Long Creek, Illinois Explained

Long Creek, Illinois
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:USA
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Label:Long Creek
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United States
Coordinates:39.8089°N -88.8567°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Illinois
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Macon
Subdivision Type3:Township
Subdivision Name3:Long Creek
Established Title:Founded
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Title1:Village president
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:7.32
Area Total Sq Mi:2.83
Area Land Km2:7.32
Area Land Sq Mi:2.83
Area Water Km2:0.00
Area Water Sq Mi:0.00
Elevation Ft:672
Population As Of:2020
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:1261
Population Density Km2:172.34
Population Density Sq Mi:446.37
Timezone1:CST
Utc Offset1:-6
Timezone1 Dst:CDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-5
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:62521
Area Code:217
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:17-44498

Long Creek is a village in Macon County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census there were 1,261 people.[2] It is included in the Decatur, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Long Creek is named for the creek that runs through the area.

The first settlers arrived in 1828 from North Carolina and subsequently built log cabins and made improvements on the surrounding land.[3] In the fall of 1828, a band of Native Americans from the Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma arrived and set up camp along Long Creek and began trapping, hunting, and fishing. When they were relatively unsuccessful at catching game, the Kickapoo began killing hogs and stealing poultry from the early settlers. Eventually a group of settlers drove them from the county.

During the early 1830s the area saw more settlers arriving, and the first schoolhouse was constructed in 1834. The school also served as a place of worship before the first church was built in 1842.[4]

Geography

Long Creek is located in eastern Macon County at 39.8089°N -88.8567°W (39.808936, -88.856548).[5] It is bordered to the northwest by the city of Decatur, the county seat, and to the southwest by the village of Mount Zion. U.S. Route 36 runs along the northern edge of Long Creek village, leading northwest 6miles to the center of Decatur and east to Tuscola.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the village of Long Creek has a total area of 2.83sqmi, all land.[1] Long Creek flows through the center of the village limits, running west to Finley Creek at the southeast arm of Lake Decatur, a reservoir on the Sangamon River.

Demographics

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 1,364 people, 486 households, and 408 families residing in the village. The population density was 513.2sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 500 housing units at an average density of 188.1sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the village was 98.61% White, 0.44% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race were 0.51% of the population.

There were 486 households, out of which 38.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 74.1% were married couples living together, 5.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 16.0% were non-families. 13.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.81 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 27.7% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 29.4% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 8.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $56,083, and the median income for a family was $58,056. Males had a median income of $43,958 versus $27,344 for females. The per capita income for the village was $23,141. About 3.5% of families and 5.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.4% of those under age 18 and 2.2% of those age 65 or over.

References

  1. Web site: 2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Illinois . United States Census Bureau . February 6, 2023.
  2. Web site: P1. Race – Long Creek village, Illinois: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171). U.S. Census Bureau. February 6, 2023.
  3. Web site: Long Creek Township History. September 17, 2018 .
  4. Web site: History of Long Creek, Illinois. September 17, 2018.
  5. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  6. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.