Moweaqua, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Moweaqua
|
|
|---|---|
Location of Moweaqua in Shelby & Christian Counties, Illinois.
|
|
.svg)
Location of Illinois in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Shelby, Christian |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.30 sq mi (5.95 km2) |
| • Land | 2.30 sq mi (5.95 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 633 ft (193 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 1,764 |
| • Density | 767.62/sq mi (296.37/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62550
|
| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-51232 |
| GNIS ID | 2399420 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Moweaqua, Illinois |
Moweaqua is a small village located in Illinois, United States. It sits across two counties: Shelby and Christian. In 2020, about 1,764 people lived there.
Exploring Moweaqua's Location
Moweaqua is a village that covers about 2.30 square miles (5.95 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
Who Lives in Moweaqua?
The village of Moweaqua has seen its population change over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived there:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 673 | — | |
| 1890 | 848 | 26.0% | |
| 1900 | 1,478 | 74.3% | |
| 1910 | 1,513 | 2.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,591 | 5.2% | |
| 1930 | 1,478 | −7.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,366 | −7.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,475 | 8.0% | |
| 1960 | 1,614 | 9.4% | |
| 1970 | 1,687 | 4.5% | |
| 1980 | 1,922 | 13.9% | |
| 1990 | 1,785 | −7.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,923 | 7.7% | |
| 2010 | 1,831 | −4.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,764 | −3.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 1,764 people living in Moweaqua. Most of the people living in the village were White (about 95.92%). A small number of residents were African American, Native American, Asian, or from two or more races. About 1.36% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
There were 877 households in the village. About 34.8% of these households had children under 18 living with them. Many families were married couples living together. The average household had about 3 people.
The median age of people in Moweaqua was 36.9 years old. This means half the people were younger than 36.9, and half were older. About 26.7% of the population was under 18 years old.
Learning in Moweaqua
Moweaqua is part of the Central A&M School District. This school district also includes the city of Assumption and nearby rural areas.
Schools in the District
- Central A&M High School (grades 9-12) is located in Moweaqua. It shares a building with Gregory Intermediate School.
- Gregory Intermediate School (grades 3-5) is also in Moweaqua.
Central A&M High School has about 300 students. Their sports teams are called the Raiders. The Girls' Varsity Basketball team achieved third place in the state competition in 2008. The school also has a successful FFA Chapter (Future Farmers of America). This group does well in events and helps the community.
Moweaqua's Past
The name Moweaqua comes from a local stream. The stream was named by the Pottawatamie Native American people. The word "Moweaqua" means "she that weeps."
The Coal Mine Disaster
From 1891 to 1935, Moweaqua had a coal mine. On December 24, 1932, a sad event happened. Fifty-four coal miners, the entire day shift, were killed. This happened because of a methane gas explosion. It was known as the Moweaqua coal mine disaster.
This tragedy happened on Christmas Eve. One of the miners who died was supposed to play Santa Claus at a party that evening. This event, along with new laws, helped improve mine safety. It also led to the end of using open-flame lamps in U.S. coal mines.
In 1986, the Moweaqua Coal Mine Museum opened. It remembers the local coal miners, especially those who died in the disaster.
Moweaqua in Movies
The 2009 movie The Informant was partly filmed in Moweaqua. This movie starred Matt Damon. The story is based on a real event from the 1990s. It was about a company called ADM and a price-fixing scandal.
Famous People from Moweaqua
- Cecil Coombs: A baseball player who played for the Chicago White Sox.
- Tom Candy Ponting: A cattleman who was the first to drive a herd of cattle from Texas all the way to New York City.
See also
In Spanish: Moweaqua (Illinois) para niños
