Elsah, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Elsah
Village
Green Tree Inn of Elsah at Mill and Selma Streets, Elsah
Location of Elsah in Jersey County, Illinois.
Location of Jersey County within Illinois
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Jersey
Township	Elsah
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
Area
• Total	1.09 sq mi (2.83 km2)
• Land	1.09 sq mi (2.83 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	495 ft (151 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	519
• Density	475.27/sq mi (183.47/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	62028
Area code(s)	618
FIPS code	17-23776
GNIS feature ID	2398818
Website	http://www.elsah.org/

Elsah is a small and historic village located in Jersey County, Illinois. It's a charming place with a rich past. In 2020, about 519 people lived there. The village is currently led by Mayor Michael Pitchford.

Elsah is also home to Principia College, a special school. It's part of the larger St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area, which means it's connected to the big city of St. Louis.

Geography and Location

Elsah is found at coordinates 38°57′13″N 90°21′17″W. This means it's in the western part of Illinois, close to the Mississippi River. The village covers an area of about 1.09 square miles (2.83 square kilometers), and all of this area is land.

The beautiful Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway runs right through Elsah. This road is famous for its amazing views along the river. Interestingly, Elsah was once considered as a possible location for the Air Force Academy back in 1954!

History of Elsah

Founding and Early Growth

Elsah was founded in 1853 by James Semple. He was a lawyer and a well-known politician who had even served as a United States Senator for Illinois. Semple offered free land lots to anyone who would build houses using stone from his own quarry.

It's thought that he named the village "Elsah" after "Ailsa Craig." This was a rock formation his family saw as they left Scotland to come to the United States. By 1861, the village had grown to its current size. It couldn't expand much more due to its geography and economic limits.

Architecture and Development

Elsah is sometimes called the "New England of the Midwest." However, its buildings are not from the 18th century like in New England. Instead, Elsah's architecture shows styles from the 1800s. These include Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Mansard, Italianate, Saltbox, and Gambrel styles.

The village used to be a very important shipping point. Farmers from Jersey County would send their crops and goods from Elsah. But when the railroad arrived, Elsah's importance for shipping went down. The village became lively again when Principia College was built there in the 1930s.

Eliestoun House

Eliestoun House was designed by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr. It was completed in 1890 and is on the Principia College campus. Photographed in 2014.

The beautiful Eliestoun House was finished in 1890. It was designed by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr.. This house is located on the grounds of Principia College. Its name comes from "'Elliestoun Tower' on Castle Semple Loch" in Scotland. Henry Turner and his wife Ada Ames had the house built. Ada was a descendant of the village's founder, James Semple.

Preserving History

Elsah remained a quiet village until the Great River Road (Illinois Route 100) opened in 1964. The homes in Elsah are privately owned. In 1973, the entire village was recognized for its historical importance. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means its unique character is protected.

However, the village faced a challenge during the Great Flood of 1993. Many buildings in Elsah were damaged by the floodwaters.

Historic Districts

Elsah has several historic areas. The main business area is on LaSalle Street. It goes three blocks from the river and has many stone buildings. Most of its buildings from before 1861 are still standing. This includes four old taverns.

There are also two residential areas on Mill Street. The larger one has three blocks of stone and brick houses. The smaller section has one block of Greek Revival style homes.

Elsah Today

Today, Elsah is a popular spot for visitors. Many people come in the fall and winter to watch bald eagles nearby. The village is also a great stop for bicyclists. It's located on the Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail, which is part of the Great River Road.

Population Information

In 2000, there were 635 people living in Elsah. The population density was about 598 people per square mile. Most of the people living in Elsah were White (90.08%). There were also smaller percentages of African American, Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander residents. About 3.31% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

The average household in Elsah had about 2 people. The median age in the village was 21 years old. This is because many young people attend Principia College.

Education in Elsah

Principia College Chapel

The local school district for Elsah is the Southwestern Community Unit School District 9.

Elsah is well-known for Principia College. This is a four-year private college for students who are Christian Scientists. The college campus itself is very special. It's called the Principia College Historic District. In 1993, it was named a National Historic Landmark and also added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as a very important historical site.

Notable People from Elsah

• Robert Duvall: A famous actor who has won an Academy Award. He studied at Principia College in Elsah.
• Herbert G. Giberson: An Illinois state senator and businessman.
• James Semple: The founder of Elsah. He was also a United States Senator from Illinois and a diplomat.

See also

In Spanish: Elsah para niños