Monticello, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
City of Monticello
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Piatt County Courthouse
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| Motto(s):
"Yesterday's Charm, Tomorrow's Innovation"
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Location of Monticello in Piatt County, Illinois
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 City of Monticello
Location in Illinois
City of Monticello
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| County | Piatt |
| Townships | Monticello, Sangamon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.89 sq mi (10.08 km2) |
| • Land | 3.85 sq mi (9.98 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 656 ft (200 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,941 |
| • Density | 1,542.32/sq mi (595.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
61856
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-50244 |
| GNIS ID | 2395384 |
Monticello (pronounced MON-tiss-EL-oh) is a city in Illinois, United States. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Piatt County. In 2020, about 5,941 people lived there. Monticello is known for its friendly small-town feel and interesting history.
Contents
Where is Monticello?
Monticello is located in the central part of Illinois. It sits between two larger cities: Decatur and Champaign. The city covers an area of about 3.89 square miles (10.08 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Fun Places to Visit
Monticello has some cool places to explore:
Robert Allerton Park
Just outside Monticello, you'll find Robert Allerton Park. This huge park belongs to the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. It has 1,500 acres of forests and open grassy areas. You can find beautiful sculpture gardens, hiking trails, and even a place for summer camps. There's also a large mansion in the park. In 1970, a part of the park called the Allerton Natural Area was named a National Natural Landmark. This means it's a very special natural place.
Monticello Railway Museum
On the north side of Monticello is the Monticello Railway Museum. This museum is a non-profit organization that runs old trains. You can take train rides there from May to October. It's a great way to experience what train travel was like in the past!
A Look Back in Time
Monticello has a rich history, starting long ago.
Early Settlers and Founding
The first non-native person to live in the Monticello area was George Hayworth in 1822. He worked with local Native American tribes. Later, in 1829, James A. Piatt bought Hayworth's cabin. More settlers soon arrived.
In 1837, the residents decided to create a new town. Several people, including James A. Piatt Jr., bought land for this purpose. They named the town Monticello, after the famous home of Thomas Jefferson. Monticello officially became a town on July 1, 1837, and they celebrated on July 4th!
Becoming a County Seat
At first, Monticello was part of Macon County. People found it hard to travel nearly 30 miles to Decatur for legal matters. So, in 1841, a new county was created by the Illinois General Assembly. They named it Piatt County after James A. Piatt, the first permanent settler. Since Monticello was the only town in this new county, it was chosen as the county seat. This means it became the main town where the county government operates. The first courthouse was built in 1843. The current courthouse was finished in 1904.
The Pepsin Syrup Company
In 1885, a very important person arrived in Monticello: Dr. William B. Caldwell. He was a doctor, but he also made a special medicine. This medicine, a mix of senna and pepsin, made Monticello famous across the country!
In 1893, the Pepsin Syrup Company was started. For many years, it was the biggest employer in Monticello. The company closed in 1985, and its building was later taken down.
Important Historical Events
In 1838, the Potawatomi Trail of Death passed through Monticello. This was a sad time when many Potawatomi Native Americans were forced to move from their lands.
In 1987, Monticello celebrated its 150th birthday. There was a big outdoor reenactment and other fun events to mark the occasion.
Who Lives Here?
Monticello has grown quite a bit over the years. Here's how the population has changed:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 163 | — | |
| 1860 | 577 | 254.0% | |
| 1870 | 871 | 51.0% | |
| 1880 | 1,337 | 53.5% | |
| 1890 | 1,643 | 22.9% | |
| 1900 | 1,982 | 20.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,981 | −0.1% | |
| 1920 | 2,280 | 15.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,378 | 4.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,523 | 6.1% | |
| 1950 | 2,612 | 3.5% | |
| 1960 | 3,219 | 23.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,130 | 28.3% | |
| 1980 | 4,753 | 15.1% | |
| 1990 | 4,549 | −4.3% | |
| 2000 | 5,138 | 12.9% | |
| 2010 | 5,548 | 8.0% | |
| 2020 | 5,941 | 7.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 5,138 people living in Monticello. About 29.2% of the households had children under 18 living with them. The average age of people in the city was 42 years old. Monticello is also home to Kirby Hospital, which serves the community.
Famous People from Monticello
Many interesting people have connections to Monticello:
- Robert Allerton: An art collector and philanthropist (someone who gives money to good causes). He created the beautiful Robert Allerton Park.
- Robert C. Burke: A brave United States Marine who received the Medal of Honor for his heroism during the Vietnam War in 1968.
- Harry Combes: A talented basketball player and coach for the University of Illinois.
- Rolla C. McMillen: A former U.S. Representative, meaning he helped make laws for the country.
- Allen F. Moore: Another former U.S. Representative.
- James P. Ownby: An Illinois state representative who lived in Monticello.
- Andrew Peterson: A popular Contemporary Christian music artist.
- Rolland F. Tipsword: An Illinois state representative and judge.
Images for kids
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Buildings on Charter Street in Monticello.
See also
In Spanish: Monticello (Illinois) para niños
