Ledford, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ledford
Unincorporated community
Ledford Location in Illinois Show map of Illinois Ledford Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Saline
Founded	September 30th, 1880
Population  (2000)
• Total	100
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	62946
Area code(s)	618

Ledford is a small, unincorporated community in Saline County, Illinois, United States. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that doesn't have its own local government. It's located between the towns of Carrier Mills and Harrisburg. The community was named after a well-known local family.

Exploring Ledford's Past

Ledford has a rich history, especially linked to coal mining. In the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was a busy mining hub. At its peak, more than 1,000 people lived there.

A Busy Mining Center

Ledford is about three miles south of Harrisburg on US 45. Long ago, its population was between 1,100 and 1,400 people. Some records even suggest that Ledford was once larger than Harrisburg, the county seat. This was during the first ten years of the 1900s.

In 1905, Saline County had many coal mines. Fifteen large mines were active. Thirteen of these big mines were located along the Big Four Railroad, which passed through Ledford.

Life in the Coal Patches

Near these mines, small communities of company houses grew. These were called "patches." In Ledford, there were patches named "2 patch," "5 patch," and "14 patch." Each was named after the mine number that provided the housing. Just south of Ledford, there was another housing area built by Hungarian immigrants. Locals called it "Hunky Row."

These coal mine settlements made up most of Ledford's population in the early 1900s. Before the coal mines opened around 1870, most families in Saline County were early settlers from New England.

Immigrants and New Beginnings

Between 1900 and 1910, about 1,536 immigrants came to Saline County. Most of them came to work in the coal mines. These new residents arrived from countries like Hungary, Poland, Russia, and Lithuania. They helped the mining industry grow.

Ledford's Lively Days

Ledford was once known for its active social scene. It had many places for entertainment and fun. A well-known figure, Charlie Birger, lived in Ledford during this time.

At one point, Ledford had many important services. It had a jail and a post office. The post office was open from 1880 to 1882, and then again from 1892 to 1935. There were two Catholic churches, a Baptist church, and a parish school. The community also had East and West Ledford Schools.

You could find several grocery stores, a restaurant, a boarding house, and a pool room. Some people even say there was a roller skating rink and a movie house. Ledford even had its own movie star, Frances McIntyre, whose real name was Stella Stevers. The town also had large mining factories that created a distinct fog in the air.

Ledford Today

Today, Ledford is a much quieter place. You can find a cemetery and the Ledford Baptist Church. There is also an abandoned Hungarian cemetery. Ledford stretches about four miles along Route 45, with several roads branching off.

Now, Ledford is considered part of Harrisburg, Illinois. Most signs of the old mining industry are gone. The mine air shafts, fans, coal tipples, and mine ponds have disappeared. The tall smoke stacks are gone, and the air is clean. The sounds of coal hoisting, steam whistles, and locomotives are no longer heard. Ledford is now a peaceful community with about 100 people.

Population Changes Over Time

The population of Ledford has changed a lot since its mining boom days. Here's a look at how many people lived there during different census years.