Gorham, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gorham, Illinois
Village
U.S. Post Office in Gorham
Location of Gorham in Jackson County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Jackson
Township	Sand Ridge
Area
• Total	1.23 sq mi (3.19 km2)
• Land	1.22 sq mi (3.16 km2)
• Water	0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation	364 ft (111 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	173
• Density	141.92/sq mi (54.78/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	62940
Area code(s)	618
FIPS code	17-30588
GNIS feature ID	2398182
Wikimedia Commons	Gorham, Illinois

Gorham is a small village located in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 173 people lived there. Gorham is well-known locally because it was almost completely destroyed by the very powerful 1925 Tri-State tornado.

Geography of Gorham

Gorham is located at 37°43′1″N 89°29′9″W / 37.71694°N 89.48583°W / 37.71694; -89.48583. This means it's in the southern part of Illinois.

Land and Water Area

The village covers an area of about 1.23 square miles (3.19 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.22 square miles (3.16 square kilometers), is land. A very small part, about 0.01 square miles (0.03 square kilometers), is water.

Location and Flooding Risk

Gorham sits in the middle of the Mississippi River floodplain. This area has very rich soil, which is great for farming. The village is in a low-lying part of the floodplain called the "Bottoms." Because of its low elevation, Gorham can be at risk of flooding. It was threatened by big floods in 1993 and again in 2016.

The Tri-State Tornado of 1925

On March 18, 1925, a very strong tornado, part of the Tri-State Tornado, hit Gorham at 2:26 PM. The tornado caused terrible damage. Out of 80 houses in the village, 60 were completely destroyed, and the other 20 were damaged. The train station and all the stores were also ruined. Only the first floor of the school building was left standing. Sadly, 34 people in Gorham lost their lives in this tornado.

Fountain Bluff and Ancient Art

Less than a mile south of Gorham is a large hill called Fountain Bluff. Even though it's not super famous, its rocky sides sometimes attract people who like to go rock climbing. On the north side of this bluff, you can find ancient petroglyphs. These are pictures carved into the rocks by Native Americans long ago.

Population and People in Gorham

Population Changes Over Time

The population of Gorham has changed quite a bit over the years. In 1910, there were 392 people. The population grew until 1940, when it reached 595. Since then, the number of people living in Gorham has generally decreased. In 2020, the population was 173.

Households and Families

According to the 2020 census, there were 173 people living in Gorham, making up 78 households and 57 families. The population density was about 140 people per square mile (54 people per square kilometer).

In these households, about 35.9% had children under 18 living with them. About 43.59% were married couples. Some households (23.08%) were led by a female without a husband present. About 23.08% of all households were individuals living alone.

Age Distribution

The people in Gorham have different ages. About 34.2% of the population was under 18 years old. About 8.7% were 65 years old or older. The average age in the village was 24.7 years.

Income Information

In 2020, the average income for a household in Gorham was $27,188. For families, the average income was $38,125. Some families and individuals in the village had lower incomes.

Notable Person from Gorham

• Joe Grace (1914–1969) was a professional baseball player. He played as an outfielder for the St. Louis Browns and the Washington Senators.

See also

In Spanish: Gorham (Illinois) para niños