Litchfield, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Litchfield
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Cars in a "66" formation at the SkyView Drive-In.
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| Motto(s):
"Many pleasant surprises!"
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Location of Litchfield in Montgomery County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Montgomery |
| Founded | 1856 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.95 sq mi (28.35 km2) |
| • Land | 8.93 sq mi (23.13 km2) |
| • Water | 2.02 sq mi (5.23 km2) |
| Elevation | 693 ft (211 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,605 |
| • Density | 739.72/sq mi (285.61/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
62056
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-43965 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Litchfield, Illinois |
| Website | The City of Litchfield, Illinois |
Litchfield is a city in Montgomery County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,605 at the 2020 census. It is located in South Central Illinois, south of Springfield, Illinois, and part of the Metro East of St. Louis.
Contents
History
In 1853, the town was developed when the Terre Haute, Alton and St. Louis Railroad came through the area. It was named for E. B. Litchfield, a founder. Litchfield was incorporated on May 6, 1896.
Geography
Litchfield is located at 39°10′36″N 89°39′13″W / 39.17667°N 89.65361°W (39.176741, -89.653721).
According to the 2010 census, Litchfield has a total area of 6.825 square miles (17.68 km2), of which 6.45 square miles (16.71 km2) (or 94.51%) is land and 0.375 square miles (0.97 km2) (or 5.49%) is water.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1860 | 1,609 | — | |
| 1870 | 3,852 | 139.4% | |
| 1880 | 4,326 | 12.3% | |
| 1890 | 5,811 | 34.3% | |
| 1900 | 5,918 | 1.8% | |
| 1910 | 5,971 | 0.9% | |
| 1920 | 6,215 | 4.1% | |
| 1930 | 6,612 | 6.4% | |
| 1940 | 7,048 | 6.6% | |
| 1950 | 7,208 | 2.3% | |
| 1960 | 7,330 | 1.7% | |
| 1970 | 7,190 | −1.9% | |
| 1980 | 7,204 | 0.2% | |
| 1990 | 6,883 | −4.5% | |
| 2000 | 6,815 | −1.0% | |
| 2010 | 6,939 | 1.8% | |
| 2020 | 6,605 | −4.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
2020 Census
As of the census of 2020, there were 6,605 people in 3,104 households residing in the city. 7.7% percent of the population was under the age of 5, 22.8% under the age of 18, and 19.4% over the age of 65. The racial makeup of the city was 96.8% White, 0.8% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.4% Asian, and 1.7% two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.6% of the population.
The median income for a household was $50,368, and the per capita income in the city was $26,746. 18.2% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Arts and culture
Attractions
The Ariston Cafe is one of the oldest restaurants along the historic U.S. Route 66, commonly known as Old Route 66, though the cafe itself claims it could possibly be the oldest [1]. The Ariston Café was founded in 1924 in the town of Carlinville, Illinois, but was later moved to its present location. The cafe was inducted into the Route 66 Hall of Fame in 1992. Another landmark is Litchfield's Lake Lou Yaeger, located northeast of town.[2]. The SkyView Theater is a member of the Route 66 Hall of Fame and has been in operation since 1951. It is among the last drive-in theaters still operating along Route 66 [3].
The grand opening of the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center was June 1, 2013. The museum is located across from the Ariston Café at 334 North Historic Route 66. The museum is owned by the Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center Association and is maintained mainly through donations.In 1934 The Belvidere Motel opened in Lichfield IL and is one of the oldest motels around
Infrastructure
Transportation
Litchfield Municipal Airport is located 2 nautical miles (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) southwest of the central business district of Litchfield.
Litchfield is served by Interstate 55 and Illinois Route 16.
Two Class 1 railroad lines (Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Norfolk Southern) cross at the south edge of Litchfield after running parallel through town from north to south.
Notable people
- Estella Bagnelle, county superintendent of schools
- Stephen D. Canady (1865–1923), Illinois state legislator and businessman
- Jackie Mayo, professional baseball player who appeared in 139 Major League games for the Philadelphia Phillies; born in Litchfield
- Paul Martin Pearson, author, professor, governor of Virgin Islands, father of columnist Drew Pearson; born in Litchfield
- Ray Schalk, Hall of Fame catcher for Chicago White Sox; grew up in Litchfield
- Harry C. Stuttle (1879–1947), Illinois state legislator, judge, and lawyer
Images for kids
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The Ariston Café, a popular stop along U.S. Route 66.
See also
In Spanish: Litchfield (Illinois) para niños
