroad Connections
Dix is also served by the Norfolk Southern Railway. This train line was built around 1890. It comes from the St. Louis area and then turns southeast at Dix. It follows the west side of Casey Creek down to Mount Vernon.
People of Dix: Population and Community
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 153 | — | |
| 1890 | 186 | 21.6% | |
| 1900 | 229 | 23.1% | |
| 1910 | 233 | 1.7% | |
| 1920 | 216 | −7.3% | |
| 1930 | 189 | −12.5% | |
| 1940 | 246 | 30.2% | |
| 1950 | 190 | −22.8% | |
| 1960 | 181 | −4.7% | |
| 1970 | 167 | −7.7% | |
| 1980 | 319 | 91.0% | |
| 1990 | 456 | 42.9% | |
| 2000 | 494 | 8.3% | |
| 2010 | 461 | −6.7% | |
| 2020 | 469 | 1.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, about 494 people lived in Dix. There were 274 households, which are groups of people living together. Most of the people in the village were White. A small number were African American or Asian.
Households and Families
About 17% of households had children under 18 living with them. About 34% were married couples. Many households, around 55%, were made up of single individuals. About 36% of households had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
Age Groups in Dix
The population in Dix has different age groups. About 18% of the people were under 18. About 32% were 65 years old or older. The average age in the village was 50 years old.
Famous People from Dix
Some notable people have connections to Dix:
- George Corbett was a running back for the Chicago Bears football team from 1932 to 1938.
- Chuck Riley served as an Oregon State Senator.
- Keith Stroup is an activist who founded NORML.
See also
In Spanish: Dix (Illinois) para niños
