Kewanee, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
City of Kewanee, Illinois
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| Nickname(s):
Hog Capital of the World
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Location of Kewanee in Henry County, Illinois.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Henry |
| Incorporated | 1854 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.61 sq mi (17.12 km2) |
| • Land | 6.60 sq mi (17.09 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 803 ft (244 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,509 |
| • Density | 1,896.16/sq mi (732.10/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
61443
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| Area code(s) | 309 |
| FIPS code | 17-39727 |
Kewanee is a city in Henry County, Illinois. The name "Kewanee" comes from the Winnebago language. It means "greater prairie chicken," a type of bird that used to live there. In 2020, about 12,509 people lived in Kewanee.
Contents
Exploring Kewanee, Illinois
Where is Kewanee?
Kewanee is located in Henry County, Illinois. It covers about 6.61 square miles (17.12 square kilometers) of land. Only a tiny part of this area is water.
Who Lives in Kewanee?
In 2020, there were 12,509 people living in Kewanee. There were over 5,000 households. About 29% of these households had kids under 18. The average age of people in Kewanee was about 40 years old.
What is Kewanee Known For?
Boiler Industry History
Kewanee was once famous for making large fire-tube boilers. These boilers were used all over the world. The company that made them, Kewanee Boiler Corporation, closed in 2002. However, many boilers made in Kewanee are still in use today. The sports teams at Kewanee High School are even called the "Boilermakers." In 2023, the old boiler factory burned down. A sign now stands there to remember the boiler workers.
Baseball in Kewanee
Kewanee also had minor league baseball teams. The Kewanee Boilermakers played from 1908 to 1913. Later, the Kewanee A's played in 1948 and 1949. They were connected to the Philadelphia Athletics. These teams played at Terminal Park and Northeast Park.
Fun Things to Do in Kewanee
Parks and Recreation
Kewanee has many parks for outdoor activities. You can go boating, camping, or fishing. There are also playgrounds and baseball fields. The Kewanee Park District manages the parks within the city.
Local Festivals
The most popular event in Kewanee is Hog Days. This festival happens every year on Labor Day weekend. It includes a carnival, mud volleyball, and a big parade.
Learning and Education
Kewanee's Schools
Kewanee has two different school districts. This is because the community of Wethersfield used to be a separate town. Even though the towns merged, the school districts stayed separate. Kewanee School District #229 has about 2,015 students. Wethersfield #230 has about 600 students. The two high schools usually have a friendly rivalry in sports.
Kewanee is also home to Black Hawk College-East Campus. This college is well-known for its horse riding (equestrian) program. It also has great livestock judging teams.
Staying Connected in Kewanee
Local Radio Stations
Kewanee has several local radio stations:
- 93.9 KQCJ "Planet 93.9" plays alternative rock music.
- 102.1 W271BL plays "Jack FM" music.
- 102.5 WJRE "HOG Country 102.5" plays country music.
- 104.7 W284CV "Rock2.0" plays rock music.
- 100.1 W282AL and 1450 WKEI play news and talk shows.
Newspapers
You can read local news in the Star Courier newspaper. There is also an online news source called The Kewanee Voice.
Famous People from Kewanee
Many interesting people have come from Kewanee:
- Walter T. Bailey (1882–1941) was the first African-American to graduate from the University of Illinois' School of Architecture.
- Neville Brand (1920-1992) was an actor and a brave soldier in World War II.
- Richard Estes (born 1932) is a famous artist.
- Frederick Dilley Glidden (who wrote as Luke Short) was a Western writer.
- Glenn McDonald (born 1952) played professional basketball for the Boston Celtics.
- Albinus Nance (1848-1911) became the 4th governor of Nebraska.
- Lindsay Stalzer (born 1984) is a professional volleyball player.
- Teresa Sullivan (born 1949) was the president of the University of Virginia.
Getting Around Kewanee
Train Travel
The Kewanee Amtrak station serves daily trains. You can catch the Carl Sandburg and Illinois Zephyr trains there. The current train station was finished in 2012.
See also
In Spanish: Kewanee para niños
