Le Roy, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Le Roy
City
Downtown Le Roy, Illinois
Motto(s):  "Creating our past by investing in our future"
Location of Le Roy in McLean County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	McLean
Township	Empire
Government
• Type	Mayor and council, with a full-time city administrator.
Area
• Total	2.42 sq mi (6.27 km2)
• Land	2.40 sq mi (6.23 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	781 ft (238 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,512
• Density	1,460.90/sq mi (564.07/km2)
Demonym(s)	Le Royan
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	61752
Area code(s)	309
FIPS code	17-42971
GNIS ID	2395656
Wikimedia Commons	Le Roy, Illinois

Le Roy (sometimes spelled "LeRoy") is a city located in McLean County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 3,512 people lived there.

Where is Le Roy Located?

Le Roy is found at coordinates 40°20′50″N 88°45′44″W / 40.34722°N 88.76222°W / 40.34722; -88.76222.

The city covers a total area of about 2.34 square miles (6.06 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.32 square miles (6.01 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 0.016 square miles (0.041 square kilometers), is water.

The Story of Le Roy

How Le Roy Was Started

Le Roy was officially planned on November 28, 1835. It was founded by two businessmen from Bloomington: Asahel Gridley and Merritt L. Covell. Both men had served in the Black Hawk War and were often called "General." They later became important politicians in Illinois. Asahel Gridley even became the first millionaire in McLean County.

Le Roy was one of the first towns created in McLean County during a big boom in town-founding in Illinois. It was built on a small hill on prairie land. This spot was important because two main roads crossed there: one from Bloomington to Danville and another from Shelbyville to Chicago.

There was a small problem: a store run by John W. Baddeley was located a bit away from the new town. The founders offered Baddeley 27 good lots in Le Roy if he would move his store. He agreed, and even though he lost most of his money later, he continued to do business in Le Roy for many years.

The Original Plan of the Town

Like many towns in Central Illinois back in the 1830s, Le Roy was designed around a central "Public Circle." This circle is still mostly the same shape today. The original town had 25 blocks, with almost all of them having eight lots, making a total of 196 lots.

The first businesses grew along Center Street, just east of the public circle. This area is still the main business part of the town. The street names in Le Roy are very similar to those in Lexington, another town that Asahel Gridley helped found.

First Advertisements for Le Roy

In November 1835, Gridley and Covell started selling lots in their new town. They put a long advertisement in the Sangamon Journal newspaper. This ad was the first description of Le Roy and explained why they chose this spot.

The ad described Le Roy as being on the north side of Buckle's Grove, near Salt Creek. It also mentioned the two important roads that crossed there. They wrote that the town's location was "as beautiful as can well be conceived." They said it was on a gentle hill with great views of the surrounding prairie and nearby trees. They believed no other inland town had better advantages. The ad also mentioned good spots nearby for mills. People who wanted to buy land were encouraged to visit the town first. The lots sold well, and people were excited to buy them.

Early Growth of the Town

Le Roy grew slowly at first, but it did better than many other towns started in the 1830s. Only three of the eight towns founded in McLean County during that time are still around today: Danvers, Le Roy, and Lexington.

In the fall of 1836, several log cabins were built, and Edgar Conkling opened a frame store. Gridley convinced Hiram Buck to move to Le Roy and open a hotel. In 1838, Buck became the Post Master. Conkling and a partner later added a huge new area to the town, tripling its size.

The first mill in Le Roy burned down in 1844. Another mill was built but also burned. The first large brick business building was constructed in 1858. By 1850, Le Roy was the second-largest town in McLean County. It became an official town in 1853 and a city on August 10, 1874.

The Railroad Era

After the Civil War, people in Le Roy believed that a railroad was key to their town's success. They worked hard to get a railroad built, which eventually became the Indiana, Bloomington and Western Railway. In 1866, a meeting was held in Le Roy to gather support for the railroad. The next year, citizens voted to tax themselves to help pay for it, pledging $75,000.

The railroad came through the southwest part of the original town, with the train station located five blocks west of the public square. The first train arrived on May 1, 1870. However, there was disappointment. The money pledged by the town was used as security for loans, meaning Le Roy citizens still had to pay, but had no say in how the railroad was run. The railroad soon faced financial problems, and service was poor.

Instead of just complaining, the people of Le Roy decided to build their own railroad! This narrow gauge railway started in 1876. It ran down Oak Street eastward to Rantoul, where it connected with the Illinois Central railroad. The goal was to lower freight costs by creating competition. Many local people helped build it. Locals called it the "Pumpkin Vine," a common nickname for small railroads. This railroad was later sold to the Illinois Central and made wider to fit standard trains. It didn't carry a lot of traffic but was a source of great local pride.

Le Roy in the 1900s

By 1900, Le Roy had two newspapers, four churches, one hotel, two grain elevators, three doctors, three lawyers, and twenty-five stores. Its population was 1,629. Over time, Le Roy became less dependent on railroads. Passenger train service on the "Pumpkin Vine" ended in 1931. Passenger service on the main line between Bloomington and Urbana stopped in 1957. The train station in Le Roy was torn down in 1967, and the last train ran in 1980. Soon after, the tracks were removed.

In the early 1970s, Interstate 74 was completed, and new businesses started to appear near the highway exit. The population grew slowly between 1900 and 1950. However, by the end of the century, Le Roy's population had more than doubled. The town became a popular place for people to live who worked in nearby Bloomington–Normal and Champaign–Urbana.

Population Changes in Le Roy

In 2000, there were 3,332 people living in Le Roy. Most of the people were White (99.21%). About 1.20% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

There were 1,300 households in the city. About 36.6% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.51 people.

The population was spread out by age:

• 27.2% were under 18 years old.
• 31.2% were between 25 and 44 years old.
• 15.5% were 65 years or older.

The average age in the city was 36 years.

Fun and Recreation

Le Roy has several parks and playgrounds for everyone to enjoy. It also has the Replex, which is a community recreation center. The Replex has indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a weight room, a gym, and meeting rooms.

Every August, Le Roy hosts its annual LeRoy Fall Festival, which is a popular event for the community.

Famous People from Le Roy

• Tim Hendryx: An outfielder who played for several Major League Baseball teams, including the Cleveland Naps and New York Yankees.
• Bret Iwan: The current voice of Mickey Mouse! He went to Le Roy High School from 1996 to 2000.
• John Allen Sterling: A U.S. Representative who served from 1903–13 and 1915–18. He was born in Le Roy.
• Betty Jane Watson: An actress.

See also

In Spanish: Le Roy (Illinois) para niños