Gillespie, Illinois

Gillespie, IL
City
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Macoupin
Elevation	663 ft (202 m)
Coordinates	39°7′34″N 89°48′59″W
Area	1.5 sq mi (4 km2)
- land	1.5 sq mi (4 km2)
Population	3,412 (2000)
Density	2,349.3 / sq mi (907 / km2)
Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code	62033
Area code	217
Location of Gillespie within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: Gillespie, Illinois

Gillespie is a city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,412 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Gillespie is located at 39°7′34″N 89°48′59″W (39.126023, -89.816403).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land. Gillespie has large lake, Lake Gillespie, just outside the city limits. Many people from surrounding towns enjoy fishing, boating, water-skiing and sunbathing at Gillespie Lake.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 3,412 people, 1,452 households, and 936 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,349.3 people per square mile (908.5/km²). There were 1,547 housing units at an average density of 1,065.1 per square mile (411.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.56% White, 0.32% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.73% of the population.

There were 1,452 households, of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 9.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 17.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 88.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $33,168, and the median income for a family was $40,500. Males had a median income of $35,032 versus $23,136 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,042. About 8.6% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.4% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

City of Gillespie Facts

Commerce

• Gillespie also has a movie theater which was once called Lyric Theater but has recently been renamed The Canna Theatre ( It was originally called the Canna Theatre before it was closed and was reopened as the Lyric Theatre). It has only one cinema. The admission fee is $5 per person (this includes popcorn and soda) and opened with its first film, Shrek the Third, on May 18, 2007. Gillespie also includes a bowling alley.

• There is only one grocery store in Gillespie, Randy's Market, which is housed in the former Harmon's IGA.

• There are two drug stores, a salon, a jewelry store, a Dollar General, a True Value (A&G True Value/Just Ask Rental) and four gas stations (Shell, Jumpin' Jimmy's, Casey's General Store, and Moto Mart).

• There is also a fitness and tanning facility, Ageless Fitness Center, which replaced Dakota's Fitness and Tanning Center.

• The town is also home to Cavallo Bus Lines.
• Macoupin Family Practice Centers, LLP has an office located in Gillespie.

Things to Do

• The Annual Black Diamond Days, Gillespie's original festival of coal, is a celebration of coal miners and coal mining which has always been a major business in Macoupin County. The festival is held annually for three days each year on the first weekend in June in Gillespie. Gillespie welcomes visitors in a big way with parades, contests, prizes, a carnival, Mine Rescue Demonstration, 1 Mile Fun Run and 5K Run, arts and crafts, concessions and much more.

Other Facts

• Gillespie's mascot is the Miner and the high school's colors are orange and black.
• Gillespie has two tennis courts, four baseball diamonds, and multiple soccer fields.
• Actor Howard Keel was born in Gillespie.
• Singer/Songwriter Ferras lived here during his childhood and teenage years.
• Photos of and facts about Gillespie, including a timeline of the town's history, can be found here.
• Gillespie is closely connected to East Gillespie, Illinois.
• Current weather conditions for Gillespie can be found here.