Malta, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Malta
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Location of Malta in DeKalb County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | DeKalb |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.64 sq mi (1.65 km2) |
| • Land | 0.61 sq mi (1.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,143 |
| • Density | 1,858.54/sq mi (717.59/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
60150
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| Area code(s) | 815 |
| FIPS code | 17-46279 |
| Website | https://www.villageofmaltail.com/ |
Malta is a small village located in DeKalb County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 1,143 people lived there.
Contents
Discovering Malta's Past: A Brief History
Malta was first started in 1855. It was originally called Milton. Soon after, its name changed to Etna. Finally, it became Malta, named after the train station that served the village. The name "Malta" comes from the island of Malta in Europe.
The First Concrete Road: Lincoln Highway's "Seedling Mile"
Malta is famous for being the place where the very first "seedling mile" of concrete road was built for the Lincoln Highway in 1914. The Lincoln Highway was one of the first roads to go all the way across the United States.
A "seedling mile" was a special section of road built to show how new construction methods worked. It also helped get people excited about building more of the highway. This concrete section in Malta stretched from the village cemetery to where Kishwaukee College is today.
Malta's Growth and Farming Roots
Malta faced some money problems until after World War I. Then, many new people moved to the area, helping the village grow. Today, Malta is mostly a farming community. It also supports Kishwaukee College, which is located nearby.
Malta's Location and Landscape
Malta is found at coordinates 41°55′45″N 88°51′42″W / 41.92917°N 88.86167°W.
The village covers a total area of about 0.64 square miles (1.65 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 0.62 square miles (1.59 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.06 square kilometers), is water.
Local Businesses and Agriculture
Malta does not have many big businesses. Most of the businesses are small and locally owned. The area around the village is mainly used for farming.
Farming and Local Services
The main crops grown here are corn and soybeans. There are also farms that raise hogs nearby. You can find a bank, a gas station, and a small restaurant in Malta. Other local businesses include an excavating company, a grain elevator, an apple orchard, and a post office. There are also a few auto repair shops, a photographer, a plumbing company, and an auctioneering company. Some people in the area also run their own businesses, offering services like carpentry, landscaping, and animal control.
Education in Malta
For many years, Malta had its own school district called Malta Community Unit School District 433. This district had one main school building that taught students from kindergarten all the way through 12th grade. Later, a separate building was added for middle and high school students.
In 2000, Malta's school district joined with the larger DeKalb Community Unit School District 428.
Kishwaukee College: A Nearby Learning Hub
Kishwaukee College is a community college located just one mile west of Malta. It was founded in 1968 and offers many different programs for students.
Malta's Population Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 506 | — | |
| 1890 | 461 | −8.9% | |
| 1900 | 507 | 10.0% | |
| 1910 | 450 | −11.2% | |
| 1920 | 391 | −13.1% | |
| 1930 | 383 | −2.0% | |
| 1940 | 455 | 18.8% | |
| 1950 | 510 | 12.1% | |
| 1960 | 782 | 53.3% | |
| 1970 | 961 | 22.9% | |
| 1980 | 995 | 3.5% | |
| 1990 | 865 | −13.1% | |
| 2000 | 969 | 12.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,164 | 20.1% | |
| 2020 | 1,143 | −1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2020 census, Malta had 1,143 residents living in 475 households. About 322 of these were families. The village had about 1,791 people per square mile.
Who Lives in Malta?
Most people in Malta, about 85.39%, identified as White. Other groups included 2.71% African American, 0.70% Native American, and 0.17% Asian. About 4.55% were from other races, and 6.47% were from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 10.06% of the population.
Households and Families
In 2020, about 30.9% of households had children under 18 living with them. More than half, 55.58%, were married couples. About 23.16% of households were made up of people living alone. The average household had 3.55 people, and the average family had 3.01 people.
Age and Income in Malta
The median age in Malta was 38.3 years. About 27.4% of the population was under 18 years old. About 15.3% were 65 years or older.
The median income for a household in Malta was $73,250. For families, the median income was $86,974. The average income per person in the village was $28,118. About 14.6% of families and 20.6% of all residents lived below the poverty line. This included 32.1% of those under 18 and 0.9% of those 65 or older.
See also
In Spanish: Malta (Illinois) para niños
