Ste facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ste. Marie |
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| Village | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jasper |
| Coordinates | 38°53″N 88°1′31″W / 38.01472°N 88.02528°WInvalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function |
| Area | 1.11 sq mi (3 km²) |
| - land | 1.11 sq mi (3 km²) |
| - water | 0.00 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Population | 261 (2000) |
| Density | 234.7 /sq mi (91 /km²) |
| Village president | Jack Thompson |
| Timezone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Postal code | 62459 |
| Area code | 618 |
Ste. Marie is a small village located in Jasper County, Illinois. It sits right next to the Embarras River. In the year 2000, about 261 people lived there.
Contents
Early History of Ste. Marie
The story of Ste. Marie began in the early 1800s. At this time, some people in France were worried about changes happening in their country. They wanted to create a new community based on their strong beliefs.
A New Start in America
In 1835, a young man named Joseph Picquet, who was 19 years old, was sent to America. His job was to explore the land and report back to his family. They trusted him because he was loyal and wise.
Joseph arrived in New York. He spent nine months in Philadelphia learning about American life. Then, in 1836, he began his travels. He visited many places like Pittsburgh, Fort Wayne, and St. Louis.
He was told to avoid big cities. Joseph finally chose the land where Ste. Marie is now. It had rolling prairies and forests. He liked that it was close to Vincennes, a French city. Also, there were priests nearby to hold church services. At that time, there were no other houses between Newton and Olney.
In October 1836, Joseph went back to France. He told his family good things about the land he found.
Founding the Village
On January 29, 1837, five people, including Joseph Picquet and his father, formed a group. Their goal was to buy land in the United States. They wanted to build a new home where they could live freely.
Joseph returned to the United States on June 20, 1837. He brought 25 family members with him on a ship called the Mogul. Because they were all related, they planned to call their new home "Colony of Brothers."
They first bought a small farm near St. Francisville. They stayed there for a few months. On October 1, 1837, they moved to start their new settlement. They stayed with William Price, who had a cabin nearby.
On October 12, 1837, three of the settlers officially claimed about 12,000 acres of land. A French priest named Father Stephen Theodore Badin visited them. He blessed their work and held a Mass. Father Badin was the first priest ever ordained in the United States.
On October 28, 1837, the settlers gathered near the Embarras River. They officially took ownership of the land. They dedicated their new village to the Virgin Mary. The settlement was first called "Colonie des Freres," or Colony of Brothers. Later, the name was changed to Ste. Marie. The French spelling was updated in 1892.
Joseph Picquet made many more trips to France. He helped other family members come to the new colony. Ste. Marie quickly grew. It soon had its first church, a free school, a post office, and a store. It became an important place in the middle of the wilderness.
Where is Ste. Marie?
Ste. Marie is located at 38°55′53″N 88°1′31″W / 38.93139°N 88.02528°W. This means it's in the northern part of the Western Hemisphere.
According to the 2010 census, Ste. Marie covers about 1.11 square miles of land. There is no water area within the village limits.
People of Ste. Marie
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 243 | — | |
| 1890 | 318 | 30.9% | |
| 1900 | 406 | 27.7% | |
| 1910 | 450 | 10.8% | |
| 1920 | 351 | −22.0% | |
| 1930 | 304 | −13.4% | |
| 1940 | 293 | −3.6% | |
| 1950 | 352 | 20.1% | |
| 1960 | 347 | −1.4% | |
| 1970 | 335 | −3.5% | |
| 1980 | 312 | −6.9% | |
| 1990 | 281 | −9.9% | |
| 2000 | 261 | −7.1% | |
| 2010 | 244 | −6.5% | |
| 2015 (est.) | 243 | −0.4% | |
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In 2000, there were 261 people living in Ste. Marie. Most of the people were White. A small number were of Hispanic or Latino background.
The village had 116 households. About 22% of these households had children under 18. Many households were married couples. The average age of people in the village was 40 years old.
Life in Ste. Marie
Ste. Marie is a lively community. It is always looking for new businesses and residents.
Community Places
The village has several important places:
- Churches:
- St. Mary's of the Assumption Catholic Church
- Pilgrim Holiness Church
- Organizations:
- 4-H Club (for young people)
- Sainte Marie American Legion Post 932
- Ste. Marie Community Club
- Ste. Marie Foundation
- Ste. Marie Home Extension
- Government/School:
- South Eastern Special Education
- Ste. Marie Post Office 62459
- Ste. Marie Elementary
- Businesses:
- The Gas Station
- ASL Solutions
- DM Welding
- Shane's Welding
- Hartrich's Meat Processing and Store
- And more!
Local Government
The current leader of the village is the Village President. His name is Jack Thompson.
