Dupo, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dupo
Village
Location of Dupo in St. Clair County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	St. Clair
Area
• Total	6.42 sq mi (16.64 km2)
• Land	6.40 sq mi (16.58 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2)
Elevation	410 ft (120 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,996
• Density	624.08/sq mi (240.96/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	62239
Area code(s)	618
FIPS code	17-21254
GNIS ID	2398759
Wikimedia Commons	Dupo, Illinois

Dupo is a village located in St. Clair County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 3,996 people lived there. The village was first settled around 1750 and became an official village in 1907. Its current name, Dupo, is a shorter version of its original French name, Prairie du Pont, which means "Bridge Prairie".

Where is Dupo?

Dupo is located at coordinates 38°30′57″N 90°12′29″W. It sits in a flat area called the American Bottom, which is a floodplain near the Mississippi River.

The village covers a total area of about 16.64 square kilometers (6.42 square miles). Almost all of this area is land.

A Look Back: Dupo's History

Falling Springs, also known as St. Michael's Bluff, where a Sulpician mission built a mill in the 1700s.

Ancient Times and Early Settlements

Long ago, during the Mississippian period, Dupo was home to several communities with large mounds. These mounds were still standing as late as 1915.

The French village of Prairie du Pont was founded around 1750. People from the nearby town of Cahokia moved there. The village was built near a bridge over what is now called Prairie du Pont Creek. This area was on the first wagon road in Illinois, connecting Cahokia to Kaskaskia. Dupo was chosen because it was a bit higher than Cahokia, offering more protection from floods. A religious group called the Sulpician mission built a mill near the bridge, which helped the town grow. By 1765, fourteen families lived in Prairie du Pont.

The early French village had a special way of owning land. People had private houses in a row. Then there were "common fields" that were fenced together but divided into strips for each family to farm. Finally, there were shared "commons" where everyone could graze their animals. The village even elected a council to take care of the fence around the common fields.

Growing Up: Schools and Railroads

A school district was set up for Prairie du Pont in 1847. However, there wasn't enough money, so a school didn't actually open until 1861.

In the 1880s, Prairie du Pont had about 50 residents.

The modern town of Dupo was planned in 1905 and officially became a village in 1907. It grew because of the Missouri Pacific Railroad switching yards. The railroad company suggested shortening the name from Prairie du Pont to Dupo.

Oil and Train Accidents

In 1928, oil was found in Dupo, leading to a short "oil boom." People even drilled oil wells in their front yards! But this boom didn't last long, and the town's economy went back to relying mostly on the rail yard.

In 1997, the town thought about changing its name back to Prairie du Pont. They hoped this would help them move past their industrial past and attract more visitors. However, the name stayed Dupo.

In 2019, a Union Pacific freight train had an accident at the Dupo Yard. This caused some neighborhoods in Dupo to be evacuated for safety. The accident happened when a long freight train broke in half, and the two parts crashed into each other.

Who Lives in Dupo?

In 2010, there were 4,138 people living in Dupo. The village had 1,650 households. The average number of people in each household was about 2.51.

Learning in Dupo

Dupo is part of the Dupo Community Unit School District. The village has one high school, called Dupo High School.

See also

In Spanish: Dupo para niños