Thebes, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thebes, Illinois
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Thebes Courthouse, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
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Location of Thebes in Illinois
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Alexander |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.31 sq mi (5.99 km2) |
| • Land | 1.75 sq mi (4.52 km2) |
| • Water | 0.57 sq mi (1.47 km2) |
| Elevation | 453 ft (138 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 208 |
| • Density | 119.20/sq mi (46.01/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62990
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-74873 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399967 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Thebes, Illinois |
Thebes is a small village located in Alexander County, Illinois, United States. It used to be the main town for the county. In 2020, about 208 people lived there. Thebes is part of a larger area called the Cape Girardeau–Jackson Metropolitan Statistical Area. In 1860, the county seat (the main government town) moved from Thebes to Cairo, Illinois.
Contents
History of Thebes
The village of Thebes was started in 1835. At first, it was known as Sparhawk Landing. It served as the county seat of Alexander County from 1846 until 1859.
Thebes, like the city of Cairo nearby, got its name from an ancient Egyptian city. This part of southern Illinois is often called "Little Egypt."
Famous Visitors and Events
The famous American president Abraham Lincoln once practiced law in Thebes. There's a story that Dred Scott, a slave involved in a very important court case about freedom, might have been held in the old courthouse jail here.
The Mississippi River near Thebes is quite deep. This made the town a busy port for steamboats. During the American Civil War, Union soldiers traveled through Thebes on their way to fight in the South. The Thebes Bridge, a very important railroad bridge, opened in 1905 and is still used today.
In a famous book called Show Boat by Edna Ferber, Thebes is the hometown of some of the main characters.
Geography of Thebes
Thebes is located at coordinates 37°13′9″N 89°27′25″W / 37.21917°N 89.45694°W.
According to information from 2010, Thebes covers a total area of about 2.318 square miles (5.99 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.75 square miles (4.52 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.568 square miles (1.47 square kilometers), is water.
Population Information
The population of Thebes has changed over the years. Here's how many people lived there during different census years:
- 1880: 114 people
- 1900: 417 people
- 1910: 717 people
- 1920: 857 people
- 1930: 751 people
- 1940: 730 people
- 1950: 541 people
- 1960: 471 people
- 1970: 442 people
- 1980: 455 people
- 1990: 461 people
- 2000: 478 people
- 2010: 436 people
- 2020: 208 people
2020 Census Details
In 2020, the 2020 United States census counted 208 people living in Thebes. There were 128 households and 102 families in the village.
Education
Students living in Thebes go to schools that are part of the Egyptian School District.
See also
In Spanish: Thebes (Illinois) para niños
