New Boston, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Boston, Illinois
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New Boston along IL 17 in April 2017
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| Nickname(s):
Yellow Banks
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Location in Mercer County, Illinois
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 New Boston, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Mercer |
| Township | New Boston |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.40 sq mi (3.64 km2) |
| • Land | 0.94 sq mi (2.44 km2) |
| • Water | 0.46 sq mi (1.20 km2) |
| Elevation | 562 ft (171 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 613 |
| • Density | 651.43/sq mi (251.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
61272
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| Area code(s) | 309 |
| FIPS code | 17-52220 |
New Boston is a small city located in Mercer County, Illinois, United States. It sits right on the famous Mississippi River. In 2020, about 613 people lived there. This was a bit fewer than the 683 people who lived there in 2010.
Contents
History of New Boston
New Boston was first settled in the 1830s. The first people to move there were called "Yankee" migrants. They came from Massachusetts, a state far to the east.
Geography and Location
New Boston is found on the western edge of Mercer County. It is also on the very western side of the state of Illinois. The city is right on the east bank of the Mississippi River. This is where Boston Bay meets the river, and Eliza Creek flows into the bay.
Nearby Areas and Rivers
Across the Mississippi River from New Boston is the state of Iowa. The Iowa River also flows into the Mississippi nearby. About 5 miles (8 km) upstream on the Mississippi River, you can find Lock and Dam No. 17. This is a structure that helps control the river's water level.
Illinois Route 17 starts in New Boston. This road goes east for about 14 miles (23 km) to Aledo. Aledo is the main town, or county seat, for Mercer County. The closest place to cross the Mississippi River by road is about 19 miles (31 km) north. This crossing is at Muscatine, Iowa.
Land and Water Area
The U.S. Census Bureau says that New Boston covers a total area of about 1.40 square miles (3.64 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 0.94 square miles (2.44 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.46 square miles (1.20 square kilometers), is water. This means that about 33% of New Boston's area is water!
Nature and Wildlife
A lot of the natural land around New Boston is part of the Port Louisa National Wildlife Refuge. This refuge is a special protected area for animals and plants. The river valley near New Boston has gentle, rolling hills called bluffs. Between these bluffs are many rich wetlands. Wetlands are areas of land covered by water, like swamps or marshes. These wetlands are very important for wildlife. They are especially helpful for migratory birds that travel long distances.
Population of New Boston
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 229 | — | |
| 1860 | 583 | 154.6% | |
| 1870 | 779 | 33.6% | |
| 1880 | 633 | −18.7% | |
| 1890 | 445 | −29.7% | |
| 1900 | 703 | 58.0% | |
| 1910 | 718 | 2.1% | |
| 1920 | 714 | −0.6% | |
| 1930 | 736 | 3.1% | |
| 1940 | 801 | 8.8% | |
| 1950 | 767 | −4.2% | |
| 1960 | 726 | −5.3% | |
| 1970 | 706 | −2.8% | |
| 1980 | 731 | 3.5% | |
| 1990 | 620 | −15.2% | |
| 2000 | 632 | 1.9% | |
| 2010 | 683 | 8.1% | |
| 2020 | 613 | −10.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In the year 2000, there were 632 people living in New Boston. These people lived in 269 different homes, and 177 of these were families. The city had about 673 people per square mile (260 people per square kilometer).
Population Details
Most of the people in New Boston were White (99.53%). A very small number were African-American or Native American.
About 28% of the homes had children under 18 living there. More than half (53%) were married couples living together. About 12% of homes had someone living alone who was 65 years old or older.
The average age of people in New Boston was 40 years old. For every 100 females, there were about 103 males.
Notable People from New Boston
Some interesting people have come from New Boston:
- Henry Asp - He became a lawyer in Oklahoma.
- Paul G. Blazer - He was the first president and CEO of a large company called Ashland Inc..
- Robert M. Danford - He was a major general in the U.S. Army.
Images for kids
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New Boston along IL 17 in April 2017
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Location in Mercer County, Illinois
See also
In Spanish: New Boston (Illinois) para niños
