Griggsville, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Griggsville
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| Town of Griggsville Illinois | |
Downtown Griggsville
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| Motto(s):
The Bird City
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Location of Griggsville in Pike County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Pike |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.11 sq mi (2.86 km2) |
| • Land | 1.11 sq mi (2.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 705 ft (215 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,097 |
| • Density | 991.86/sq mi (383.09/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62340
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| FIPS code | 17-31771 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2394251 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Griggsville, Illinois |
| Website | http://www.griggsville-il.org/ |
Griggsville is a small town located in Pike County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,097 people lived there. This town is famous for its unique way of attracting birds to help with mosquitoes!
Contents
Exploring Griggsville's Location
Griggsville is found in the northeastern part of Pike County. It's about four miles west of the Illinois River. The town of Pittsfield is also nearby, about seven miles southwest.
How Big is Griggsville?
According to information from 2010, Griggsville covers a total area of about 1.08 square miles (2.8 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Griggsville's History
Griggsville was named after its founder, Richard Griggs. He was the person who started the town.
- Images of Early Griggsville
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Griggsville Square around 1900
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Ayres & Lombard Bank & Store
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Weagley Hotel
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Griggsville Academy
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Griggsville in 1907
People of Griggsville
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 585 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,456 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,515 | 4.1% | |
| 1890 | 1,400 | −7.6% | |
| 1900 | 1,404 | 0.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,262 | −10.1% | |
| 1920 | 1,343 | 6.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,184 | −11.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,266 | 6.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,199 | −5.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,240 | 3.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,245 | 0.4% | |
| 1980 | 1,301 | 4.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,218 | −6.4% | |
| 2000 | 1,258 | 3.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,226 | −2.5% | |
| 2020 | 1,097 | −10.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 1,258 people living in Griggsville. They lived in 500 households, and 360 of these were families. The town had about 1,215 people per square mile.
Who Lives in Griggsville?
- About 36.2% of households had children under 18 living with them.
- Most households (58.2%) were married couples.
- About 10.2% were led by a single mother.
- Roughly 24.2% of households were individuals living alone.
- About 12.0% of households had someone aged 65 or older living by themselves.
- The average household had 2.49 people.
- The average family had 2.92 people.
Age and Income in Griggsville
- About 27.9% of the population was under 18 years old.
- About 16.5% of the population was 65 years or older.
- The average age in Griggsville was 37 years.
- For every 100 females, there were about 92.6 males.
- The average income for a household was $31,875.
- For families, the average income was $36,071.
Fun Events in Griggsville
Griggsville hosts two exciting annual events:
- The Apple Festival takes place every September on the third weekend.
- The Western Illinois Fair is held during the third week of June. This fair is very old! It has been happening every year since 1888, making it the longest-running local fair in Illinois.
Purple Martins: Griggsville's Special Birds
Griggsville is located between the Mississippi River and the Illinois River. This area can get very hot and humid in the summer, which is perfect for mosquitoes. To deal with mosquitoes without using harmful chemicals, the town found a clever solution!
J.L. Wade, a local resident, owned a factory that made antennas. He realized that Griggsville was on the migration path of purple martins. These birds are the largest members of the swallow family. They are known to eat thousands of mosquitoes every day!
J.L. Wade decided to help the purple martins stay in Griggsville. He changed his antenna factory into a birdhouse factory. He built many birdhouses for the birds. This helped reduce the mosquito population in the town. Because of this, Griggsville became known as "The Purple Martin Capital of the Nation." They even called the purple martin "America's Most Wanted Bird."
Wade's birdhouse business, once called Trio Manufacturing, also published a newsletter about nature. Griggsville has placed over 5,000 birdhouses along its streets. One special birdhouse, built in 1962, is like a "high-rise apartment" for birds. It's 70 feet tall and has 562 "apartments" for purple martins!
Famous People from Griggsville
- Lew Hitch: A basketball player who played for the Minneapolis Lakers from 1951 to 1957.
Places to Visit in Griggsville
- The Purple Martin High-Rise: This tall birdhouse is a unique sight in central Griggsville, located on Illinois Route 107.
- Ray Norbut State Fish and Wildlife Area: A great place for outdoor activities like fishing and enjoying nature.
- Griggsville Historic District: An area where you can see historic buildings and learn about the town's past.
- Lighthouse Baptist Church: This church is the oldest church in Pike County that has been continuously operating.
See also
In Spanish: Griggsville (Illinois) para niños
