Palestine, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Palestine
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Palestine's commercial district
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Location of Palestine in Crawford County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Crawford |
| Chartered | 1811 |
| Incorporated | February 15, 1855 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.79 sq mi (2.04 km2) |
| • Land | 0.79 sq mi (2.04 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 449 ft (137 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,233 |
| • Density | 1,562.74/sq mi (603.15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62451
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17–57277 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399610 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Palestine, Illinois |
Palestine is a small village located in Crawford County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,233 people lived there.
Contents
Village Location and Size
Palestine is found in Crawford County, Illinois. It covers a total area of about 0.79 square miles (2.04 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
A Look at Palestine's History
Early Beginnings
It is believed that a French explorer named Jean Lamotte first saw this area in 1678. He named it Palestine because it reminded him of the Palestine region in the Middle East.
Becoming a Town
Palestine was officially recognized as a town in 1811. At that time, the area was still part of Virginia. This makes Palestine one of the oldest towns in Illinois.
In 1818, Palestine became the "county seat" for Crawford County. This meant it was the main town where the county government was located. However, in 1843, elections moved the county seat to a new place. This new place later became the town of Robinson.
Palestine was officially made an incorporated Illinois town in 1855.
Who Lives in Palestine?
Population Changes Over Time
The number of people living in Palestine has changed over the years. Here's a quick look at the population from 1880 to 2020:
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 735 | — | |
| 1890 | 732 | −0.4% | |
| 1900 | 979 | 33.7% | |
| 1910 | 1,399 | 42.9% | |
| 1920 | 1,803 | 28.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,670 | −7.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,626 | −2.6% | |
| 1950 | 1,589 | −2.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,564 | −1.6% | |
| 1970 | 1,640 | 4.9% | |
| 1980 | 1,718 | 4.8% | |
| 1990 | 1,619 | −5.8% | |
| 2000 | 1,366 | −15.6% | |
| 2010 | 1,369 | 0.2% | |
| 2020 | 1,233 | −9.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
People and Households
As of the 2020 census, 1,233 people lived in Palestine. There were 578 households, which are like homes where people live. About 25.4% of these households had children under 18 living there.
Most people in the village (about 95%) were White. A small number of people were Asian or from other backgrounds. About 0.81% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Palestine was 47.5 years old. About 23.4% of the population was under 18 years old.
Famous People from Palestine
Some notable individuals have connections to Palestine:
- Fred Dubois: He was a politician who served as a U.S. Senator for two terms from Idaho.
- Augustus C. French: He was the 9th Governor of Illinois. A governor is the leader of a state.
- Herschel S. Green: An Illinois politician and a lawyer.
- Madge Miller Green: An Illinois politician and also an educator.
- Wickliffe Kitchell: Another Illinois politician and lawyer.
