Princeton, Illinois

Geobox City
name = City of Princeton
native_name =
other_name =
other_name1 =
category = City


image_size =
image_caption = View of south historic Main Street district in Princeton, Illinois.
flag_type =


flag_size =
symbol =
symbol_size =
nickname =
motto =
country = United States
state = Illinois
region_type = County
region = Bureau
district_type = Townships
district = Princeton, Concord
part_type =
part_count =
part =
part1 =
area_imperial = 46.6
area_land_imperial = 44.4
area_water_imperial = 2.2
area_round = 1
location =
lat_d = 41
lat_m = 22
lat_s = 43
lat_NS = N
long_d = 89
long_m = 28
long_s = 1
long_EW = W
elevation_imperial = 780
elevation_round = 1
population_as_of = 2000
population = 7501
population_density_imperial =
population_density_round =
government = Council-Manager
established_type = Settled
established = 1830s
established1_type = Incorporated, City
established1 = 1884
established2_type =
established2 =
mayor = Keith Cain
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code = 61356
postal_code_type = Zip codes
area_code = 815
area_code_type =
code2_type =
code2 =
free_type =
free =
free1_type =
free1 =


map_size =
map_caption = Location of Princeton within Illinois
map_locator = Illinois
map_locator_x =
map_locator_y =
map1 = Map of USA IL.svg
map1_caption = Location of Illinois in the United States
website = http://www.princeton-il.com

Princeton is a city in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 7,501 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Bureau CountyGR|6.

Princeton is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Princeton was settled in the 1830s by families from New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. [http://www.visitprinceton-il.com/home/index.php?com1 History of Princeton] ]

Princeton was a stop on the underground railroad. This was located at the home of Owen Lovejoy.

Princeton was supposedly named by the draw from a hat. The story goes as follows: "The naming of the township of Princeton was the privilege of the three trustees, Roland Moseley, John Musgrove and John P. Blake. When these men came together to act upon the subject of christening this new legal division of land, each one had a favorite name to present. It is only natural when one wanders away from the scenes of his early life that he should feel a longing for something that looks or sounds like home, so it was with the school trustees of what is now Princeton. They each presented the name of their choice, but could come to no agreement; finally it was decided that is should be settled by lottery. Each man was to write the name of his choice upon a piece of paper and place it in a hat, and a stranger, being blind-folded, should make the drawing. Mr. Musgrove, coming from New Jersey, and being loyal to his classic institution, wrote upon his slip Princeton, and as it had been agreed that the first name drawn should settle the question, there was quite a little excitement in the preparation for the deciding contest. Matters were finally arranged and the bandage placed over the eyes of the drawer and he was led up to the hat wherein the papers had been placed and with outstretched hand he stood ready to decide the great and momentous question of christening the first born of the future Bureau county. At last the word was given, the drawing was made, while those interested stood with bated breath, awaiting the result which was soon announced by the declaration that upon the slip of paper drawn by the blind-folded man Princeton was plainly written, and so we today have the classic name of Princeton for the legal center of Bureau county. Princeton, for many years has enjoyed the distinction of being one of the literary centers of the state. She has the proud record of organizing and putting in successful operation the first township high school in Illinois. It is surely a city of quiet and pleasant homes." ("Past and Present of Bureau County", 1906, by Harrington)Fact|date=March 2007

Princeton's former nickname was "The City of Elms" because of the huge number of elm trees the city had during the middle of the 20th century.Fact|date=June 2008 However, an epidemic struck the elm trees of Princeton and killed off almost every single elm. The current slogan, "Where Tradition Meets Progress", was adopted in the early 1960s by a contest among the city's elementary school students.Fact|date=March 2007

Geography

Princeton is located at coor dms|41|22|43|N|89|28|1|W|city (41.378481, -89.466924)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 7,501 people (Metro 10,321). 3,263 households, and 1,987 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,114.6 people per square mile (430.3/km²). There were 3,513 housing units at an average density of 522.0/sq mi (201.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.81% White, 0.9939% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.63% Asian, 0.43% from other races, and 0.64% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.24% of the population.

There were 3,263 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.1% were non-families. 35.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 85.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,622, and the median income for a family was $50,018. Males had a median income of $38,908 versus $20,784 for females. The per capita income for the city was $20,632. About 5.6% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.8% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Princeton's major employers include *Ace Hardware Retail Support Center, LCN Closers, (a division of *Ingersoll Rand, *MTM Recognition, formerly Josten's, makers of several world championship rings including the 2005 Chicago White Sox and all of the Chicago Bulls Championships, not to mention the 1985 Chicago Bears. Champion Pneumatic (A Gardner Denver) manufactures top notch air compressors, Pioneer International(A DuPont Co) and Perry Memorial Hospital. [cite web | url=http://www.princeton-il.com/home/index.php?m3s4 | title=City of Princeton - Major Industries | accessdate=2007-04-13 | work=princeton-il.com]

Princeton's downtown is home to many unique shops and restaurants.

Transportation

Princeton is located on the south side of Interstate 80 some 100 miles southwest of Chicago.

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Princeton, operating the "California Zephyr", the "Illinois Zephyr", the "Carl Sandburg" and the "Southwest Chief" each daily in both directions between Chicago and points west from Princeton (Amtrak station). [cite web | url=http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/am2Station/Station_Page&code=PCT | title=Amtrak - Stations - Princeton, IL (PCT) | accessdate=2007-04-03 | work=Amtrak.com]

Education

Princeton is home to Princeton High School, the oldest township high school in the state, founded in 1867. [cite web | url=http://www.phs-il.org/pages/studenthandbook2006-07.htm | title=Princeton High School Student Handbook | accessdate=2007-04-13 | work=phs-il.org] Its mascot is the Tiger. The high school enrollment fluctuates between 600 and 800 students. The school recently finished adding on an addition to meet the students' needs. The new addition houses a larger library as well as several new classrooms. [cite web | url=http://www.phs-il.org/pages/studenthandbook2006-07.htm | title=Princeton High School Student Handbook | accessdate=2007-04-13 | work=phs-il.org]

Princeton's most famous tradition is the Homestead Festival, which began in 1971, as a celebration of the restoration of the Owen Lovejoy Homestead, and now comprises a weekend of food, celebration, and the famous Homestead Parade, which lasts for over an hour with local floats and performances by outside groups, including the South Shore Drill Team and the Jesse White Tumbling Team.Fact|date=March 2007

Library

Princeton Public Library opened on August 1, 2007, replacing an older facility, the Matson Public Library, and has a book collection of 45,000 items, with about 27,000 square feet of usable space.

Notable residents

A number of famous people claim their origins to this very small and rural midwestern city. They include the actor Richard Widmark (though born in Minnesota), whose parents owned a hardware store on the north end of Main Street during his early school yearsFact|date=March 2007; Kathryn Hays, longtime actress and mainstay on the daytime soap opera As The World Turns; world-renowned organist Virgil Fox [cite web | url=http://www.virgilfox.com/ | title=Virgil Fox Society - Who was Virgil Fox? (Flash Content) | accessdate=2007-04-13 | work=virgilfox.com] ; Doobie Brothers drummer Keith KnudsenFact|date=March 2007; and the wife of poet Carl Sandburg, Lillian.Fact|date=March 2007

Among the earliest settlers in Princeton were the Bryants from Massachusetts, the mother, sister, and brothers of poet William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878). [ [http://www.ulib.niu.edu/reghist/RC%2027.pdf Inventory of the Bryant Family, Princeton, Illinois, Collection in the Northern Illinois Regional History Center] ] The poet is known to have spent many weeks in Princeton visiting his sister and brothers, and his poem, "Ode To A Waterfowl" is believed to have been inspired by a visit to Lake DePue, a nearby backwater along the Illinois River.Fact|date=June 2008 The youngest of his brothers, John Howard Bryant (1807-1902), also a poet of note, lived on the southern edge of the young city. To this day there stands a small timber known as Bryant Woods, where Abraham Lincoln gave a noteworthy speech in his young political life. The High School football field is named Bryant Field in honor of this famous family.Fact|date=June 2008

ee also

*Execution of Lucy and James Sample

References

External links

* [http://www.princeton-il.com City of Princeton, Illinois] - official website
* [http://www.visitprinceton-il.com Princeton Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau] - official website