Princeton, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Princeton, Illinois
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Matson Library
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Location of Princeton in Bureau County, Illinois.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Bureau |
| Townships | Princeton, Dover |
| Settled | 1830s |
| Incorporated, City | 1884 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council-Manager |
| Area | |
| • Total | 8.24 sq mi (21.34 km2) |
| • Land | 8.24 sq mi (21.34 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 780 ft (240 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,832 |
| • Density | 950.49/sq mi (367.00/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Zip codes |
61356
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| Area code(s) | 815 |
| FIPS code | 17-61899 |
Princeton is a city in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. It is also the county seat, meaning it's where the county government is located. In 2020, about 7,832 people lived there.
Princeton is part of the Ottawa Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is a popular town for people from Chicago and the Quad Cities. This is because it's located where Interstate 80 meets the Amtrak train system. It also has a well-kept main street and many historic homes.
Contents
History of Princeton
Bureau County was first settled by people from New England. The first people who founded Princeton were also from New England. These people were called "Yankees." They were descendants of the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s.
In the early 1800s, many New England farmers moved west to the Northwest Territory. Most of them arrived after the Erie Canal was finished. When they came to what is now Bureau County, it was mostly wild forests and prairies. The New Englanders built farms, roads, government buildings, and post offices. They brought their New England values with them. These included a strong belief in education, which led to many schools being built. They also strongly supported ending slavery. Most of them belonged to the Congregationalist Church.
Culturally, Bureau County was very similar to early New England for a long time. During the time of slavery, Princeton was a stop on the Underground Railroad. This was a secret network that helped enslaved people escape to freedom. The home of Owen Lovejoy was one of these stops.
The name Princeton was chosen in a fun way. Three trustees, Roland Moseley, John Musgrove, and John P. Blake, each had a favorite name. They couldn't agree, so they decided to draw a name from a hat. Each man wrote his chosen name on a paper slip. A blindfolded stranger then drew one slip. Mr. Musgrove, who was from New Jersey, wrote "Princeton" because he loved his old school there. Princeton was the name drawn. This is how the city got its name. For many years, Princeton has been known as a place that values learning. It was the first city in Illinois to open a township high school.
Princeton used to be called "The City of Elms." This was because it had so many elm trees in the mid-1900s. But in the mid-1960s, a tree disease called Dutch elm disease killed almost all of them. After that, Princeton's slogan changed to "Where Tradition Meets Progress." Now, the city's slogan is "A Short Drive that Takes you Far."
Geography and Climate
Princeton is located at 41°22′43″N 89°28′1″W / 41.37861°N 89.46694°W. It covers an area of about 8.24 square miles (21.34 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Princeton's Weather
Princeton experiences a range of temperatures throughout the year. Summers are warm, and winters are cold. The city gets a good amount of rain, especially in spring and summer. Snowfall is common in the winter months.
| Climate data for Princeton, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1987–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) |
70 (21) |
84 (29) |
93 (34) |
97 (36) |
102 (39) |
103 (39) |
102 (39) |
98 (37) |
89 (32) |
79 (26) |
70 (21) |
103 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 30.3 (−0.9) |
35.0 (1.7) |
47.9 (8.8) |
61.5 (16.4) |
72.6 (22.6) |
81.7 (27.6) |
84.5 (29.2) |
82.3 (27.9) |
76.1 (24.5) |
63.0 (17.2) |
47.9 (8.8) |
35.4 (1.9) |
59.8 (15.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 22.1 (−5.5) |
26.3 (−3.2) |
37.8 (3.2) |
49.8 (9.9) |
61.2 (16.2) |
70.6 (21.4) |
73.9 (23.3) |
71.7 (22.1) |
64.5 (18.1) |
52.2 (11.2) |
38.8 (3.8) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
49.7 (9.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 13.8 (−10.1) |
17.6 (−8.0) |
27.6 (−2.4) |
38.1 (3.4) |
49.8 (9.9) |
59.5 (15.3) |
63.2 (17.3) |
61.1 (16.2) |
53.0 (11.7) |
41.5 (5.3) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
19.6 (−6.9) |
39.5 (4.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −26 (−32) |
−26 (−32) |
−9 (−23) |
16 (−9) |
28 (−2) |
40 (4) |
48 (9) |
46 (8) |
30 (−1) |
19 (−7) |
3 (−16) |
−18 (−28) |
−26 (−32) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 1.96 (50) |
2.00 (51) |
2.52 (64) |
4.03 (102) |
5.07 (129) |
4.64 (118) |
3.66 (93) |
4.02 (102) |
3.90 (99) |
3.14 (80) |
2.61 (66) |
2.24 (57) |
39.79 (1,011) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 8.6 (22) |
6.9 (18) |
3.7 (9.4) |
0.9 (2.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.3 (0.76) |
1.3 (3.3) |
6.8 (17) |
28.5 (72) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 7.9 | 7.5 | 8.2 | 10.4 | 11.3 | 9.7 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 7.5 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 8.0 | 103.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 5.1 | 4.2 | 1.9 | 0.5 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 16.9 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Princeton
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 2,473 | — | |
| 1870 | 3,264 | 32.0% | |
| 1880 | 3,439 | 5.4% | |
| 1890 | 3,396 | −1.3% | |
| 1900 | 4,023 | 18.5% | |
| 1910 | 4,131 | 2.7% | |
| 1920 | 4,126 | −0.1% | |
| 1930 | 4,762 | 15.4% | |
| 1940 | 5,224 | 9.7% | |
| 1950 | 5,765 | 10.4% | |
| 1960 | 6,250 | 8.4% | |
| 1970 | 6,959 | 11.3% | |
| 1980 | 7,342 | 5.5% | |
| 1990 | 7,197 | −2.0% | |
| 2000 | 7,501 | 4.2% | |
| 2010 | 7,660 | 2.1% | |
| 2020 | 7,832 | 2.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Princeton had 7,832 people living in 3,453 households. About 2,047 of these were families. The city had about 950 people per square mile. Most residents (91.60%) were White. Other groups included African American (1.12%), Asian (1.29%), and Native American (0.37%). About 4.75% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of age, 19.9% of the people were under 18. About 27.8% were 65 years old or older. The average age in Princeton was 47.8 years. The median income for a household was $51,844. For families, it was $66,473.
Princeton's Economy
Princeton has several important employers. These include L.W. Schneider, Inc., which makes parts for firearms. Ace Hardware has a large support center here. LCN Closers, part of Allegion, and MTM Recognition (formerly Josten's) also operate in Princeton. MTM Recognition makes championship rings, like those for the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls. Champion Pneumatic makes air compressors. Pioneer Hi-Bred International and Perry Memorial Hospital are also major employers.
Princeton's Main Street is full of unique shops and restaurants. The south end, or downtown area, is the historic shopping center. It has the city's only movie theater, The Apollo. You can also find the courthouse, the Bureau County Historical Society, and the historic Matson library building here. The north end is called The Art District. It's about a mile north and has its own businesses, a park, and the historic Amtrak train station. This area has recently been updated with new stores and a restored historic hotel.
Major Annual Event: Homestead Festival
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Every year, Princeton hosts its annual Homestead Festival. This event takes place on the second weekend of September. The festival usually features a parade with over a hundred entries. There are many activities, including a famous pork chop barbeque. You can also find a beer garden with local bands, fun events for children, a craft show, and tasting booths.
The festival started in 1971. It began to celebrate the restoration of the Owen Lovejoy Homestead. Now, it's a weekend of food, fun, and the well-known Homestead Parade.
Transportation in Princeton
Princeton is located just south of Interstate 80. This is about 100 miles (160 km) southwest of Chicago. Other important roads like U.S. Route 6, U.S. Route 34, and Illinois Route 26 also pass through Princeton.
Amtrak, the national passenger train system, serves Princeton. Trains like the California Zephyr, Illinois Zephyr, Carl Sandburg, and Southwest Chief stop at the Princeton station every day. These trains travel between Chicago and places further west.
Education in Princeton
Princeton is home to Princeton High School. This school was founded in 1867, making it the oldest township high school in Illinois. Its sports teams are called the Tigers. The high school usually has between 550 and 650 students. A new addition was recently built to provide more space, including a larger library and new classrooms. The school also has the Frank and Marion Rathje track. This track is used for high school football and track and field events from around the region.
Princeton Public Library
Princeton's library history began in March 1886. The first library was located at what is now 529 South Main Street. In 1890, the Matson Public Library opened on South Main. It was used for 22 years. In 1912, a larger Matson Public Library building was built at 15 Park Avenue East.
On March 21, 2006, people voted to approve a plan to renovate a building at 698 East Peru Street. This building, once known as Bogo's, became the new Princeton Public Library. The new library opened on August 1, 2007. It replaced the older Matson Public Library. The Princeton Public Library has a collection of 45,000 items. It has about 27,000 square feet (2,500 m2) of usable space. The library is located on East Peru Street (U.S. Route 6).
In March 2009, the Princeton Public Library was one of only three libraries in Illinois to host "Between Fences." This was an exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibits Service. Other exhibits have included "Bookstock: Celebrating 40 Years of Woodstock" and "Cherry Mine Disaster Revisited." The latter honored those who died in the Cherry Mine Disaster of 1909.
Notable People from Princeton
- William Bascom, a person who studied folklore and cultures.
- John Howard Bryant, a poet and older brother of William Cullen Bryant. He was also a friend of Abraham Lincoln and lived in Princeton.
- E. Leslie Conkling, an educator and Illinois state lawmaker.
- James E. Dabler, an Illinois state representative and businessman.
- Henry C. Doolittle, a state assemblyman from Wisconsin.
- William Dyke, a Wisconsin judge and politician.
- Virgil Fox, a very famous organ player from the 20th Century.
- Billy Garrett, an auto racer.
- Gary Green, a guitarist for the band Gentle Giant.
- Thomas P. Gunning, a dentist and Illinois state senator.
- Madison Gonterman, a head football coach at Indiana University in the late 1800s.
- Kathryn Hays, a television actress known for her role on As the World Turns.
- Frank Fernando Jones, an Iowa state legislator.
- Keith Knudsen, a drummer for the Doobie Brothers who graduated from Princeton High School.
- Owen Lovejoy, a Congressman and important supporter of Abraham Lincoln. He was also a leader in the Underground Railroad.
- Rufus Lumry, a preacher and strong opponent of slavery.
- Asa Mercer, who helped start the University of Washington.
- Bruce Nickells, a harness racing driver and trainer who grew up in Princeton.
- Ben Parr, an author and former co-editor of Mashable.
- Joseph R. Peterson, a lawyer and Illinois state legislator.
- Robert Petkoff, a well-known Broadway and television actor who graduated from Princeton High School.
- Joseph "Joe" Ruklick, an NBA basketball player for the Philadelphia Warriors.
- Eliza Suggs, an activist who promoted temperance.
- Josh Taylor, an actor known for Days of Our Lives and The Hogan Family.
- Justin Tranchita, an actor and artist.
- William V. Thompson, a bowler.
- Richard Widmark, an Oscar-nominated actor who starred in many movies. He was Senior Class President at Princeton High School.
- Milo Winter, an artist who illustrated children's books.
- Bill Wirges, a motorcycle racer.
- Nick Young, a radio newscaster for CBS and WBBM.
Media
Radio Stations in Princeton
- WZIV 90.7 FM
- WZOE 98.1 FM
- WZOE 1490 AM
Images for kids
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South historic Main Street district in Princeton, Illinois.
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View of north historic Main Street district in Princeton, Illinois
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The Apollo Theatre
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Amtrak station
See also
In Spanish: Princeton (Illinois) para niños
