Harrisburg, Illinois

Geography

Harrisburg is located at (37.733765, -88.545873).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 16.5 km² (6.4 mi²). 16.2 km² (6.2 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (2.19%) is water.

The square in the center of town stands on top of a hill that used to be an island in the middle of natural lowlands that flooded every spring.The locals called the island "Crusoe's Island". When the area was drained, and homes were built, it became prone to flooding for years to come.

History

Harrisburg was platted as a village on 20 acres in 1853. It became the county seat six years later. In 1861, as it approached a population of 500, it became a town. In 1889, with a population of 1,500, Harrisburg became a city, with an aldermanic form of government. It adopted the commission form in 1915.

Coal mining was one of the city's biggest industries. The first slope coal mine began operations in 1854 southeast of the community. The first shaft mine was sunk in 1873 or 1874. There are many surface mines around the Harrisburg area as well.

Flooding along the Ohio River has plagued Harrisburg over the years. The city was flooded in 1883-1884 and again in 1913. Its most severe flood came in 1937 when much of the city, except "Crusoes's Island", was underwater. After that, a dike was erected east of the city to protect it from future floods.

Harrisburg was home to prohibition-era bootlegger Charles Birger, and for a time the gangster's prized tommy gun was displayed in a glass case in the City Hall. In 1915 the Ringling brothers made an Appearance in Harrisburg.

Pioneer history is showcased at the Saline County Area Historical Museum on the city's southern edge. The three-acre site includes the three-story high Old Pauper Home, which was once part of the county's 170-acre poor farm. The site also features a variety of cabins, a one-room school house, a small church and other historic buildings that have been acquired, moved to the site and restored. The Saline County courthouse and square has gone through many transformations within the past 100 years. In the 1800's the town saw dirt streets with a large grand Greek style court house, which was then replaced at the turn of the 20th century with a larger grander courthouse with brick streets. The square itself held several business, grocery stores, and bars. During the closing of the coal mining era most of the businesses left the square and moved to the main drag of Rt. 45. The court house was replaced with a modern more effeciant building in the 1970's after the older court house was deemed condemed. The brilliantly built architecture that graced Harrisburg square has been replaced with newer buildings and rotting older structures.

Interurban Streetcars

Harrisburg was the center of a bustling Interurban trolly line, much similar to San Francisco, that ran from Eldorado, through Harrisburg and into downtown Carrier Mills. It was part of the Cairo- Vinceness Railway. The power supply station sat in Muddy, Illinois. The Interurban line lasted from 1913 to 1933 when it was abandoned. It lasted only 20 years, but was the main mode of transportation between the three largest towns in the county for many. In central Illinois a vast interurban network went from St. Louis, Missouri to the state capital of Springfield, up to Peoria and eastward to Decatur, Danville and Champaign-Urbana, this was very similar to that. The town was named for James Alexander Harris. He came to America with William Penn, the Quaker for whom Pennyslyvania is named.

Commerce, Business, and Industry

Harrisburg has become, not only the seat, but the commercial hub of Saline County. It holds the nearest shopping centers, restaurants, banks, and other commerce within miles. Harrisburg holds the county's only Wal-mart, soon to be Super-Wal-mart, and several grocery stores. Harrisburg is home of the once largest Kentucky Fried Chicken in America and holds the only movie theater in three counties, Harrisburg Kerasotes Cinema 4. As of 2006, there is a growing sense of industry in the town as new four-lane highways are built and old coal mining money is replaced with newer business.

Harrisburg had all brick streets at one time, but now only a few are left. Most have been replaced with pavement. The ones that are left have become town landmarks. There are seven sets of stop lights along the main highways through town, Routes 45 and 13. The nearest big town is the ever growing small city of Marion, Illinois.

Gateway to the Shawnee National Forest

More than 270,000 acres of Shawnee National Forest lie to the south of Harrisburg, drawing thousands of visitors annually to the Saline County area and the gateway community. The Shawnee National Forest offers much to see and do. The national forest has 1,250 miles of roadways, some 150 miles of streams and frequent waterfalls, numerous ponds and lakes as large as 2,700 acres (some with swimming beaches), 13 campgrounds, many picnicking sites, and seven wilderness areas where trails are designed for hiking and horseback riding.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,860 people, 4,093 households, and 2,496 families residing in the city. The population density was 610.1/km² (1,580.3/mi²). There were 4,570 housing units at an average density of 282.8/km² (732.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.65% White, 6.93% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.46% of the population.

There were 4,093 households out of which 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 35.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% 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 25.0% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 22.3% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,507, and the median income for a family was $35,667. Males had a median income of $29,086 versus $19,013 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,005. About 10.1% of families and 13.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.

Outdoor Activities

Hiking:

There are many great places to hike among interesting rock formations, including Stone Face, south of Harrisburg on Illinois Route 34; Garden of the Gods and Bell Smith Springs, south of Harrisburg off US Route 45.

Bicycling:

The Tunnel Hill State Trail is a rails-to-trails project that runs for 45 miles from Harrisburg to Karnak, Illinois. It includes a stretch through an old railway tunnel and over a towering trestle.

Fishing:

Saline County State Fish and Wildlife Area, east of Harrisburg off Illinois Route 13, is home to Glen O. Jones Lake.

Tourism:

Shawnee National Forest, Shawnee Tourism

Letter from the Chamber of Commerce

''Harrisburg, the "Gateway to the Shawnee National Forest," is strategically located to provide you access to many wonders and recreational activities. Explore the Shawnee and you will enjoy the largest, most diverse national treasure in Illinois. You can go bird watching, horseback riding, hunting, fishing, hiking, boating, camping, canoeing, bicycling, picnicking, swimming, berry or mushroom picking, as well as having some beautiful photographic opportunities.

''In addition, Harrisburg offers and excellent school system, a state-of-the-art health care facility, a quality park district, many churches of various denominations, wonderful shopping, a variety of recreational opportunities including golf, bowling, and four movie theaters, to name a few. More importantly, Harrisburg offers a quality of life that provides a safe, clean environment and friendly hard working people.

''We are proud of our community and all that it provides and we are happy to have you consider Harrisburg for your vacation or relocation.

''Sincerely,

''Michael S. Stewart, president
''Chamber of Commerce City of Harrisburg
''John D. Cummins, mayor
''City of Harrisburg

References

DeNeal, Gary, interview (2003). "The Legend of Charlie Birger". WSIU-TV.

External links

Cities in Illinois | Micropolitan areas of Illinois | Saline County, Illinois

Harrisburg, Illinois | Harrisburg (Illinois)

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Harrisburg, Illinois