Silvis, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Silvis, Illinois
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Silvis, Illinois welcome sign
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| Motto(s):
A City of Progress
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Location of Silvis in Rock Island County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Illinois | ||
| County | Rock Island | ||
| Founded | 1906 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4.29 sq mi (11.10 km2) | ||
| • Land | 4.29 sq mi (11.10 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,003 | ||
| • Density | 1,868/sq mi (721/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code(s) |
61282
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| Area code(s) | 309 | ||
| FIPS code | 17-69979 | ||
| Wikimedia Commons | Silvis, Illinois | ||
Silvis is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of a larger area called the Quad Cities. The Quad Cities is a group of four main cities and their surrounding areas. These cities are located across four counties in both Illinois and Iowa.
Silvis is about 4 miles (6.4 km) from where two major highways, Interstate 80 and Interstate 88, meet. It is also about 165 miles (266 km) from Chicago and 165 miles (266 km) east of Des Moines. The city sits right next to East Moline and Moline, Illinois. Silvis has several colleges and universities nearby, offering many learning opportunities.
Contents
How Many People Live in Silvis?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 1,163 | — | |
| 1920 | 2,541 | 118.5% | |
| 1930 | 2,650 | 4.3% | |
| 1940 | 2,990 | 12.8% | |
| 1950 | 3,055 | 2.2% | |
| 1960 | 3,973 | 30.0% | |
| 1970 | 5,907 | 48.7% | |
| 1980 | 7,130 | 20.7% | |
| 1990 | 6,926 | −2.9% | |
| 2000 | 7,269 | 5.0% | |
| 2010 | 7,479 | 2.9% | |
| 2020 | 8,003 | 7.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2019, about 7,475 people lived in Silvis. There were nearly 3,000 households and about 1,939 families. The city had about 1,994 people per square mile (770 per km²).
Most people living in Silvis are White (86.09%). Other groups include African American (3.45%), Native American (0.47%), and Asian (0.81%). About 14.36% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
About 31.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.41 people. The average family had 3.01 people. The median age in the city was 38 years old.
A Look at Silvis's Past
The city of Silvis was officially started in 1906. It was first called Pleasant Valley. The city got its name from Richard Shippen Silvis. His family ran the Silvis Mining Company and were among the first people to settle there.
The Rock Island Line Workshops
In 1902, the Rock Island Line decided to build its biggest train repair shop in Silvis. This huge workshop was built on 900 acres of land. It included a main storage area, repair shops, a large roundhouse for trains, and two big freight yards.
Many immigrants from Mexico came to work at the railway. They worked in the shops or on the tracks. The railway built homes for its workers and their families. These homes were rented at low prices because of a special agreement with the town. This meant workers did not pay property taxes.
The Mexican part of town was known as La Yarda. It had its own Mexican-run stores and a Mexican band. Later, old train cars that once held the band's instruments were turned into the Lady of Guadalupe church. This church opened on Easter Sunday in 1927. In 1929, the special tax agreement ended, and the railway workers had to move their homes. Many moved to what are now Second, Third, and Fourth streets.
After the Rock Island Line closed in 1980, the workshops were used to store trains. Later, National Railway Equipment bought the facility. It is still a place where trains are fixed and updated for the railroad industry in North America. In 2021, the Railroading Heritage of Midwest America bought the facility. They plan to create a museum and continue fixing up old steam and diesel trains. In 2022, historic trains from Union Pacific were moved there. These included famous engines like Union Pacific 3985 and Union Pacific 6936.
Golfing at TPC Deere Run
Silvis is home to TPC Deere Run, a public golf course. It was designed by a former professional golfer, D.A. Weibring. The course is located near the beautiful Rock River.
Golf Digest magazine once said it was one of the top public golf courses in the U.S. Golfweek Magazine has called it one of the top five courses in Illinois. Since 2000, TPC Deere Run has hosted the PGA Tour's yearly John Deere Classic golf tournament. This event happens every July, just before the British Open.
Hero Street USA: A Special Place
The city's Second Street was once a muddy road where many Mexican immigrants lived and worked for the Rock Island Railroad. In 1967, its name was changed to Hero Street. This was done to honor the many people from this two-block street who served in the U.S. military.
A total of 84 men from Hero Street served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Eight of these brave men died during World War II: Joseph Gomez, Peter Macias, Johnny Muños, Tony Pompa, Frank Sandoval, Joseph "Joe" Sandoval, William "Willie" Sandoval, and Claro Solis.
Two brothers, Frank and Joe Sandoval, were among those who died. Their parents, Eduvigis and Angelina Sandoval, came to the U.S. from Mexico. Frank was a combat engineer helping to build a road in Burma. He died fighting for an important airbase. His older brother, Joe, was killed in Europe in April 1945, just days before the war ended.
Another family, Joseph and Carmen Sandoval, also immigrated from Mexico. Their son, Willie, joined the army. He was a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division. Willie fought in Italy and Germany. He was killed on October 6, 1944, during a mission related to Operation Market-Garden, a very large airborne operation.
Silvis Mayor William Tatmen officially renamed the street Hero Street USA in May 1967. On October 30, 1971, Hero Street Park was built and dedicated to honor the eight fallen Hispanic servicemen from Hero Street USA. The park has a monument with pictures and stories of the eight veterans. It also has a grotto listing the names of all war dead from Silvis, a playground, and a pavilion.
In 2015, a documentary called "Letters Home to Hero Street" was released. It was made by Emmy-nominated filmmakers Kelly and Tammy Rundle.
Schools in Silvis
Public schools in Silvis are part of three different school districts: Carbon Cliff-Barstow School District 36, East Moline School District 37, and Silvis School District 34. The area has several preschools, elementary schools, one junior high school, and one high school.
Preschools
- George O. Barr Elementary
- Learning Tree Child Care Center
- It's a Child's World
Elementary Schools
- George O. Barr Elementary
- Eagle Ridge
- Bowlesburg Elementary
Middle and Junior High Schools
- North East Junior High School
High Schools
- United Township High School
Getting Around Silvis
Quad Cities MetroLINK offers bus services in Silvis. These bus routes connect Silvis to other places across the Quad Cities area.
See also
In Spanish: Silvis (Illinois) para niños
