Metropolis, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Metropolis, Illinois
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City hall (2013)
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Location in Massac County, Illinois
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Massac |
| Area | |
| • Total | 6.16 sq mi (15.96 km2) |
| • Land | 6.02 sq mi (15.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.14 sq mi (0.37 km2) |
| Elevation | 360 ft (110 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,969 |
| • Density | 991.53/sq mi (382.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
62960
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-48645 |
Metropolis is a city in Illinois, USA. It's the main town, or county seat, of Massac County, Illinois. You can find it right by the Ohio River. In 2020, about 5,969 people lived there. Metropolis is also part of a larger area that includes Paducah, Kentucky, in Southern Illinois.
Contents
A Look Back in Time
The area where Metropolis is located has been home to many different groups of people over thousands of years. Long ago, various Native American cultures lived here. The Mississippian culture was one of the most advanced. They built a large city called Cahokia near the Mississippi River. These people created huge mounds and structures. Many of these are now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
In 1757, French explorers came to Massac County. They built a fort called Fort de L'Ascension. This fort was used during the French and Indian War against the British. After the war, the French left the fort. When the British arrived, the Chickasaw people had already destroyed it.
During the American Revolutionary War, people in the town supported the American rebels. Later, in 1794, President George Washington ordered Fort Massac to be rebuilt. It was in a good spot high above the Ohio River. However, the fort was badly damaged by big earthquakes in 1811–1812. The US military left the fort in 1814. Local settlers then took the wood from the fort, leaving little behind.
The city of Metropolis was started in 1839. A merchant from Pittsburgh and a local landowner founded it. They thought the spot on the Ohio River would be a great place for trade. They chose the grand name "Metropolis" for this reason. In 1843, Massac County was officially formed.
During the early years of the American Civil War, soldiers camped near Metropolis. Even though Illinois was a free state, some people in this area supported the Southern states. However, Illinois remained part of the Union during the war.
Before the Civil War, some groups wanted to create a "Western District of Columbia". This would have included Metropolis and parts of nearby Kentucky. An 1850 map shows this idea.
In the 1900s, farming continued to be very important for the area's economy. Later, the state allowed riverboat gambling. This led to the Harrah's Metropolis casino and hotel being built in Metropolis. Many visitors from nearby areas come to the casino. Tourism is now one of the city's biggest industries.
Metropolis is also home to the Honeywell Uranium Hexafluoride Processing Facility. This factory changes uranium into a special form called uranium hexafluoride. This is used for nuclear reactors to create energy.
Where is Metropolis?
Metropolis is in the southern part of Massac County. It is on the north side of the Ohio River. Across the river to the south is McCracken County, Kentucky. The city of Paducah, Kentucky, is about 13 miles (21 km) to the southeast.
The U.S. Census Bureau says that Metropolis covers about 6.16 square miles (15.96 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 6.02 square miles (15.59 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.14 square miles (0.37 square kilometers), is water.
People Who Live Here
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,098 | — | |
| 1870 | 2,490 | 126.8% | |
| 1880 | 2,668 | 7.1% | |
| 1890 | 3,573 | 33.9% | |
| 1900 | 4,009 | 12.2% | |
| 1910 | 4,655 | 16.1% | |
| 1920 | 5,055 | 8.6% | |
| 1930 | 5,573 | 10.2% | |
| 1940 | 6,287 | 12.8% | |
| 1950 | 6,093 | −3.1% | |
| 1960 | 7,339 | 20.4% | |
| 1970 | 6,940 | −5.4% | |
| 1980 | 7,171 | 3.3% | |
| 1990 | 6,734 | −6.1% | |
| 2000 | 6,482 | −3.7% | |
| 2010 | 6,537 | 0.8% | |
| 2020 | 5,969 | −8.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 6,482 people living in Metropolis. There were 2,896 households and 1,708 families. About 24.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.13 people, and the average family had 2.77 people.
The population was spread out by age. About 20.0% were under 18 years old. About 24.8% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 43 years.
Getting Around
Metropolis is connected by Interstate 24. This highway goes from Chattanooga, Tennessee, to Williamson County, Illinois. There, it connects with Interstate 57. U.S. Route 45 also goes through the center of Metropolis. It is known as East 5th Street, Ferry Street, and West 10th Street.
Illinois Route 145 is east of the city. It helps people reach parts of the nearby Shawnee National Forest.
Metropolis also has a railroad called the Paducah & Illinois Railroad. It crosses the Ohio River on the Metropolis Bridge. This railroad is owned by several large railway companies.
Staying Healthy
Metropolis is home to Massac Memorial Hospital. This hospital has 25 beds and opened in 1956. It has been updated many times over the years. Some of the services offered include ambulance services, an emergency department, imaging, and rehabilitation services. There is also a Fresenius Medical Care dialysis center on the hospital campus, which opened in 2009.
Superman's Special Town
In the comic books and movies, Superman lives in a made-up city called Metropolis. On April 25, 1972, the Illinois State Legislature officially recognized Metropolis, Illinois, for its "Project Superman" program.
The city has a 15-foot (4.6 m) tall bronze statue of Superman. It stands in front of the county courthouse. A statue of Noel Neill as Lois Lane from The Adventures of Superman is also just a few blocks away.
Every year in June, Superman fans from all over the world come to Metropolis. They gather for the annual Superman Celebration. This event features special guests from movies, TV shows, and comic books.
The Metropolis Chamber of Commerce has organized this celebration since June 1979. It's a four-day event with food, comics, handmade crafts, and other items for sale. There are also discussion panels, auctions, a costume contest, and many other fun activities.
The local newspaper in Metropolis is called The Metropolis Planet. This name was inspired by The Daily Planet, the fictional newspaper in the Superman stories.
The real town of Metropolis was even featured in a Superman comic book story. In "Superman #92", a villain named Massacre gets lost and ends up in Metropolis, Illinois. He thinks it's the "other" Metropolis, the big city where Superman actually lives. He causes trouble trying to get directions to Superman's real home.
Famous People from Metropolis
- Dale Anderson, a politician from Maryland, was born here.
- Dustin Burnett, also known as Zayde Wolf, is a musician and singer-songwriter.
- Buddy Hall, a famous billiards player, was born in Metropolis.
- Christopher Jackson, an actor and musician known for playing George Washington in the musical Hamilton, was born here.
- Curt Jones created Dippin' Dots ice cream in 1987.
- Annie Turnbo Malone, a businesswoman and philanthropist, was important in black beauty culture.
- Moxie Manuel, a baseball pitcher, played for the Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox.
- Oscar Micheaux, a pioneering African-American filmmaker and author.
- John Riegger, a professional golfer on the Champions Tour.
- Jack Smith, a driver in NASCAR.
- John Steele, a WWII paratrooper, became famous from the movie The Longest Day.
- Robert Franklin Stroud, known as the Birdman of Alcatraz, is buried in Metropolis.
- Ben Taylor, a baseball first baseman, played for the St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers.
- Hawk Taylor, a baseball catcher, played for the Milwaukee Braves and New York Mets.
- Betty, Jean, and Joanne Weaver, three sisters, played in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
- Patrick Windhorst, an Illinois state representative and attorney.
See also
In Spanish: Metropolis (Illinois) para niños
