Morrisonville, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Morrisonville
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| Nickname(s):
Motown
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| Motto(s):
"Where progress meets the prairie."
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Location of Morrisonville in Christian County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Christian |
| Township | Ricks |
| Founded | 1869 |
| Incorporated | May 1872 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Village |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.03 sq mi (2.68 km2) |
| • Land | 1.03 sq mi (2.68 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 620 ft (190 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 997 |
| • Density | 963.29/sq mi (372.02/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62546
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-50543 |
| GNIS ID | 2399398 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Morrisonville, Illinois |
Morrisonville is a small village located in Christian County, Illinois, in the United States. It's a friendly community with a rich history. In 2020, about 997 people lived here.
Contents
Discover Morrisonville: Location and Climate
Morrisonville is a small town in central Illinois. It is about 45 miles (72 kilometers) south of Springfield, the state capital. The village covers an area of about 1.04 square miles (2.68 square kilometers), and all of it is land.
Morrisonville's Weather and Climate
Morrisonville has a climate known as a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers and mild winters. The weather here can change a lot!
The hottest temperature ever recorded in Morrisonville was a scorching 111°F (44°C) on July 14, 1936. The coldest temperature was a chilly -29°F (-34°C) on February 12, 1899.
| Climate data for Morrisonville, 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) | 73 (23) |
78 (26) |
87 (31) |
92 (33) |
98 (37) |
104 (40) |
111 (44) |
108 (42) |
104 (40) |
94 (34) |
83 (28) |
73 (23) |
111 (44) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 58.2 (14.6) |
62.3 (16.8) |
73.2 (22.9) |
82.8 (28.2) |
88.8 (31.6) |
93.1 (33.9) |
94.2 (34.6) |
94.3 (34.6) |
92.0 (33.3) |
85.8 (29.9) |
72.0 (22.2) |
60.4 (15.8) |
96.7 (35.9) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 35.6 (2.0) |
40.8 (4.9) |
51.8 (11.0) |
65.1 (18.4) |
75.0 (23.9) |
83.2 (28.4) |
86.4 (30.2) |
85.5 (29.7) |
80.7 (27.1) |
68.1 (20.1) |
52.7 (11.5) |
40.7 (4.8) |
63.8 (17.7) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 27.5 (−2.5) |
32.0 (0.0) |
41.9 (5.5) |
53.9 (12.2) |
64.7 (18.2) |
73.2 (22.9) |
76.0 (24.4) |
74.5 (23.6) |
68.1 (20.1) |
55.9 (13.3) |
42.8 (6.0) |
32.6 (0.3) |
53.6 (12.0) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 19.2 (−7.1) |
23.2 (−4.9) |
32.1 (0.1) |
42.8 (6.0) |
54.3 (12.4) |
63.2 (17.3) |
65.7 (18.7) |
63.5 (17.5) |
55.6 (13.1) |
43.8 (6.6) |
33.0 (0.6) |
24.5 (−4.2) |
43.4 (6.3) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −4.3 (−20.2) |
3.3 (−15.9) |
13.7 (−10.2) |
27.7 (−2.4) |
39.3 (4.1) |
48.7 (9.3) |
53.7 (12.1) |
52.3 (11.3) |
37.6 (3.1) |
27.1 (−2.7) |
17.1 (−8.3) |
4.0 (−15.6) |
−7.6 (−22.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −28 (−33) |
−29 (−34) |
−12 (−24) |
15 (−9) |
28 (−2) |
38 (3) |
44 (7) |
41 (5) |
24 (−4) |
15 (−9) |
−4 (−20) |
−21 (−29) |
−29 (−34) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.18 (55) |
1.82 (46) |
2.73 (69) |
4.31 (109) |
4.55 (116) |
3.92 (100) |
2.95 (75) |
3.50 (89) |
3.53 (90) |
3.21 (82) |
3.20 (81) |
2.22 (56) |
38.12 (968) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.9 (15) |
3.9 (9.9) |
2.4 (6.1) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.2 (0.51) |
0.6 (1.5) |
3.2 (8.1) |
16.2 (41.11) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.4 | 7.2 | 8.7 | 10.4 | 11.0 | 9.1 | 7.4 | 7.2 | 6.5 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 7.9 | 99.6 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.5 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.7 | 7.7 |
| Source 1: NOAA | |||||||||||||
| Source 2: National Weather Service | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Morrisonville? Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 128 | — | |
| 1880 | 593 | 363.3% | |
| 1890 | 844 | 42.3% | |
| 1900 | 934 | 10.7% | |
| 1910 | 1,200 | 28.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,183 | −1.4% | |
| 1930 | 1,166 | −1.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,149 | −1.5% | |
| 1950 | 1,132 | −1.5% | |
| 1960 | 1,115 | −1.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,165 | 4.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,148 | −1.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,113 | −3.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,068 | −4.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,056 | −1.1% | |
| 2020 | 997 | −5.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the census counted 997 people living in Morrisonville. There were 439 households and 315 families. The village had about 963 people per square mile (372 people per square kilometer).
Most residents, about 95%, were White. A small number were African American, Native American, or from other backgrounds. About 1.7% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Families and Age Groups
About 30% of households had children under 18 living with them. Over half (58%) were married couples. The average household had about 2.9 people.
The population's age spread out like this:
- 27.4% were under 18 years old.
- 7.2% were between 18 and 24.
- 23.4% were between 25 and 44.
- 25.9% were between 45 and 64.
- 16.2% were 65 years or older.
The average age in Morrisonville was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were about 101 males.
Income and Economy
The average income for a household in Morrisonville was $64,219. For families, it was $77,847. The average income per person in the village was $31,368.
About 9% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included about 22% of those under 18 and 6.6% of those 65 or older.
Morrisonville's Past: A Look at Its History
Morrisonville has a long and interesting history. Before settlers arrived, four Native American tribes lived and hunted on this land: the Sac, Fox, Pottawatomie, and Kickapoo. They hunted animals like buffalo, elk, and deer.
How Morrisonville Was Founded
The land that became Morrisonville was bought by Thomas Carlin, a former governor of Illinois, in 1851. He paid $1.25 per acre. Later, his daughter inherited the land. She then passed it to her husband, Colonel James L. D. Morrison.
In 1869, Colonel Morrison planned out the town. He made a deal with the railroad company: if they made Morrisonville a regular stop, he would help build the new town. The village was officially recognized in May 1872.
The first house in Morrisonville was built by Joseph Poggenpohl in February 1870. The railroad arrived in May 1870, running diagonally through the town. Once trains started stopping regularly, Morrisonville grew quickly with new people and businesses.
Growth and Community Life
Over the years, more land was added to Morrisonville. Many streets are named after people who helped the town grow, like Potts, Perrine, Johnson, and Shull.
The first Morrisonville picnic was held on August 27, 1923. It had a parade, speakers, races, and free movies. Today, the picnic is still a big event and even includes a bullfrog jumping contest!
In the mid-1880s, roller skating became very popular. A special building was built just for roller skating! This building later became the Knights of Columbus hall, hosting dances, talent shows, and more.
The Morrisonville Lumber Company has been in the same spot since the 1920s, even after two fires destroyed its office buildings.
Churches and Schools
Morrisonville has always been known as a religious community. Some churches include the First Baptist Church, First United Presbyterian Church, St. Maurice Church, and the United Methodist Church. Colonel Morrison even donated the land for St. Maurice Church.
The first school in Morrisonville was built in 1870. It was also used for Sunday school and as a town hall. The current St. Maurice School building was built in 1922. In the past, children from the countryside would ride horses and buggies to school!
Early Businesses and the Historical Museum
Some of the first businesses that opened in Morrisonville, like Becker's Clothing Store and Morrisonville Lumber Company, are still around today.
The old Village Hall and firehouse building is now home to the Morrisonville Historical Museum. The Morrisonville Historical Society worked hard to save and renovate this building. The museum displays old clothes, dolls, typewriters, historical photos, sports items, and even Morrisonville's first jail cell!
Community Organizations and Places
Morrisonville has many groups and places that help the community thrive.
Organizations in Morrisonville
- Morrisonville Farmer's Co-op Company
- Morrisonville Times (local newspaper)
- Boy Scouts
- American Legion Auxiliary
- Girl Scouts
- FFA (Future Farmers of America)
- 4-H Club
- Kitchell Memorial Library
- Knights of Columbus
Churches in Morrisonville
- First Baptist Church
- First United Presbyterian Church
- St. Maurice Catholic Church
- The United Methodist Church
Cemeteries in Morrisonville
- St. Maurice Cemetery
- Morrisonville Cemetery
Schools in Morrisonville
- Morrisonville Elementary School
- Morrisonville Jr./Sr. High School
- St. Maurice Catholic School (now closed)
- Chrismont Safe School (moved to Nokomis)
Museums in Morrisonville
- Morrisonville Historical Museum
Famous People from Morrisonville
Morrisonville has been home to some notable individuals:
- Augustus "Gus" Belt: He was born in Morrisonville and later founded the famous Steak 'n Shake food chain.
- Harry Forrester: A member of the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame and Quincy University Hall of Fame. He was born nearby in Raymond, Illinois.
- Wayne Rosenthal: An official for the state of Illinois, working with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
- Al Unser: A catcher who played baseball for the Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds. He was born in Morrisonville.
The Village Hall: A Historic Building
The village hall in Morrisonville was first built in 1891. Sadly, the original building was destroyed by a fire in April 1891. But the community quickly started building the current structure soon after.
The bricks used to build the new village hall were made right in Morrisonville at the Fleigle Tile yard. Once finished, the second floor of the building was used for the village board meetings and offices. The ground floor held the jail and storage for fire equipment.
Because the second floor has gotten old, the village board now holds its meetings in a different building on Carlin Street.
Early Stores in Morrisonville
Morrisonville had several general stores in its early days. N.N. Bell built the very first store building. The goods for his store were the first to be shipped on the new railroad! C.M. Leiberman opened the second store, also on Carlin Street. D.F. Bonnell became the third merchant, all starting their businesses in 1870.
The DRL Supply Company started in 1915. It was a grocery and dry goods store run by the Lentz brothers, Henry and Theodore. In 1936, a fire destroyed the DRL buildings and all their goods. But they rebuilt right away and moved into a new brick building in 1937. DRL Supply Co. is now closed.
Other early stores included Thatcher Millinery and Fancy Goods Store and Johnson Equipment Company.
Groceries and Bakeries in the Past
Some of the older grocery stores and bakeries in Morrisonville included DRL Supply Company, Atzger Bakery & Confectionery, Miller Bros. Meat Market, W.L. Long, and Weber's Grocery.
In 1941, brothers Melvin and Robert H. Stewart opened a small IGA grocery store. They later added a locker plant where people could store frozen foods. They remodeled the store in 1952.
See also
In Spanish: Morrisonville (Illinois) para niños
