Metamora, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Metamora
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Metamora Historic Courthouse, from East Chatham Street
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Location of Metamora in Woodford County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Woodford |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.27 sq mi (5.89 km2) |
| • Land | 2.27 sq mi (5.88 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2) |
| Elevation | 816 ft (249 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,904 |
| • Density | 1,719.07/sq mi (663.65/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
61548
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| Area code(s) | 309 |
| FIPS code | 17-48606 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Metamora, Illinois |
Metamora is a village in Woodford County, Illinois, United States. It's a small community that is growing. In 2020, about 3,904 people lived there. Metamora is considered a suburb of the city of Peoria.
Contents
Where is Metamora?
Metamora is located in Illinois, a state in the United States. It sits at coordinates 40.7911 degrees North and 89.3624 degrees West.
The village covers a total area of about 2.27 square miles (5.89 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit being water.
How Metamora Got Its Name
Metamora was first started in 1836 and was called Hanover. It was named after Hanover, New Hampshire, by a group of people who bought land there.
However, the post office needed towns to have unique names. So, the village had to change its name to be different from other places called Hanover in Illinois. For a short time, it was called Black Partridge (1836) and then Partridge Point (1837).
Finally, in 1845, the village's name was changed to Metamora. This name came from a popular play called Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags. You can still find streets named Hanover and Partridge in the village today, showing its older names. There's also a popular spot called Black Partridge Park.
A Look at Metamora's History
Metamora was settled by people from New England, often called Yankee settlers. These were descendants of English Puritans who came to America in the 1600s.
The first group of settlers came from Hanover, New Hampshire. A man named John Page explored the area and thought it would be great for farms. When they arrived, it was a thick forest with no roads or buildings. The settlers worked hard to clear the trees, build roads, and create farms. They also built a small town to support the farms. More settlers from states like Rhode Island, Vermont, and Massachusetts soon joined them.
Metamora was an important place for many years. It was the main town, or county seat, of Woodford County from 1843 until 1896. The old courthouse from that time is now a special place called the Metamora Courthouse State Historic Site. It's kept safe as an Illinois state historic site. Famous people like future President Abraham Lincoln and future Vice President Adlai E. Stevenson I worked as lawyers in that very courthouse!
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 966 | — | |
| 1870 | 762 | −21.1% | |
| 1880 | 828 | 8.7% | |
| 1890 | 758 | −8.5% | |
| 1900 | 758 | 0.0% | |
| 1910 | 694 | −8.4% | |
| 1920 | 683 | −1.6% | |
| 1930 | 707 | 3.5% | |
| 1940 | 896 | 26.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,368 | 52.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,808 | 32.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,176 | 20.4% | |
| 1980 | 2,482 | 14.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,520 | 1.5% | |
| 2000 | 2,700 | 7.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,636 | 34.7% | |
| 2020 | 3,904 | 7.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, Metamora had 2,700 people living there. About 1,050 homes were counted. Most of the people were White (99.07%).
The average household had about 2.44 people. The average family had about 2.97 people.
The population was spread out by age:
- 23.8% were under 18 years old.
- 25.0% were 65 years or older.
The median age was 43 years. This means half the people were younger than 43 and half were older.
The average income for a household in the village was $46,691. For families, it was $56,384. A small number of families and people lived below the poverty line.
Schools in Metamora
Metamora has several schools for students of different ages.
- Metamora Community Consolidated School District 1 serves students from Kindergarten through 8th grade. This district covers Metamora Township and parts of Worth Township.
- Metamora Township High School District 122 runs one high school for grades 9 through 12. This high school serves students from Metamora, Germantown Hills, and Spring Bay.
- St. Mary's Grade School is a Catholic school for students in Kindergarten through 8th grade.
Fun Events and Activities
Metamora hosts several fun events throughout the year.
- Metamora 4x50 Race: At the start of August, Metamora holds an "ultracycling" event. Participants ride a 50-mile loop four times.
- High School Sports: The local high school team mascot is the Redbirds. Students play in various sports like golf, volleyball, and soccer.
- Old Settler's Days: The Village of Metamora celebrates Old Settler's Days every year around the third week of June. This tradition is over a century old! It includes carnival rides, live local music, and lots of food. During this weekend, you can also join the Lincoln-Douglas 5K and 8 Mile Runs.
See also
In Spanish: Metamora (Illinois) para niños
