Savanna, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Savanna, Illinois
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Pulford Opera House in downtown Savanna.
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Location of Savanna in Carroll County, Illinois.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Carroll |
| Township | Savanna |
| Founded | 1828 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.71 sq mi (7.02 km2) |
| • Land | 2.62 sq mi (6.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.09 sq mi (0.24 km2) |
| Elevation | 600 ft (200 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,783 |
| • Density | 1,063.84/sq mi (410.68/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
61074
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| Area code(s) | 815 |
| FIPS code | 17-67821 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Savanna, Illinois |
| Website | https://www.savanna-il.us/ |
Savanna is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, USA. It's a smaller city with about 2,783 people living there in 2020. Savanna sits right on the famous Mississippi River, where the Plum River flows into it.
Contents
Savanna's Past and Growth
Long ago, the area around Savanna was a big hunting ground for different Native American tribes, like the Sauk. After some agreements, land along the Mississippi River in Illinois was opened for farmers to settle. Towns like Savanna grew because the river made it easy to transport goods and trade.
Savanna's first settlers faced some challenges during the Black Hawk War in 1832.
Downtown Revival and Fun Events
Since the mid-1990s, the downtown area of Savanna has become lively again. This happened after the army depot closed. New lights were added to make the old 19th-century buildings look even better.
The city wants to bring more shops to its main street. The goal is for Savanna to become a popular weekend spot, much like nearby Galena. Havencrest Castle has also been restored. It's now an art gallery that brings many visitors to the area.
The Savanna Chamber of Commerce and other local groups organize many fun events all year. These include a Ladies Day Out Luncheon and a big Independence Day parade and festival. There's also a Halloween Parade, the popular Shadfly Festival, and a downtown Christmas Walk.
Did you know? Savanna has the only traffic light in all of Carroll County!
Geography of Savanna
Savanna is located at 42°5′24″N 90°8′24″W / 42.09000°N 90.14000°W. This means it's in the northern part of Illinois, close to the Mississippi River.
The city covers a total area of about 7.02 square kilometers (2.71 square miles). Most of this area, about 6.78 square kilometers (2.62 square miles), is land. A smaller part, about 0.24 square kilometers (0.09 square miles), is water.
People of Savanna
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 658 | — | |
| 1860 | 825 | 25.4% | |
| 1870 | 971 | 17.7% | |
| 1880 | 1,000 | 3.0% | |
| 1890 | 3,097 | 209.7% | |
| 1900 | 3,325 | 7.4% | |
| 1910 | 3,691 | 11.0% | |
| 1920 | 5,237 | 41.9% | |
| 1930 | 5,086 | −2.9% | |
| 1940 | 4,792 | −5.8% | |
| 1950 | 5,058 | 5.6% | |
| 1960 | 4,950 | −2.1% | |
| 1970 | 4,942 | −0.2% | |
| 1980 | 4,529 | −8.4% | |
| 1990 | 3,819 | −15.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,542 | −7.3% | |
| 2010 | 3,062 | −13.6% | |
| 2020 | 2,783 | −9.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 2,783 people living in Savanna. There were 1,503 households and 666 families. Most people living in the city were White (87.21%). Other groups included African American (2.01%), Native American (0.50%), and Asian (0.14%). About 9.09% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 17.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had 2.83 people. The average family had 1.91 people.
The median age in Savanna was 48.2 years old. This means half the people were younger than 48.2 and half were older.
Savanna Army Depot History
In 1917, the United States Army bought a large piece of land. It was about 13,062 acres (52.86 square kilometers) north of Savanna. They built the Savanna Army Depot there.
At first, the land was used to test weapons made at the Rock Island Arsenal. In 1921, the depot's job changed. It became a place to store and maintain weapons. From World War II through the Vietnam War, the depot handled many types of weapons.
Depot Closure and New Businesses
By 1995, the U.S. Congress decided to close the Savanna Army Depot. This was part of a plan called the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC). The depot officially closed on March 18, 2000.
After the closure, a group called the Jo-Carroll Depot Local Redevelopment Authority (LRA) was formed. Their job was to help reuse the land from the old depot. Many companies have now moved into the area, which is called "Savanna Depot Park."
Here are some of the businesses that have chosen to be there:
- Area 51 LLC: A company that works with grain bins.
- Bryer Productions: A photography business.
- Commander’s House: A&B Holdings plans to turn this house into a place for company and family get-togethers.
- Depot Electric Supply: An electrical supply company.
- Fluidic MicroControls: They research and develop small turbines.
- Illinois Information Management: They rent out office space.
- Illinois International Trade Center: Helps with international trade.
- Jeanblanc International Inc: Specializes in new environmental technologies for the oil industry.
- Midwest 3PL: A company that handles warehousing and logistics.
- Rescar: A company that repairs railcars.
- Riverport Railroad LLC: They service, repair, and store railcars. They also connect long lines of railcars for BNSF.
- Savanna Stables: Owns old barracks and a barn.
- Speer Recycling: A company that recycles metal.
Transportation and Services
Just north of Savanna, there's a bridge that connects Illinois to Sabula, Iowa. This bridge is part of U.S. Route 52. Savanna also has two major railroads passing through it: the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway and the Canadian Pacific Railway. The city also has a small airport called the Tri-Township Airport (KSFY).
Savanna is kept safe by its own Police, Fire Department, and Ambulance Service. All three have stations on Chicago Avenue. The Fire Department building also serves as a backup center for Carroll County's 911 dispatch.
Savanna used to have its own hospital. Now, that building is an assisted living facility called Pinnacle Place. If someone needs an ambulance, they are taken to Mercy Medical Center in Clinton, Iowa, or other hospitals in Illinois. The Savanna Ambulance Service is one of only two in the county with paramedics.
Famous People from Savanna
Many notable people have come from Savanna. These include:
- Helen Scott Hay: An American Red Cross nurse during World War I.
- Wayne King: Known as "America's Waltz King."
- Edward B. Powell: A Hollywood orchestrator.
- Tommy Treichel: A professional wrestler.
- Billy Zoom (Tyson Kindell): A founding member and guitarist of the punk band X.
- Pete Lister: An MLB baseball player.
- Dale Gardner: A former NASA astronaut.
See also
In Spanish: Savanna (Illinois) para niños
