Marseilles, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marseilles
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Buildings in the city's business district
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| Etymology: Marseille, France | |
Location of Marseilles in LaSalle County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | LaSalle |
| Townships | Manlius, Rutland, Brookfield |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.57 sq mi (24.78 km2) |
| • Land | 9.08 sq mi (23.52 km2) |
| • Water | 0.49 sq mi (1.26 km2) |
| Elevation | 663 ft (202 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,845 |
| • Density | 533.59/sq mi (206.01/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
61341
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| Area code(s) | 815 |
| FIPS code | 17-47150 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2395020 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Marseilles, Illinois |
Marseilles (pronounced mar-SAYLZ) is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. It is located right on the Illinois River. In 2020, the city had a population of 4,845 people. Marseilles is part of the larger Ottawa area.
Contents
History of Marseilles
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Founding the City
In 1833, a man named Lovell Kimball arrived at an area along the Illinois River. This spot was known as the Grand Rapids. Kimball knew that the Illinois-Michigan Canal was going to be built and would reach these rapids.
He hired a surveyor to plan out a new town. Kimball named the town Marseilles, after the famous city of Marseille in France. He hoped his new town would become an important industrial center, just like its French namesake. Marseilles was officially planned on June 3, 1835.
The Nabisco Building
In 1921, the National Biscuit Company, also known as Nabisco, built a very large factory in Marseilles. This eight-story building was used to make corrugated cardboard boxes. At the time, it was the biggest industrial building in Illinois outside of Chicago. It was also the first factory in the Midwest to have air conditioning. Nabisco was a major employer in the area for many years. However, the factory stopped making products in 2002.
Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial
In 2004, the Middle East Conflicts Wall Memorial was dedicated in Marseilles. This special memorial honors the brave service men and women who lost their lives fighting in US wars in the Middle East. It was the first US memorial dedicated to servicemen while a war was still happening. The earliest names on the wall are from 1967, remembering those who died during the USS Liberty incident.
A famous American historian named Andrew Bacevich suggested that all presidential candidates should visit Marseilles. He felt it was important for them to see the memorial. Andrew Bacevich's own son died in Iraq, and his son's name is on the monument.
Local Museums
In 2016, a resident of Marseilles named Seattle Sutton started a community museum. It is located in the old Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad building. The museum has many historical items. These include things from the old Nabisco factory and other businesses in Marseilles. It also has recorded interviews with Marseilles war veterans.
Geography and Location
Marseilles is located at 41°19′40″N 88°42′4″W / 41.32778°N 88.70111°W. The city is at the beginning of a section of rapids in the Illinois River. These rapids were historically known as "the Grand Rapids" or the "Rapids of Maninumba."
According to the 2010 census, Marseilles covers a total area of about 9.2 square miles (23.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 8.7 square miles (22.5 square kilometers), is land. The remaining part, about 0.48 square miles (1.2 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 758 | — | |
| 1880 | 1,882 | 148.3% | |
| 1890 | 2,210 | 17.4% | |
| 1900 | 2,559 | 15.8% | |
| 1910 | 3,291 | 28.6% | |
| 1920 | 3,391 | 3.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,292 | 26.6% | |
| 1940 | 4,455 | 3.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,514 | 1.3% | |
| 1960 | 4,347 | −3.7% | |
| 1970 | 4,320 | −0.6% | |
| 1980 | 4,766 | 10.3% | |
| 1990 | 4,811 | 0.9% | |
| 2000 | 4,655 | −3.2% | |
| 2010 | 5,094 | 9.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,845 | −4.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2020 census, there were 4,845 people living in Marseilles. There were 1,937 households and 1,327 families in the city. The population density was about 533.6 people per square mile.
About 29.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households, about 51.1%, were married couples living together. The average household had about 2.33 people.
The city's population included about 25.5% who were under 18 years old. About 19.2% of the population was 65 years of age or older. The average age in Marseilles was 41.8 years.
See also
In Spanish: Marseilles (Illinois) para niños
