Petersburg, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Petersburg, Illinois
City
Menard County Courthouse
Location in Menard County, Illinois
Petersburg, Illinois Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Menard
Founded	1833
Area
• Total	1.56 sq mi (4.05 km2)
• Land	1.56 sq mi (4.05 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	502 ft (153 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	2,258
• Density	1,445.58/sq mi (558.08/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code	62675
Area code(s)	217
FIPS code	17-59312
GNIS feature ID	2396193
Wikimedia Commons	Petersburg, Illinois

Petersburg is a city in Menard County, Illinois, United States. It is the county seat, which means it's the main town where the county government is located. The city sits on hills and some flat land next to the Sangamon River.

Petersburg is part of the Springfield, Illinois area. In 2020, about 2,258 people lived there. It is located about 2 miles (3.2 km) north of New Salem, which was an early home for Abraham Lincoln when he started his career.

History of Petersburg

Petersburg started as a planned town in 1833. Two people, Peter Lukins (who the town is named after) and George Warburton, organized it. Interestingly, Abraham Lincoln worked as the surveyor who helped map out the land and divide it into lots.

Petersburg grew quickly because it was in a good spot on the river. It became the county seat in the 1830s. This growth led to people moving from New Salem, which was eventually abandoned by 1840. Many beautiful Victorian-era homes built by wealthy early residents still stand in Petersburg. The town is proud of these old buildings and has even kept some of its original cobblestone streets.

What is the Economy Like?

Petersburg first became important as a place for farming trade and shipping goods. It was a spot where a railroad met the Sangamon River, which was once deep enough for boats to travel on. However, over the years, the Sangamon River near Petersburg has become too shallow for boats. This is because of dirt and sand building up from local farms and water being directed into lakes like Lake Petersburg.

Today, the area's economy still mostly relies on farming, especially growing corn. Tourism is also important, though it's a smaller industry. The town welcomes visitors who are interested in Abraham Lincoln, as it's a gateway to New Salem. There are also many bed and breakfast inns, often in the restored Victorian homes. Petersburg has also become a "bedroom community" for Springfield, Illinois, the state capital, which is about 23 miles (37 km) away. This means many people who live in Petersburg work in Springfield.

Famous People from Petersburg

Many interesting people have connections to Petersburg:

• William Taylor Davidson: A newspaper editor who was born in Petersburg.
• Bill Krieg: A baseball player who played for several teams, including the Chicago White Stockings. He was born in Petersburg.
• Harris Laning: An admiral in the United States Navy, born in Petersburg.
• Edgar Lee Masters: A lawyer and author known for his book (Spoon River Anthology). He is buried in Petersburg's Oakland Cemetery, and his childhood home is still open for visits.
• William B. McKinley: A United States senator from Illinois.
• Ann Rutledge: She is believed by some to have been Abraham Lincoln's first love. She is buried in Petersburg's Oakland Cemetery.

Petersburg's Geography

Petersburg is located in the middle of Menard County. Illinois Route 97 goes through the city, connecting it to Havana (about 25 miles or 40 km northwest) and Springfield (about 23 miles or 37 km southeast). Illinois Route 123 also passes through the city.

The city covers about 1.56 square miles (4.05 square kilometers) of land. Most of Petersburg is on the hills overlooking the Sangamon River. However, some parts, like the downtown area, are on the flatter land next to the river. The Sangamon River flows north and then west, eventually joining the Illinois River.

The town has a good number of trees, mostly maples and oaks, which is different from the flat farmland around it. Nearby New Salem State Park also has a large area of old-growth forest.

Natural Disasters in Petersburg

Petersburg has experienced some natural disasters over the years:

• Earthquake (1909): On July 18, 1909, an earthquake from the New Madrid Fault caused damage in Petersburg. It was felt across central Illinois, but Petersburg had the most damage.
• Floods (1993): In 1993, during a very rainy season, parts of Petersburg located near the river experienced major flood damage. Since then, the city has worked to buy and remove homes in the areas most likely to flood, creating parks instead.
• Tornado (2010): On December 31, 2010, a tornado hit Petersburg. About 40 homes were damaged, and 22 of them were so badly damaged that people couldn't live in them. This tornado happened during unusually warm, spring-like weather for December.

Population Information

In 2000, there were 2,299 people living in Petersburg. About 997 households and 612 families were in the city. The population density was about 1,705.7 people per square mile (658.6 people per square kilometer).

Most of the people living in Petersburg were White (97.78%). About 24.5% of the population was under 18 years old. The average age in the city was 38 years. The median income for a household was $34,688.

Media in Petersburg

Petersburg receives television broadcasts from stations like WCIA, WICS, WAND, and WSEC. The local newspaper is The Petersburg Observer, and people also read The State Journal-Register from Springfield.

Places to Visit

• The Edgar Lee Masters Home: This historic home is located at Eighth and Jackson streets. You can visit it from Memorial Day to Labor Day, Tuesday through Saturday.
• Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site: This park is about 2 miles (3.2 km) south of Petersburg. It has a rebuilt village with log cabins, showing what life was like when Abraham Lincoln lived there from 1831 to 1837. The park also has a historical center and an outdoor theater, attracting over half a million visitors each year.
• Starhill Forest Arboretum: This beautiful tree garden is located about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Petersburg.

See also

In Spanish: Petersburg (Illinois) para niños