Paxton, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paxton
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View of Downtown Paxton
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Location of Paxton in Ford County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Ford |
| Named for | Joseph Paxton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.04 sq mi (7.88 km2) |
| • Land | 3.04 sq mi (7.86 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| Elevation | 784 ft (239 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,450 |
| • Density | 1,465.74/sq mi (565.98/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
60957
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-58239 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2396167 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Paxton, Illinois |
| Website | http://www.cityofpaxton.com/ |
Paxton is a city in Illinois, United States. It is the main city and the county seat of Ford County. In 2020, about 4,450 people lived there.
Contents
History of Paxton
Paxton has an interesting history with a few name changes! In the late 1840s, it was first called Prairie City. Then, in 1855, an official from the Illinois Central Railroad renamed it Prospect City. However, people joked that it was "all prospect and no city" because it wasn't very developed yet.
In 1859, the town was renamed for Sir Joseph Paxton. He was a famous architect who designed the Crystal Palace in London. Sir Joseph Paxton was also a big investor in the Illinois Central Railroad. This railroad, built in 1856, was the longest in the world at the time, connecting Chicago to Cairo. There was a rumor that Sir Joseph Paxton wanted to start an English settlement in Illinois. That settlement never happened, but the town kept his name. Paxton celebrated its 150th birthday in 2009!
Education and Schools
Augustana College was located in Paxton from 1863 to 1875. The community, especially new Swedish immigrants, worked hard to support the college. They wanted to provide good education and cultural chances for everyone.
An early public high school opened in Paxton in 1872. It served the area for many years. In 1920, a community high school district was formed. The school's sports teams were known as the Paxton Mustangs. In 1990, the district joined with the Buckley-Loda Rockets. This created the current Paxton-Buckley-Loda School District, whose teams are now called the PBL Panthers.
Important Buildings and Visits
The Ford County Courthouse in Paxton was built in 1906. Inside, you can see many murals painted in the 1930s by artists from the Works Progress Administration.
On June 22, 1919, former President William Howard Taft visited Paxton. He gave a speech in Pells Park, supporting the United States joining the League of Nations. His visit was part of the Paxton Chautauqua, a series of events held in Pells Park from 1905 to 1930. These events brought musicians, speakers, and entertainers from all over the country. President Taft is one of four U.S. Presidents to visit Ford County.
Local News and Transportation
For many years, from 1865 to 2007, the Paxton Daily Record newspaper was published in the city. It was one of the longest-running daily newspapers of its size in Illinois. Today, the Ford County Chronicle, a digital newspaper, continues to share local news, sports, and event information.
Paxton is built on some of the highest ground in the area. Because of this, the Illinois Central Railroad had to dig out the land to keep the train tracks level. This meant the railroad ran below the city. Around the 1920s, several bridges were built over the railroad to connect the east and west sides of Paxton. Today, there are three bridges for cars and one for people to walk across.
Historic Places to See
Paxton is home to the Historic Brick Water Tower & Ford County Historical Society Museum. This museum opened on July 4, 2007. The brick water tower is 80 feet (24 meters) tall and was built in 1887. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Another historic building being restored is the Old Ford County Jail and Sheriff's Residence. It was built in 1871 and will become a museum. The Paxton Carnegie Library, built in 1903, is also on the National Register of Historic Places.
Many homes in Paxton were built in the late 1800s. Some of these are part of a special walking tour of historic homes. Many owners have won awards for keeping these important buildings looking great. Local groups like the Paxton Area Chamber of Commerce help promote businesses and events in the historic downtown area.
Geography and Location
Paxton covers about 3.04 square miles (7.88 square kilometers) of land. Only a very small part is water.
The city is easy to reach because it has three major highways nearby: I-57, U.S. Route 45, and Illinois Route 9. The Illinois Central Railroad also runs through Paxton. The city even has its own municipal airport with a 3,500-foot (1,067-meter) landing strip.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 275 | — | |
| 1870 | 1,456 | 429.5% | |
| 1880 | 1,725 | 18.5% | |
| 1890 | 2,187 | 26.8% | |
| 1900 | 3,036 | 38.8% | |
| 1910 | 2,912 | −4.1% | |
| 1920 | 3,033 | 4.2% | |
| 1930 | 2,892 | −4.6% | |
| 1940 | 3,106 | 7.4% | |
| 1950 | 3,795 | 22.2% | |
| 1960 | 4,370 | 15.2% | |
| 1970 | 4,373 | 0.1% | |
| 1980 | 4,258 | −2.6% | |
| 1990 | 4,289 | 0.7% | |
| 2000 | 4,525 | 5.5% | |
| 2010 | 4,473 | −1.1% | |
| 2020 | 4,450 | −0.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 census, Paxton had 4,450 people living in 1,663 households. About 31.7% of these households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.99 people.
The population's age breakdown was:
- 26.1% were under 18 years old.
- 18.3% were 65 years or older.
The average age in the city was 38.9 years.
Notable People from Paxton
Many interesting people have connections to Paxton:
- Charles Bogardus (1841–1929) lived in Paxton. He was an Illinois state lawmaker, businessman, and farmer.
- Curtiss LaQ Day (1895–1972) was born and grew up in Paxton. He was one of the first people to explore aviation.
- Antoinette Downing (1904–2001) was born in Paxton. She was famous for preserving historical buildings.
- Gustaf Johnson (1872–1944) was mayor of Paxton three times. He also served in the Illinois House of Representatives.
- Pete Larson was a running back for the Washington Redskins football team. He grew up in Paxton.
- Lena Morrow Lewis (1868–1950) graduated from high school in Paxton. She was a political activist, speaker, and journalist.
- Mush March (1908–2002) played for the Chicago Blackhawks ice hockey team when they won the Stanley Cup in 1934 and 1938. He lived and died in Paxton.
- Tom Meents (born 1967) is a champion monster truck driver who lives in Paxton.
- Sid Mercer (1880–1945) was a sportswriter who wrote about boxing and baseball.
- Gina Miles (born 2003) won season 23 of The Voice.
- George E. Morrow (1840–1900) was an expert in farming. The Morrow Plots at the University of Illinois are named after him.
- William H. Plackett (1937–2016) was born and grew up in Paxton. He became the sixth Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.
See also
In Spanish: Paxton (Illinois) para niños
