Morrison, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morrison
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Paint the Town, Morrison's signature event
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Location of Morrison within Whiteside County
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Whiteside |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.52 sq mi (6.52 km2) |
| • Land | 2.52 sq mi (6.52 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,085 |
| • Density | 1,622.32/sq mi (626.45/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
61270
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| Area code(s) | 815 |
| FIPS code | 17-50530 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Morrison, Illinois |
Morrison is a city in Illinois, United States. It is the main town of Whiteside County. In 2020, about 4,085 people lived there.
Morrison is located on the historic Lincoln Highway. This was America's first road that went all the way across the country. Morrison even had special test sections of this road to show how good improved highways could be.
Contents
- History of Morrison
- What Morrison Makes: Industry and Jobs
- Healthcare Services
- Geography of Morrison
- Transportation Around Morrison
- Morrison's Population and People
- Places of Worship
- Education in Morrison
- Sports in Morrison
- Parks and Outdoor Fun
- Whiteside County Fairgrounds
- Interesting Places to Visit
- Famous People from Morrison
- See also
History of Morrison
In 1854, two builders named Lyman Johnson and H. S. Vroom were working on the Air-line railroad, which is now the Union Pacific Railroad. They bought land around where a train station was planned.
In 1855, they worked with a surveyor, W.S. Wilkinson, to plan the future town. Lyman Johnson decided to name the town Morrison. He chose this name to honor Charles Morrison, a wealthy friend from New York. Charles Morrison had promised to help the town financially. Even though he later couldn't help, the name stuck.
What Morrison Makes: Industry and Jobs
Morrison has been home to several factories over the years.
Past Industries
- Illinois Refrigerator Company: This company started in 1892. It made refrigerators and later added school furniture through its part, Columbia School Equipment Company.
- Summit Stove Company: In 1914, the refrigerator company also started making stoves.
- Illinois Seating Company: This company made school furniture in a new factory.
- Morris and Rich Toy Factory: This toy company moved to Morrison in 1928.
- Fires and Changes: In 1929, a big fire damaged warehouses, destroying many refrigerators and toys. The refrigerator company went out of business by 1932.
- Rich Illinois Manufacturing Company: A new company formed, making wood and metal refrigerators, toys, and furniture.
- Ice Cooling Appliance Corporation (ICA): In 1934, ICA bought the plant. The toy factory moved to Clinton, Iowa.
- Herman Nelson Division: In 1954, ICA was sold. In 1957, a part of the new company, Herman Nelson, opened a factory in Morrison. They made air blowers and heaters until 1966.
- General Electric (GE): GE opened a plant in Morrison in 1949. They made controls for appliances like relays and switches. They also made range timers and thermostats. This GE plant closed in 2010.
Current Major Employers
Today, the biggest employers in Morrison include:
- The Whiteside County government.
- Morrison Community School District #6.
- Morrison Community Hospital.
- Climco Coils (a manufacturing company).
- Resthave Home (a care facility).
Because Morrison is the county seat, many businesses like lawyers and financial services are also important. Farming is still a big part of the local economy.
Healthcare Services
Morrison has good healthcare options for its residents.
- Morrison Community Hospital: This hospital offers doctor care, ambulance services, and a helipad for patient transfers. It also has a special care unit.
- Clinics: There are three clinics in town: CGH Morrison Health & Vision Center, Morrison Family Health Clinic, and Morrison Community Hospital Family Care Clinic.
- Other Services: You can also find dentists, eye doctors, chiropractors, and physical therapists.
- Long-Term Care: Three licensed facilities provide long-term care, including physical therapy.
Geography of Morrison
Morrison is located at 41°48′33″N 89°58′5″W / 41.80917°N 89.96806°W. This means it's close to the 90 degrees west line of longitude.
The city covers about 2.46 square miles (6.52 square kilometers) of land.
Morrison's Climate
Morrison has a climate with warm summers and cold winters.
| Climate data for Morrison, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1895–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 65 (18) |
72 (22) |
86 (30) |
99 (37) |
105 (41) |
106 (41) |
112 (44) |
105 (41) |
103 (39) |
93 (34) |
80 (27) |
70 (21) |
112 (44) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 28.9 (−1.7) |
33.6 (0.9) |
46.2 (7.9) |
59.5 (15.3) |
70.8 (21.6) |
79.9 (26.6) |
83.1 (28.4) |
81.1 (27.3) |
75.0 (23.9) |
62.2 (16.8) |
47.2 (8.4) |
34.5 (1.4) |
58.5 (14.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 20.4 (−6.4) |
24.6 (−4.1) |
36.4 (2.4) |
48.2 (9.0) |
59.8 (15.4) |
69.2 (20.7) |
72.5 (22.5) |
70.4 (21.3) |
63.1 (17.3) |
50.8 (10.4) |
37.8 (3.2) |
26.4 (−3.1) |
48.3 (9.1) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 12.0 (−11.1) |
15.7 (−9.1) |
26.7 (−2.9) |
36.9 (2.7) |
48.8 (9.3) |
58.6 (14.8) |
62.0 (16.7) |
59.7 (15.4) |
51.2 (10.7) |
39.4 (4.1) |
28.4 (−2.0) |
18.3 (−7.6) |
38.1 (3.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −35 (−37) |
−35 (−37) |
−17 (−27) |
8 (−13) |
23 (−5) |
35 (2) |
41 (5) |
36 (2) |
19 (−7) |
9 (−13) |
−7 (−22) |
−28 (−33) |
−35 (−37) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.51 (38) |
1.65 (42) |
2.53 (64) |
3.84 (98) |
4.73 (120) |
4.93 (125) |
4.16 (106) |
4.32 (110) |
3.35 (85) |
2.77 (70) |
2.47 (63) |
2.02 (51) |
38.28 (972) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 10.4 (26) |
7.6 (19) |
3.8 (9.7) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
2.7 (6.9) |
6.3 (16) |
31.5 (80) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.6 | 6.1 | 7.3 | 10.3 | 11.1 | 9.7 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 6.9 | 7.2 | 6.8 | 7.5 | 95.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.7 | 3.3 | 1.7 | 0.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 3.9 | 15.1 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Transportation Around Morrison
Morrison is easy to get to by road and rail.
- Highways: It sits where U.S. Route 30 and Illinois Route 78 meet.
- Interstate: Interstate 88 is just 7 miles north.
- River Access: The Mississippi River is 12 miles to the east.
- Railroad: The Union Pacific Railroad tracks run right through the town.
Morrison's Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,981 | — | |
| 1890 | 2,088 | 5.4% | |
| 1900 | 2,308 | 10.5% | |
| 1910 | 2,410 | 4.4% | |
| 1920 | 3,000 | 24.5% | |
| 1930 | 3,067 | 2.2% | |
| 1940 | 3,187 | 3.9% | |
| 1950 | 3,531 | 10.8% | |
| 1960 | 4,159 | 17.8% | |
| 1970 | 4,387 | 5.5% | |
| 1980 | 4,605 | 5.0% | |
| 1990 | 4,363 | −5.3% | |
| 2000 | 4,447 | 1.9% | |
| 2010 | 4,188 | −5.8% | |
| 2020 | 4,085 | −2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, Morrison had 4,188 people living in 1,713 households. Most people (96.8%) were White. About 2.6% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 25.8% of the people were 19 years old or younger. Around 21.3% were 65 years or older. The average age in Morrison was 41.9 years.
Places of Worship
Morrison has many churches, showing its strong Dutch heritage.
- Bethesda Lutheran Church
- Crossroads Community Church
- Ebenezer Reformed Church
- Emmanuel Reformed Church
- Episcopal Church of St. Anne
- First Baptist Church
- First Presbyterian Church
- Morrison Brethren in Christ Church
- Morrison Christian Church
- Morrison Christian Reformed Church
- Morrison United Methodist Church
- St. Mary's Catholic Church
- St. Peter's Lutheran Church
- Open Bible Fellowship (on the outskirts)
- Our Savior's Lutheran Church (on the outskirts)
Education in Morrison
Morrison has a public school district called Morrison Community Unit School District 6.
Public Schools
The district runs:
- Two elementary schools (one for grades K-2, one for grades 3-5).
- A junior high school.
- A high school.
High school students can earn both high school and college credits at the same time. Older students can also get career and technical training at the Whiteside Area Career Center in Sterling, IL.
Higher Education Opportunities
Morrison is close to several colleges:
- Morrison Institute of Technology: This local college offers two-year programs in engineering and drafting.
- Sauk Valley Community College: A two-year college located nearby.
- Other Colleges: Other colleges like Ashford University and Clinton Community College (Iowa) are in Clinton, Iowa. Augustana College (Illinois), St. Ambrose University, and Western Illinois University-Quad Cities are in the Quad Cities.
Private Schools
Christ Lutheran School is in nearby Sterling. It serves students from age 3 through 8th grade. It focuses on core subjects and follows Bible teachings.
Sports in Morrison
Morrison High School is part of the Big Rivers Conference for football. This conference has many successful teams and has won state championships. For other sports, Morrison High School is part of the Three Rivers Conference. The school is a member of the Illinois High School Association.
Parks and Outdoor Fun
Morrison has many parks and natural areas for outdoor activities.
- Morrison-Rockwood State Park: This state park is north of Morrison. It has Lake Carlton, a 77-acre lake, and covers 1,150 acres. It's a great place for recreation.
- Morrison Sports Complex: This is Morrison's newest park, covering 35 acres. It has fields for softball, baseball, and football.
- French Creek Park
- Veteran's Park & Memorial
- Kelly Park
- Kiwanis Park
- Waterworks Park
Whiteside County Fairgrounds
Morrison is home to the Whiteside County Fairgrounds. This is where the annual Whiteside County Fair takes place. The fair promotes farming, gardening, and local crafts.
The fairgrounds also have the Round Barn. This old barn is actually 14-sided! It's one of the few remaining barns from its time. It was built to be a place for auctioning cows and horses.
Interesting Places to Visit
Places on the National Register of Historic Places
Some buildings in Morrison are so important that they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Malvern Roller Mill
- Morrison's Heritage Museum
- Odell Building
Famous People from Morrison
Many notable people have come from Morrison.
- Frank R. Adams (1883-1963), a songwriter, writer, and journalist.
- Gertrude Foster Brown (1867-1956), a suffragette, teacher, and concert pianist.
- Dean Cameron (born 1962), an actor, musician, and comedian.
- Norbert Davis, a novelist.
- Lafe McKee, an actor.
- Robert Andrews Millikan, a physicist who won the Nobel Prize.
- Ann Nardulli, an endocrinologist and professor at the University of Illinois.
See also
In Spanish: Morrison (Illinois) para niños
