Piper City, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Piper City
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Location of Piper City 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 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.56 sq mi (1.44 km2) |
| • Land | 0.56 sq mi (1.44 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 669 ft (204 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 745 |
| • Density | 1,342.34/sq mi (518.52/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
60959
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| Area code(s) | 815 |
| FIPS code | 17-60079 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399679 |
Piper City is a small village located in Ford County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 745 people lived there. It is a quiet community in the heart of Illinois.
Contents
About Piper City's Location
Piper City covers a total area of about 0.56 square miles (1.44 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no large bodies of water.
History of Piper City
How Piper City Started
Piper City was planned in 1867 by two men: Samuel Cross from New York and William A. Piper from Philadelphia. The very first plan for the town was called Brenton.
The town grew up around the Toledo Peoria and Western Railroad. This railroad had been finished ten years earlier. The town's current name, Piper City, was chosen soon after it was founded. It honors William A. Piper, who owned a lot of land in the area.
Early Days and Growth
Before Piper City, there was an older train stop and grain storage area called Brenton. This was located two miles east of where Piper City was built. Because of this, the new train station was briefly known as New Brenton.
The town was built along the railroad tracks. Its streets were designed to follow the train line. In the summer of 1867, John Allen and W. C. Jones opened the first store in Piper City. Another store, Piper, Montelius and Company, was run by J.A. Montelius, who was Piper's nephew.
The first Post Office was set up in the home of John R. Lewis. He worked for the Illinois Central Railroad, helping people buy land.
Community and Changes
Churches were an important part of the growing community. A Presbyterian Church was started in 1869. A Catholic church followed in 1880, and a Methodist church in 1881.
In 1870, J.A. Montelius opened a bank. For many years, he was a very important person in Piper City. In 1887, B.W. Kensey started the local newspaper, the Piper City Journal.
In 1924, the people of Piper City learned that a new highway, later known as U.S. 24, would pass a quarter mile south of their town. They asked the governor to change the plan, but they were not successful.
Piper City has always been an important place for sending out grain. This is because it is surrounded by rich farmland in Ford County.
Population of Piper City
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 302 | — | |
| 1880 | 423 | 40.1% | |
| 1890 | 460 | 8.7% | |
| 1900 | 577 | 25.4% | |
| 1910 | 663 | 14.9% | |
| 1920 | 715 | 7.8% | |
| 1930 | 650 | −9.1% | |
| 1940 | 663 | 2.0% | |
| 1950 | 735 | 10.9% | |
| 1960 | 807 | 9.8% | |
| 1970 | 842 | 4.3% | |
| 1980 | 905 | 7.5% | |
| 1990 | 760 | −16.0% | |
| 2000 | 781 | 2.8% | |
| 2010 | 826 | 5.8% | |
| 2020 | 745 | −9.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 census, 745 people lived in Piper City. There were 398 households in the village. About 357 homes were available.
Most of the people in Piper City were White (86.17%). A small number were from other racial groups. About 9.80% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average household had about 2.44 people. The average family had about 2.03 people.
The median age in the village was 45.0 years old. This means half the people were younger than 45, and half were older.
Famous People from Piper City
- Elmer Koestner - He was a baseball pitcher who played for teams like the Cleveland Naps, Chicago Cubs, and Cincinnati Reds. He was born in Piper City.
See also
In Spanish: Piper City (Illinois) para niños
