Mason City, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mason City, Illinois
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Farmers State Bank building in Mason City
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Location in Mason County, Illinois
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 Mason City, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Mason |
| Township | Mason City |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.01 sq mi (2.62 km2) |
| • Land | 1.01 sq mi (2.62 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 581 ft (177 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,077 |
| • Density | 2,050.35/sq mi (791.68/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
62664
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-47475 |
| GNIS ID | 2395040 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Mason City, Illinois |
Mason City is a small city located in Mason County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 2,077 people lived there. This number was a bit lower than the 2,343 people counted in 2010.
Contents
History of Mason City
Mason City was started in 1857. The city got its name from Mason County, where it is located.
Geography and Location
Mason City is found in the eastern part of Mason County. It is located at coordinates 40.202965 degrees North and -89.696109 degrees West.
Illinois Route 10 goes right through the city. This road is called Chestnut Street there. If you go east on Route 10, you will reach Lincoln in about 19 miles. Going west for about 8 miles will take you to Easton.
Havana is the main town of Mason County. It is about 22 miles northwest of Mason City. Illinois Route 29 is also close to the city. This road goes north about 29 miles to Pekin. If you go south about 32 miles, you will reach Springfield, which is the capital city of Illinois.
The U.S. Census Bureau says that Mason City covers about 1.01 square miles (2.62 square kilometers) of land. There is no water area within the city limits. Water from the city flows south into Salt Creek. Salt Creek then flows west into the Sangamon River, which is part of the larger Illinois River system.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 264 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,615 | 511.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,714 | 6.1% | |
| 1890 | 1,869 | 9.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,890 | 1.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,842 | −2.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,880 | 2.1% | |
| 1930 | 1,941 | 3.2% | |
| 1940 | 1,984 | 2.2% | |
| 1950 | 2,004 | 1.0% | |
| 1960 | 2,160 | 7.8% | |
| 1970 | 2,611 | 20.9% | |
| 1980 | 2,719 | 4.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,323 | −14.6% | |
| 2000 | 2,558 | 10.1% | |
| 2010 | 2,343 | −8.4% | |
| 2020 | 2,077 | −11.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,558 people living in Mason City. There were 1,041 homes, and 681 of these were families. The city had about 2,599 people per square mile.
About 30% of the homes had children under 18 living there. More than half of the homes (51.3%) were married couples. About 18% of homes had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The average age of people in Mason City was 40 years old. About 25% of the people were under 18. Another 22% were 65 or older.
Famous People from Mason City
Many interesting people have come from Mason City:
- Gordon Buehrig was an amazing car designer. He was born in Mason City.
- John Fahay was a professional football player. He was also born in Mason City.
- John Means, known as "Dr. Gonzo," is a stand-up comedian. He toured with the band Huey Lewis and the News. He was born in Mason City.
- Clyde E. Stone was a very important judge. He was the Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court. He was born near Mason City.
- Joe Sullivan was a baseball pitcher. He played for teams like the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox. He was born in Mason City.
- Vic Wunderle is an archer. He won a silver medal in the Olympics in 2000 for archery.
