Ellsworth, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ellsworth, Illinois
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Location in McLean County, Illinois
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 Ellsworth, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | McLean |
| Township | Dawson |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2) |
| • Land | 0.22 sq mi (0.56 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 866 ft (264 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 184 |
| • Density | 847.93/sq mi (327.71/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code |
61737
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| Area code(s) | 309 |
| FIPS code | 17-23555 |
| GNIS ID | 2398811 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Ellsworth, Illinois |
| Website | https://www.villageofellsworthil.com/ |
Ellsworth is a small village located in McLean County, Illinois, United States. It is part of Dawson Township. In 2020, about 184 people lived there. Ellsworth is also part of the larger Bloomington–Normal area.
Contents
Ellsworth's Location and Size
Ellsworth is in the eastern part of McLean County. It is about 16 miles (26 km) east of Bloomington, which is the main city of the county. The village is also about 9 miles (14 km) north-northeast of Le Roy.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Ellsworth covers a total area of 0.22 square miles (0.56 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
The Story of Ellsworth: How it Began
Founding and Early Plans
Ellsworth was officially started on December 6, 1871. Three important people helped create it: Jonathan H. Cheney, Almon Brigham Ives, and Oliver Ellsworth. The town was named after Oliver Ellsworth.
Jonathan H. Cheney's family was important in McLean County. His brother, Haines Cheney, helped get a special permission for the Lafayette Bloomington and Mississippi Railroad to be built. Jonathan and Almon B. Ives were on the railroad's board of directors. Construction on this railroad began in 1869.
The new town was planned to be 40 acres (16 hectares) on each side of the railroad tracks. Ellsworth's design was very similar to a nearby town called Arrowsmith. The railroad tracks cut through the town, dividing it into two almost equal parts. Most of the early shops and businesses were on Main Street, south of the tracks.
Selling Lots at an Auction
In November 1871, an advertisement was placed in a local newspaper. It announced that 150 lots in the new town would be sold at an auction on November 8. The ad said the land around Ellsworth was very fertile. It also highlighted that the new town would be a great place for shipping grain.
People were told that grain shipped from Ellsworth would go through Toledo, Ohio, avoiding "grain scalpers" in Chicago. A free train took interested people from Bloomington to the new town site. There was also free food and beer for everyone! About 200 people came to the auction. The first lot was bought by A. J. Wampler. Most lots sold for about forty to sixty-five dollars.
How Ellsworth Grew Over Time
Many local business owners moved to the new town. John Campbell moved his store from Stumptown, which was about 4 miles (6 km) south of Ellsworth. Soon after, Stumptown was completely empty. Edwards and Wampler also moved their store to Ellsworth and quickly became very busy. Wampler became the first postmaster of the town.
In 1873, Henry Vandervoort and Joseph Pierce opened a hardware store. August Flint had a shop where he made wagons. The people who founded the town even gave a good piece of land for a church to be built. Regular train service for goods began in 1872. Many new houses were built, and grain was bought and shipped from the town. After a quick growth period, the population soon went over 200 people, but then its growth slowed down.
Ellsworth's Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 168 | — | |
| 1930 | 261 | — | |
| 1940 | 255 | −2.3% | |
| 1950 | 199 | −22.0% | |
| 1960 | 224 | 12.6% | |
| 1970 | 259 | 15.6% | |
| 1980 | 244 | −5.8% | |
| 1990 | 224 | −8.2% | |
| 2000 | 271 | 21.0% | |
| 2010 | 195 | −28.0% | |
| 2020 | 184 | −5.6% | |
| Decennial US Census | |||
In 2000, the village of Ellsworth had 271 people living in it. There were 92 households, and 72 of them were families. The average number of people in each household was about 2.95.
About 44.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (70.7%) were married couples. About 19.6% of all households were single people living alone.
The population was spread out by age. About 31.7% of the people were under 18 years old. The median age in the village was 33 years. For every 100 females, there were about 93.6 males.
The average income for a household in the village was $45,714. For families, the average income was $53,333.
See also
In Spanish: Ellsworth (Illinois) para niños
