Streator, Illinois
From Free net encyclopedia
Streator is a city located in La Salle County, Illinois in the midwestern United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 14,190.
Streator is located at the southern boundary of LaSalle County, adjacent to Livingston County, Illinois. Because of its proximity to the county line, Streator tended to attract outlaws, a reputation it upholds today. It is widely rumored that the remnants of Al Capone's Gang relocated to Streator after a long run in Chicago.
Streator is the birth town of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto in 1930.
Clarence E. Mulford grew up in Streator, and later wrote the famous Hopalong Cassidy series of books based on his youthful experiences. The Hopalong Cassidy River Trail winds along the banks of the Vermilion River, passing Cassidy creator Clarence Mulford's boyhood home.
Other Streator residents have included George "Honeyboy" Evans who composed "The Good Old Summertime", Ed Plumb who directed the music for several Disney movies, and Bob Tattersall who was the King of Midget Car Racing.
Named for early industrialist, Dr. Streator, the town was officially incorporated as The City of Streator in 1868. Prior to this, the community was known as Unionville and Hardscrabble.
Streator has many historic structures, including an ornate National Guard Armory, its original City Hall (now a business), and a Carnegie Library. There are also many private homes of significant historcial value, including homes on Broadway Street and Pleasant Avenue.
Streator's early industry was primarily the mining of coal. As the community matured, glass and brick became the primary industries. Through the 20th century Streator was known as the "Glass Container Capital of the World."
Current products of Streator include building and paving brick, milk and soda water bottles, auto parts, banana crates, sewer pipe, clothing, draintile, washing machines, auto truck dump bodies, and hydraulic hoists.
Geography
Streator is located at 41°7'29" North, 88°49'51" West (41.124798, -88.830881)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 15.0 km² (5.8 mi²). 14.9 km² (5.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.17% is water.
Demographics
As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 14,190 people, 5,746 households, and 3,660 families residing in the city. The population density was 949.5/km² (2,460.6/mi²). There were 6,176 housing units at an average density of 413.3/km² (1,071.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.28% White, 2.06% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.50% from other races, and 1.47% from two or more races. 6.64% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,746 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.3% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 3.07.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.9% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $33,868, and the median income for a family was $43,774. Males had a median income of $34,932 versus $20,994 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,650. 11.3% of the population and 8.3% of families were below the poverty line. 16.5% of those under the age of 18 and 8.7% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.