Peotone, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peotone
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Village
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| Village of Peotone | |
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| Motto(s):
A nice place to live.
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Location of Peotone in Will County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Will |
| Township | Peotone |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.03 sq mi (5.25 km2) |
| • Land | 2.00 sq mi (5.18 km2) |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 4,150 |
| • Density | 2,073.96/sq mi (800.74/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
60468
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| Area code(s) | 708 |
| FIPS code | 17-59052 |
Peotone (/ˈpiːoʊtoʊn/) is a village in Will County, Illinois, United States. It is located in Will County. In 2020, about 4,150 people lived there. Peotone is about 43 miles (69 km) south of Chicago. The local high school team is called the Peotone Blue Devils.
Contents
History of Peotone
The name Peotone comes from the Potawatomi language. It means "come here."
Historic Places to See
Geography of Peotone
Peotone is located at 41°19′46″N 87°47′42″W / 41.32944°N 87.79500°W.
The village covers a total area of about 1.87 square miles (4.85 square kilometers). Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part is water.
Main Roads in Peotone
Several important roads pass through or near Peotone:
- Illinois Route 50
- Interstate 57
- Wilmington-Peotone Road
- Rathje Road
- Joliet Road
Nearby Towns
Peotone is surrounded by other towns:
- About nine miles (14 km) west of Beecher
- Six miles (9.7 km) north of Manteno
- Six miles (9.7 km) south of Monee
- Approximately 20 miles (32 km) east of Wilmington
Peotone Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 623 | — | |
| 1890 | 716 | 14.9% | |
| 1900 | 1,002 | 39.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,206 | 20.4% | |
| 1920 | 1,089 | −9.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,153 | 5.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,145 | −0.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,394 | 21.7% | |
| 1960 | 1,787 | 28.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,344 | 31.2% | |
| 1980 | 2,832 | 20.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,947 | 4.1% | |
| 2000 | 3,385 | 14.9% | |
| 2010 | 4,142 | 22.4% | |
| 2020 | 4,150 | 0.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, about 3,385 people lived in Peotone. There were 1,268 households. A household is a group of people living together.
Most people in Peotone were White (97.93%). A small number were African American, Native American, or Asian. Some people were from other backgrounds. About 1.36% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Age Groups in Peotone
The population was spread out by age:
- 27.9% were under 18 years old.
- 8.0% were between 18 and 24.
- 29.3% were between 25 and 44.
- 23.2% were between 45 and 64.
- 11.6% were 65 years or older.
The average age in the village was 37 years.
Education in Peotone
Peotone has several schools for different age groups. All schools in the district share the same mascot, the Blue Devil.
Elementary Schools
- Peotone Elementary School (PES) is in Peotone. It serves students from kindergarten to 3rd grade.
- Peotone Intermediate Center (PIC) is in Green Garden Township. It teaches 4th and 5th graders. It used to be called Green Garden Elementary School.
- The Connor Shaw Center holds the school district offices. It also has the Pre-Kindergarten Center.
In 2014, the Peotone School Board decided to close Wilton Center Elementary School. The remaining elementary schools were then reorganized into grade centers.
Junior High and High School
- Peotone Junior High School serves students from 6th to 8th grade. It has been in the old Peotone Junior Senior High School building since 2001. The high school still uses some of the junior high's outdoor sports fields.
- In 2001, a new Peotone High School was built on the northwest side of town. It was designed for 600 students. However, in the 2010-2011 school year, about 687 students were enrolled.
As of 2007, Peotone schools had a total of 2,107 students. This included all students from kindergarten through 12th grade.
Proposed South Suburban Airport
For a long time, Peotone has been suggested as the location for a new airport. This airport would serve the Chicago area. Building new airports often causes debate, and this one is no different. In 1967, the Chicago Tribune newspaper wrote articles saying a third airport was needed in Peotone.
Why Some People Support the Airport
People who support the airport say that the current airports, O'Hare and Midway, are not big enough for Chicago's travel needs. They also believe the new airport would bring jobs and money to the Chicago Southland area. This area needs more economic growth.
Many politicians have supported the airport plan. These include former Governor Rod Blagojevich, former Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., Congressman Jerry Weller, and Will County Executive Larry Walsh. Even former state senator Barack Obama supported these efforts.
Why Some People Oppose the Airport
People who are against the airport worry about the environment. They are concerned about the impact of building a new airport and the roads needed for it. They also point out that Gary/Chicago International Airport in Gary, Indiana already exists. This airport is closer to Chicago than Peotone. It is also being expanded to handle more flights with less environmental impact.
Politicians who oppose the Peotone airport include former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, former Gary Mayor Scott King, Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, and Representative Pete Visclosky from Indiana.
Former Representative Jesse Jackson, jr. led a private group in Cook County. This group wanted to own the proposed airport. However, a state plan from IDOT (Illinois Department of Transportation) is more helpful to the people living where the airport would be built. This plan would give local control of the airport to Will County officials.
Peotone Airport in Fiction
In the science-fiction novel The Boy Who Would Live Forever (2004), a character flies out of "Peotone International Airport." This book was the fifth in the Gateway series. The author, Frederik Pohl, lived in Palatine, Illinois.
Images for kids
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A robot for kids.
See also
In Spanish: Peotone (Illinois) para niños
