Hudson, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Hudson, Illinois
Village
Location in McLean County, Illinois
Hudson, Illinois Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	McLean
Township	Hudson
Area
• Total	0.82 sq mi (2.12 km2)
• Land	0.82 sq mi (2.12 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	764 ft (233 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,753
• Density	2,140.42/sq mi (826.32/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	61748
Area code(s)	309
FIPS code	17-36438
GNIS ID	2398555
Wikimedia Commons	Hudson, Illinois

Hudson is a small village located in McLean County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 1,753 people lived there. Hudson is part of the larger Bloomington and Normal area, which is a big group of towns and cities.

Exploring Hudson's Location

Hudson is found in the northwest part of McLean County. You can find it at these coordinates: 40°36′21″N 88°59′14″W / 40.605723°N 88.987117°W / 40.605723; -88.987117.

Highways and Nearby Towns

Interstate 39 runs along the western edge of the village. You can get to Hudson from Exit 5 on I-39. This highway goes south about 5 miles (8 km) to Normal. It also goes north about 9 miles (14 km) to El Paso.

Size of the Village

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hudson covers a total area of about 0.82 square miles (2.12 square kilometers). All of this area is land.

Hudson's Past: A Look Back

How Hudson Started and Got its Name

Hudson was first planned out by Horatio Petit on August 13, 1836. It was one of eight towns created in McLean County during a time when many people were buying land. This happened between 1835 and 1837.

People used to think the town was named after Hudson, New York. They believed early settlers came from there. However, a book by Ruth Biting Hamm says that while some settlers were from New York, none were from near Hudson, New York. She thinks the town was probably named after the famous Hudson River instead.

The Illinois Land Association's Plan

The Illinois Land Association created Hudson as a "colony." In the 1830s, it was popular for groups of people to form colonies. Instead of moving alone, people would join together and pool their money. They would then choose a large piece of land to divide among themselves.

This group formed in February 1836 in Jacksonville. Each person gave $235. In return, they received different types of property. This included three lots in the main town and one "out lot" (a larger lot outside the main town). They also got 160 acres (0.65 km²) of farmland and 20 acres (0.08 km²) of timber land. The timber was for building fences, getting firewood, and making homes.

Original Town Layout

The 1836 plan for Hudson was quite interesting. Most towns in central Illinois back then were built around a central public square. But Hudson did not have one.

Hudson also had "in lots" and "out lots." The "in lots" were the main part of Hudson, like regular town blocks. These were surrounded by "out lots," which were a bit larger but still part of the original plan. This idea of "in" and "out" lots came from New England. Farmers there liked to keep their animals close to the town center.

Broadway was planned as Hudson's main street. It was 120 feet (37 m) wide, much wider than other streets, which were 80 feet (24 m) wide. Over time, both "in lots" and "out lots" became places for homes.

How Hudson Grew Over Time

After it was founded, Hudson faced some tough times. In 1837, the land market became difficult, and fewer people moved there. Illinois went into a deep economic downturn. The organizers found it hard to buy enough timber land for everyone. Most settlers only received 2.5 acres (0.01 km²), which was not enough.

Not as many settlers arrived as expected, only about twenty families. They did build some strong wooden houses. There was a school and two churches nearby, but not much business.

Everything changed in 1854 when the Illinois Central Railroad was built just west of Hudson. More businesses opened, and many empty lots were bought. A new shopping area grew along the "out-lots" facing the railroad.

Some old traditions continued. Hudson once had a "village herdsman." His job was to gather cattle from the town at 6:00 AM and take them to pastures outside the town. Amazingly, this job lasted until 1913!

Continued Growth and Modern Times

The arrival of the railroad helped Hudson become a successful town. The land around Hudson was very fertile for farming. Farmers grew corn and oats and raised a lot of livestock. In the 1850s and 1860s, many new settlers arrived.

Later, soybean crops replaced oats, but the soil remained very rich. Hudson grew slowly but steadily. In 1873, the town officially became a village. Telephone service came in 1883, and electric lights were installed in 1912. A new town hall was built in 1916.

In recent times, Hudson has become a popular place to live. This is because it is close to the larger cities of Bloomington and Normal. In 1992, Interstate 39 was finished. This highway connected Hudson to El Paso and Normal, making travel easier.

Population Changes in Hudson

The population of Hudson has changed quite a bit over the years. In 1880, there were 276 people living in the village. By 1900, the population had grown to 378.

The number of people living in Hudson continued to grow, especially in the later part of the 20th century. By 2000, there were 1,510 residents. In 2010, the population reached 1,838. The most recent count in 2020 showed 1,753 people living in Hudson.

Famous People from Hudson

Some notable people have connections to Hudson:

• Ben Corbett (1892-1961), a film actor known for Western movies; he was born in Hudson.
• Elbert Hubbard (1856–1915), famous for his essay "A Message of Garcia." He also started the Roycroft community. He grew up in Hudson and sadly died when the ship RMS Lusitania sank.
• Melville Elijah Stone (1848–1929), a journalist who owned the Chicago Daily News. He was also the general manager of the Associated Press from 1893 to 1918.

See also

In Spanish: Hudson (Illinois) para niños