Effingham, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Effingham, Illinois
City
The Old Effingham County Courthouse in the mid-2000s.
Motto(s):  "Crossroads of Opportunity"
Location of Effingham in Effingham County, Illinois
Effingham, Illinois Location in Illinois Show map of Illinois Effingham, Illinois Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Effingham
Area
• Total	10.55 sq mi (27.34 km2)
• Land	10.48 sq mi (27.16 km2)
• Water	0.07 sq mi (0.18 km2)
Elevation	594 ft (181 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	12,252
• Density	1,168.53/sq mi (451.16/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	62401
Area codes	217, 447
FIPS code	17-22736
GNIS ID	2394628
Wikimedia Commons	Effingham, Illinois

Effingham is a city in Illinois, United States. It is the main city, or county seat, of Effingham County, Illinois. The city is located in the central part of southern Illinois. In 2020, about 12,252 people lived there.

Effingham is known as "The Crossroads of Opportunity." This is because two big highways meet there: I-57 and I-70. I-57 goes from Chicago to Missouri, and I-70 crosses the country from Utah to Maryland. Other important roads like U.S. Route 45 and U.S. Route 40 also pass through. It is also a major spot where different railroad lines cross. Because of all these connections, Effingham has many places to eat and stay.

Effingham's Location and Roads

Effingham is located at coordinates 39.120903° N and 88.545909° W. It covers about 10.56 square miles (27.34 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.

The city is served by five highways, including the two major Interstates. Interstate 57 enters Effingham County near Edgewood. It then meets Interstate 70 at a special interchange. I-57 and I-70 run together for a short distance through the city. After this, I-70 heads east towards Indianapolis, and I-57 continues north towards Chicago.

People of Effingham

In 2020, Effingham had a population of 12,252 people. There were over 5,200 households in the city. About 28% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The city is home to people from many different backgrounds.

History of Effingham

Effingham was first settled in 1814. It was called Broughton until 1859. That year, it became the county seat, meaning it became the main city for the county. The community was named after General E. Effingham, who was a local surveyor.

In the late 1800s, a school called Austin College was started here. Later, it became the Illinois College of Photography. This school taught people how to take pictures. It closed during the Great Depression in the 1930s.

A sad event happened on April 4, 1949. St. Anthony's Hospital caught fire and was destroyed. This tragic event led to big improvements in fire codes across the country. People from all over the United States and other countries sent donations to help rebuild the hospital.

Train Travel in Effingham

Effingham is an important place for trains. Historically, two major train lines crossed in downtown Effingham. These were the old Pennsylvania Railroad and the former Illinois Central Railroad.

Today, the old Illinois Central line is run by Canadian National. The former Pennsylvania Railroad line is now operated by CSX.

Amtrak, which is the national passenger train system, serves Effingham. You can take trains like the City of New Orleans to Chicago or New Orleans. Other trains, the Saluki and Illini, also connect Effingham to Chicago and Carbondale.

Schools in Effingham

Effingham has several schools for students of all ages. There are both public and private schools.

• Private Schools:

* Saint Anthony Grade School (SAGS) teaches students from preschool to eighth grade. Their mascot is the Bullpup. * Sacred Heart Grade School (SHS) also serves students from preschool to eighth grade. Their mascot is the Shamrock. * St. Anthony High School is a private Roman Catholic high school. Their sports teams are called the Bulldogs.

• Public Schools:

* The Early Learning Center is for preschool and kindergarten children. * South Side Elementary teaches first and second graders. * Central Grade School is for students in third through fifth grade. Their mascot is the Mustang. * Effingham Junior High School (EJHS) serves students in sixth to eighth grade. Their mascot is also the Mustang. * Effingham High School (EHS) is the public high school. It opened a new building in 1998. The old high school building is now the junior high. EHS sports teams are known as the Flaming Hearts.

The Cross Monument

The Cross at the Crossroads in Effingham

Effingham is home to a very large monument called The Cross at the Crossroads. It is a huge steel cross that stands 198 feet (60 meters) tall. It was built by the Cross Foundation and opened in 2001. The cross weighs over 180 tons and cost more than $1 million to build. It is said to be one of the largest crosses in the United States.

Famous People from Effingham

Many interesting people have connections to Effingham:

• George J. Bauer – An Illinois state representative.
• Jack Berch – A singer and radio personality who grew up in Effingham.
• Uwe Blab – A basketball player who played for NBA teams like the Dallas Mavericks. He went to high school in Effingham.
• Nick Gardewine – A pitcher for the Texas Rangers baseball team. He graduated from Effingham High School.
• Chad Green – Another pitcher for the New York Yankees baseball team. He also graduated from Effingham High School.
• Ada Kepley – The first American woman to graduate from law school!
• Jimmy Kite – A race car driver in IndyCar and NASCAR.
• Brian Shouse – A left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.
• Daniel Winkler – A pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. He was born and raised in Effingham.

See also

In Spanish: Effingham (Illinois) para niños