West Frankfort, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
West Frankfort
"Frankfort Heights", “The Heights”
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| Motto(s):
A Rich Past, A Bright Future
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Location of West Frankfort in Franklin County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Franklin |
| Township | Denning, Frankfort |
| Founded | 1810 |
| City Charter | 1906 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 5.02 sq mi (12.99 km2) |
| • Land | 4.98 sq mi (12.90 km2) |
| • Water | 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2) |
| Elevation | 404 ft (123 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 7,275 |
| • Density | 1,460.84/sq mi (564.05/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62896
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-80333 |
| GNIS feature ID | 420843 |
| Public Transit | South Central Transit |
| Wikimedia Commons | West Frankfort, Illinois |
West Frankfort is a city located in Franklin County, Illinois. In 2020, about 7,275 people lived there. This city is famous for its long history with coal mining. It is also part of the Metro Lakeland area.
Contents
Discovering West Frankfort's History
West Frankfort's name might make you think of cities in Germany or Kentucky. But its true story is much closer to home!
How Did West Frankfort Get Its Name?
Around 1810, a settler named Francis Jordan came from Tennessee. With his seven brothers, he started building a fort on a hill in what is now Franklin County. This fort was finished in 1811 and was called "Frank's Fort" to honor Jordan.
The name "Frankfort" actually came from a French trapper's small hut built on the hill even before the Jordan brothers arrived. Frank's Fort (Francis Jordan's fort) was built in Williamson County, Illinois. Another fort, "Jordan's Fort," was built by Thomas Jordan in Franklin County. These forts were built by the Jordan family and the Illinois Militia to keep people safe.
The forts were needed because of dangers during Tecumseh's War. This war ended with the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. The governor of the Illinois Territory, Ninian Edwards, encouraged building these forts. He even offered help from the Saline Militia.
From Fort to City: The Growth of Frankfort
An important trading path, the Shawnee Trail, ran near Frank's Fort. This trail connected Kaskaskia, Illinois and Old Shawneetown, Illinois. Because of this, the area became popular for settlers looking for cheap land. This land was available due to the Bit Act of 1805.
The settlement that grew here took the name of the nearby fort, which was shortened to "Frankfort." Frankfort grew very quickly. Its population was even similar to Chicago's at that time!
Frankfort was the first county seat for Franklin County. A county seat is the main town where the government offices are. But in 1839, the southern part of the county became Williamson County.
How West Frankfort Was Formed
Later, railroad tracks were built about 4 miles (6.4 km) west of Frankfort. These tracks connected Chicago, Paducah, and Memphis. Many businesses and people moved to the new area near the tracks. This new community became known as West Frankfort because it was west of Frankfort. Eventually, the two towns joined together and kept the name West Frankfort.
The older part of West Frankfort is still sometimes called Frankfort Heights or "the Heights." This is because it's on higher ground than the rest of the city. A post office was in Frankfort Heights until it burned down in 2004. West Frankfort is one of the few small cities in the U.S. to have two ZIP codes.
West Frankfort's population became smaller for a while. But then, around 1900, something big happened. The Deering Coal Mine Company started mining coal in 1904. This made Franklin County and West Frankfort the top coal producers in Illinois by 1917. When the mines opened, the population grew by 3,500 people in just seven years! By 1927, West Frankfort had 19,896 residents. In the late 1940s, the downtown area had four theaters and a minor league baseball team.
The Tri-State Tornado of 1925
West Frankfort was hit by the Tri-State Tornado in 1925. This was a very powerful and destructive tornado.
The 1951 Coal Mine Explosion
On December 21, 1951, the Orient No. 2 coal mine exploded. This terrible event killed 119 men. The mine was a major employer in the area. Many people in West Frankfort were affected by this tragedy. Some people who were children at the time remember how it impacted their families and friends. The United States Bureau of Mines said the explosion could have been prevented. Because of this disaster, Congress passed the Federal Coal Mine Safety Act of 1952. This law aimed to make coal mines safer.
West Frankfort's Geography
West Frankfort is located at 37°53′55″N 88°55′24″W / 37.89861°N 88.92333°W.
In 2010, West Frankfort had a total area of about 5.011 square miles (12.98 km²). Most of this area, about 4.97 square miles (12.87 km²), is land. Only a small part, about 0.041 square miles (0.11 km²), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 2,111 | — | |
| 1920 | 8,478 | 301.6% | |
| 1930 | 14,683 | 73.2% | |
| 1940 | 12,383 | −15.7% | |
| 1950 | 11,384 | −8.1% | |
| 1960 | 9,027 | −20.7% | |
| 1970 | 8,854 | −1.9% | |
| 1980 | 9,437 | 6.6% | |
| 1990 | 8,526 | −9.7% | |
| 2000 | 8,196 | −3.9% | |
| 2010 | 8,182 | −0.2% | |
| 2020 | 7,275 | −11.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 census, there were 7,275 people living in West Frankfort. There were 3,204 households and 1,950 families. The city had about 1,450 people per square mile (560 per km²).
Most of the people in the city, about 92.60%, were White. Other groups included African American (0.67%), Native American (0.38%), and Asian (0.52%). About 2.12% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
About 30.0% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.94 people. The average family had 2.33 people.
The median age in the city was 41.9 years. About 22.3% of the population was under 18. About 19.6% were 65 or older.
The median income for a household was $30,938. For a family, it was $32,018. About 32.6% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 48.1% of those under 18.
Famous People from West Frankfort
Many notable people have connections to West Frankfort:
- Clyde L. Choate: A politician and a hero from World War II. He received the Medal of Honor.
- William A. Denning: An Illinois Supreme Court justice and state representative. He practiced law in Frankfort.
- Kenneth J. Gray: A politician and World War II veteran.
- Tim Lee Hall: Another politician from the area.
- Max Morris: A talented athlete who played in both the NBA (basketball) and the AAFC (football).
- Hal Smith: A baseball player who was part of the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates World Series championship team.
- Joe Wendryhoski: A former NFL lineman for the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints.
Events, Media, and Recognition
West Frankfort hosts several interesting events and is home to various media outlets.
Annual Festivals and Displays
Each May, West Frankfort celebrates the Old King Coal Festival. This four-day event honors coal miners. It features a parade, concerts, pageants, carnival rides, and lots of food. It now happens at the same time as the Rend Lake Festival in nearby Benton.
Around Christmas, West Frankfort lights up with Candy Cane Lane. This is a huge display of lights across several blocks of homes. A local art teacher creates a large part of the display. In 2019, parts of Candy Cane Lane were shown on the ABC show The Great Christmas Light Fight.
Local History and News
The Frankfort Area Historical Museum is in West Frankfort. It is located in a renovated three-story Logan Grade School building. The museum has a large research library. It also keeps microfilms of U.S. Census records and local newspapers.
West Frankfort used to have its own newspaper, the Daily American Newspaper, for almost 100 years. It was replaced by the West Frankfort Gazette, and then by the Franklin County Gazette in 2020.
Broadcasting and Media
Three Angels Broadcasting Network (3ABN), a Christian broadcasting network, has its main headquarters outside of town.
WITM-FM on 88.7 is 3ABN Radio Music Channel's first station to play Christian music all day, every day.
West Frankfort also used to have at least two other radio stations. WFCN News, a local media source, operates outside of town.
Images for kids
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Old City Hall
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Location of West Frankfort in Franklin County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
See also
In Spanish: West Frankfort (Illinois) para niños
