Wood River, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wood River, Illinois
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Wood River, Illinois
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| Motto(s):
"Progressing in the Spirit of Lewis & Clark"
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Location in Madison County, Illinois
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 Wood River, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Illinois |
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| County | Madison | ||
| Townships | Wood River Fort Russell |
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| Government | |||
| • Type | Manager-Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 7.23 sq mi (18.72 km2) | ||
| • Land | 6.97 sq mi (18.06 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 436 ft (133 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 10,464 | ||
| • Density | 1,500.22/sq mi (579.25/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−6 (CST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
62095
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| Area code(s) | 618 | ||
| FIPS code | 17-83271 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 2397363 | ||
Wood River is a city located in Madison County, Illinois. In 2020, about 10,464 people lived there. The city's motto is "Progressing in the Spirit of Lewis & Clark."
Contents
Where is Wood River Located?
Wood River is in western Madison County, Illinois. It sits right by the Mississippi River. This is about 15 kilometers (9 miles) upstream from downtown St. Louis, Missouri.
Wood River is part of a group of towns known as the "Riverbend" area. The Missouri River joins the Mississippi River just south of a nearby town called Hartford.
Wood River shares borders with several other towns:
- To the northwest: East Alton
- To the north: Rosewood Heights
- To the northeast: Bethalto
- To the southeast: Roxana
- To the south: Hartford
- Across the Mississippi River to the southwest: West Alton, Missouri
Getting Around: Roads and Highways
Several important roads pass through Wood River, making it easy to travel to other places:
- Illinois Route 3 runs along the west side of the city. It goes north to Alton and south to East St. Louis.
- Illinois Route 143 goes through the center of Wood River. It's known as Madison Avenue. This route leads northwest to Alton and southeast to Edwardsville.
- Illinois Route 111 follows Central Avenue in the city center. It goes north to Bethalto and south to Washington Park.
- Illinois Route 255 is a four-lane highway on the east side of Wood River. It connects to Godfrey to the northwest and Collinsville to the south.
Wood River covers a total area of about 7.23 square miles (18.72 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
How Many People Live in Wood River?
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 84 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,476 | 4,038.1% | |
| 1930 | 8,136 | 134.1% | |
| 1940 | 8,197 | 0.7% | |
| 1950 | 10,190 | 24.3% | |
| 1960 | 11,694 | 14.8% | |
| 1970 | 13,186 | 12.8% | |
| 1980 | 12,446 | −5.6% | |
| 1990 | 11,490 | −7.7% | |
| 2000 | 11,296 | −1.7% | |
| 2010 | 10,657 | −5.7% | |
| 2020 | 10,464 | −1.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The number of people living in Wood River has changed over the years. In 1910, only 84 people lived there. The population grew a lot in the early 1900s. It reached its highest point in 1970 with 13,186 people. By 2020, the population was 10,464.
In 2000, there were 11,296 people living in Wood River. Most residents were White (about 97.57%). A small number of people were African American, Native American, or Asian. About 1.21% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Wood River in 2000 was 36 years old. About 24.1% of the population was under 18.
Travel and Transportation
While Amtrak trains like the Texas Eagle and Lincoln Service pass through Wood River, they do not stop in the city. The closest train station is Alton station, which is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) northwest.
For air travel, the St. Louis Regional Airport is only 3 miles (5 kilometers) northeast of Wood River in Bethalto. If you need to catch a commercial flight, the nearest major airport is St. Louis Lambert International Airport. This airport is about 25 miles (40 kilometers) west, across the river in Missouri.
Famous People from Wood River
Many interesting people have connections to Wood River:
- Joe Astroth: A professional baseball player who went to Wood River High School.
- Roger Counsil: A gymnastics coach who won an NCAA championship.
- Gary Lane: A quarterback for Missouri University and the NFL. He also became an NFL official.
- Lawrence Leritz: Known for his work in Broadway shows, films, TV, dance, and music.
- Ken Retzer: A professional baseball player who was born in Wood River.
- Dewayne Staats: A well-known broadcaster for the Tampa Bay Rays baseball team. He grew up in Wood River.
- John Stoneham: Another professional baseball player.
- Jean Stothert: The mayor of Omaha, Nebraska.
- Kristopher Tharp: A member of the Illinois Senate, which makes laws for the state.
See also
In Spanish: Wood River (Illinois) para niños
