| Amboy, Illinois | |
| Settlement Type: | City |
| Image Map1: | Illinois in United States (US48).svg |
| Map Caption1: | Location of Illinois in the United States |
| Coordinates: | 41.7144°N -89.3328°W |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | United States |
| Subdivision Type1: | State |
| Subdivision Name1: | Illinois |
| Subdivision Type2: | County |
| Subdivision Name2: | Lee |
| Subdivision Type3: | Township |
| Leader Title: | Mayor |
| Leader Name: | Honorable Frank Stenzel |
| Leader Title1: | Mayor |
| Unit Pref: | Imperial |
| Area Footnotes: | [1] |
| Area Total Km2: | 16.09 |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 6.21 |
| Area Land Km2: | 16.09 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 6.21 |
| Area Water Km2: | 0.00 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 0.00 |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 2278 |
| Population Density Km2: | 141.61 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | 366.77 |
| Timezone1: | CST |
| Utc Offset1: | -6 |
| Timezone1 Dst: | CDT |
| Utc Offset1 Dst: | -5 |
| Postal Code Type: | ZIP Code(s) |
| Postal Code: | 61310 |
| Area Codes: | 815, 779 |
| Blank Name: | FIPS code |
| Blank Info: | 17-01270 |
| Blank2 Name Sec2: | Wikimedia Commons |
| Blank2 Info Sec2: | Amboy, Illinois |
Amboy is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States, along the Green River. The population was 2,500 at the 2010 census. The chain of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. began in Amboy when Samuel Carson opened his first dry goods store there in 1854. The Christian denomination Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, had a general conference in Amboy on April 6, 1860, at which time Joseph Smith III reorganized the church founded by his father Joseph Smith, Jr.[2]
Amboy had its start in the 1850s when the Illinois Central Railroad was extended to that point.[3] The community's name is a transfer from Amboy, New Jersey.[4]
The Illinois Central facility in Amboy served as the railroad's division headquarters for the railroad's region. The building was saved from demolition and is a museum. The actual railroad and trainyard were abandoned and removed in the early 90's.[5]
Amboy was the site of an ammunition factory for World War II - The Green River Ordinance Plant. It was roughly bordered by Sterling Rd to the south, Bataan Rd to the East, and Bataan Rd. to the North and West of the facility. The facility employed 4500 people at one time. The facility was completed on Dec. 15, 1942 and used until VJ day in August 1945.[6]
The plant is also known as the place where Vesta Stoudt first invented modern duct tape. https://www.jnj.com/our-heritage/vesta-stoudt-the-woman-who-invented-duct-tape#:~:text=The%20iconic%20tape%20was%20invented,Ordnance%20Plant%20near%20Amboy%2C%20Illinois.
Amboy is located at 41.7144°N -89.3328°W (41.714411, -89.332671).[7]
According to the 2010 census, Amboy has a total area of 6.29sqmi, all land.[8]
At the 2000 census there were 2,561 people, known as Amboian, 963 households, and 651 families in the city. The population density was 2035.5sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 1,048 housing units at an average density of 832.9sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the city was 97.97% White, 0.78% African American, 0.04% Native American, 0.23% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.15%.[9]
Of the 963 households 34.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.3% were non-families. 28.8% of households were one person and 15.3% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.12.
The age distribution was 27.6% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 27.7% from 25 to 44, 18.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.8 males.
The median household income was $36,250 and the median family income was $42,027. Males had a median income of $35,250 versus $26,105 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,183. About 4.4% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.