Grand Tower, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Grand Tower, Illinois
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Front Street
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Location of Grand Tower in Jackson County, Illinois
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jackson |
| Township | Grand Tower |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.25 sq mi (3.24 km2) |
| • Land | 1.25 sq mi (3.23 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 358 ft (109 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 479 |
| • Density | 383.81/sq mi (148.16/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
62942
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-30770 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394955 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Grand Tower, Illinois |
Grand Tower is a city in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 479 people lived there. The city gets its name from Tower Rock. This is a special island in the Mississippi River.
Contents
History of Grand Tower
Grand Tower has had many names over time. Some of its old names include La Tour, Jenkins Landing, Cochran's Woodyard Landing, and Evans' Landing.
Early Settlers
The first people to settle here were a group of river pirates. They came after being forced away from land west of the Mississippi River. This area was a good place for them to hide near Tower Rock. The United States Army dragoons destroyed this settlement in 1803. Later, a man named Walker settled here. Walker Hill is named after him.
Major Flooding
In 1947, the town experienced a very bad flood. The rising waters of the Mississippi River caused a lot of damage.
Geography and Location
Grand Tower is in the southwest part of Jackson County. The Mississippi River runs along its western side. This river forms the border between Missouri and Illinois. The northern edge of the city is next to Shawnee National Forest.
Roads and Bridges
Illinois Route 3 goes through the eastern part of Grand Tower. If you go north, it's about 32 miles (51 km) to Chester. There, the Chester Bridge crosses the Mississippi. If you go south, it's about 25 miles (40 km) to Illinois Route 146. This road crosses the Mississippi to Cape Girardeau, Missouri. There are no other road bridges closer to Grand Tower.
Land and Water
Grand Tower covers about 1.25 square miles (3.24 km2) of land. A very small part, about 0.00 square miles (0.00 km2), is water.
Just south of Grand Tower is a small part of Perry County, Missouri. This area is called "Grand Tower Island". The only road to this island ends in Grand Tower. The Grand Tower Pipeline Bridge carries a natural gas pipeline. It crosses the Mississippi River between Wittenberg, Missouri and Grand Tower.
Economy and Power
The Grand Tower Energy Center is a large power plant. It creates 478 megawatts of electricity. This plant uses natural gas to make power for the area. Ameren Energy Generating Company owns it.
Community Life
Grand Tower is a small community with several important services.
Local Services
A local post office with the ZIP code 62942 handles mail. There are four churches in the city. These include the First United Presbyterian Church and the Grand Tower United Methodist Church. The First Baptist Church and Light House Christian Assembly Church also offer religious services.
Protecting the Town
Large walls called levees protect the community. They keep the Mississippi River from flooding the town when water levels are high.
Parks and Recreation
Devil's Backbone Park is a popular spot. It's named after a limestone ridge that made the river narrow. This narrow spot was once easy for river pirates to attack boats. Today, the park offers RV camping, playgrounds, and picnic areas. It also has a shower house for visitors.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 966 | — | |
| 1890 | 624 | −35.4% | |
| 1900 | 881 | 41.2% | |
| 1910 | 873 | −0.9% | |
| 1920 | 750 | −14.1% | |
| 1930 | 953 | 27.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,043 | 9.4% | |
| 1950 | 963 | −7.7% | |
| 1960 | 847 | −12.0% | |
| 1970 | 664 | −21.6% | |
| 1980 | 748 | 12.7% | |
| 1990 | 775 | 3.6% | |
| 2000 | 624 | −19.5% | |
| 2010 | 605 | −3.0% | |
| 2020 | 479 | −20.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Grand Tower had 479 residents. There were 220 households in the city. About 27% of households had children under 18. The average age of people living in Grand Tower was about 36 years old.
Notable People
- Christine Brewer, a famous opera singer
- Ike Morgan, an illustrator
Images for kids
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United Methodist Church
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First United Presbyterian Church
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Grand Tower Energy Center
See also
In Spanish: Grand Tower (Illinois) para niños
