Girard, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Girard, Illinois
City
Location in Macoupin County, Illinois
Girard, Illinois Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Macoupin
Township	Girard
Area
• Total	0.93 sq mi (2.42 km2)
• Land	0.93 sq mi (2.42 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	669 ft (204 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,785
• Density	1,911.13/sq mi (737.91/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	62640
Area code(s)	217
FIPS code	17-29392
GNIS feature ID	2394904
Wikimedia Commons	Girard, Illinois

Girard is a small city located in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 1,785 people lived there. This was a bit less than the 2,103 people who lived there in 2010.

Discovering Girard's Past

Girard got its name from a person named Stephen Girard. When the town officially became a city, it also became its own separate area. This means it was no longer part of Girard Township, which is the area around it.

Girard's Location and Landscape

Girard is in the northeastern part of Macoupin County. You can find it at these coordinates: 39°26′45″N 89°46′53″W / 39.44583°N 89.78139°W / 39.44583; -89.78139.

Roads and Travel

Illinois Route 4 is a main road that goes right through the middle of Girard. It's known as Third Street in town. If you drive southwest on this road for about 14 miles (23 km), you'll reach Carlinville. This is the main city for the county. If you go north-northeast for about 26 miles (42 km), you'll arrive in Springfield, which is the capital city of Illinois.

Land and Water

The city of Girard covers about 0.93 square miles (2.42 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits. Water from Girard flows west into small streams that lead to the East Fork of Otter Creek. This creek eventually flows into Macoupin Creek, which then joins the Illinois River. There are also two lakes nearby: Sunset Lake is about 4 miles (6 km) west, and Otter Lake is about 6 miles (10 km) west of Girard.

Population Changes Over Time

The number of people living in Girard has changed quite a bit over the years. Here's a look at how the population has grown and shrunk:

In 2000, there were 2,245 people living in Girard. Most of the people living there were White. A small number of people were African American, Native American, or Asian. Some people were also from other races or a mix of two or more races. About 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

Households and Families

In 2000, there were 864 households in Girard. About 34% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Many households were married couples living together. Some households had a female head without a husband. About 28% of households were made up of single individuals.

Age Groups

The people in Girard are of different ages. About 26.5% of the population was under 18 years old. About 8.5% were between 18 and 24 years old. The largest group, about 28.6%, was between 25 and 44 years old. The median age in the city was 36 years old.

Fun and Recreation

Girard is located at the southern end of the Sangamon Valley Trail. This trail is a great place for outdoor activities like walking, running, and biking. It offers a chance to enjoy nature and get some exercise.

Famous People From Girard

Some notable people have connections to Girard:

• Hardin B. Cloud was a farmer and merchant who also served as a state legislator in Iowa. He was born in Girard.
• Charlotte Pierce was a silent film actress. She was also born in Girard.
• Fountain L. Thompson was a U.S. senator for North Dakota in the early 1900s. He grew up in Girard.

See also

In Spanish: Girard (Illinois) para niños