Meredosia, Illinois Explained

Meredosia, Illinois
Settlement Type:Village
Pushpin Map:USA
Pushpin Label Position:left
Pushpin Label:Meredosia
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in the United States
Coordinates:39.8308°N -90.5569°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Illinois
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Morgan
Subdivision Type3:Township
Established Title:Founded
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Title1:Village president
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:2.33
Area Total Sq Mi:0.90
Area Land Km2:2.24
Area Land Sq Mi:0.86
Area Water Km2:0.10
Area Water Sq Mi:0.04
Elevation Ft:446
Population As Of:2020
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:826
Population Density Km2:369.08
Population Density Sq Mi:956.02
Timezone1:CST
Utc Offset1:-6
Timezone1 Dst:CDT
Utc Offset1 Dst:-5
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:62665
Area Code:217
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:17-48424
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2399316
Blank2 Name Sec2:Wikimedia Commons
Blank2 Info Sec2:Meredosia, Illinois

Meredosia is a village in Morgan County, Illinois, United States. The population was 826 at the 2020 census,[2] down from 1,044 in 2010. It is part of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Meredosia is in far northwestern Morgan County, on the east bank of the Illinois River, the border with Pike County. Illinois Route 104 passes through the village as its Main Street, leading east and then southeast to Jacksonville, the county seat, and west across the river and to Quincy.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Meredosia has a total area of 0.9sqmi, of which 0.04sqmi, or 4.11%, are water.[1]

The Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge is directly north of the village, within the Illinois River floodplain.

Marais d'Osier, meaning willow swamp, was the original French name given to the area in the early 1800s.

Closing of Power Ameren power station

In 2011, Ameren Energy Resources Company announced the closure of its power station in Meredosia. The closure resulted in a loss of over 50 jobs, a major economic hit for the small community. The plant closure was related to the cost of meeting environmental regulations. The plant may reopen at some point as a facility to test clean coal technology, according to Ameren.[3]

New bridge

In June 2018 the community celebrated the opening of a new bridge over the Illinois River. The former bridge, constructed in 1936, had become too narrow for modern traffic, and was dismantled during the summer of 2018. The bridge not only links Meredosia to Quincy, Illinois, but serves as an important transportation link between western Illinois and the center of the state.[4]

Demographics

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,041 people, 450 households, and 301 families residing in the village. The population density was 1130.3sp=usNaNsp=us. There were 486 housing units at an average density of 527.7sp=usNaNsp=us. The racial makeup of the village was 99.90% White, and 0.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.10% of the population.

There were 450 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 30.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 24.0% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 25.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.3 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $32,961, and the median income for a family was $40,917. Males had a median income of $31,979 versus $16,842 for females. The per capita income for the village was $19,391. About 5.8% of families and 9.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.6% of those under age 18 and 4.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Illinois . United States Census Bureau . April 3, 2023.
  2. Web site: P1. Race – Meredosia village, Illinois: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171). U.S. Census Bureau. April 3, 2023.
  3. Hasch, B. (October 4, 2011). "Plant closing, Meredosia to lose 53 local jobs", Hannibal, Missouri: KHQA-TV. Accessed here on 11/10/17: http://khqa.com/news/local/plant-closing-meredosia-to-lose-53-local-jobs
  4. Web site: New bridge opens in Meredosia. June 19, 2018.
  5. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.