Savanna, Illinois
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Savanna | |
| Village | |
 The Pulford Opera House in downtown Savanna.
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| Motto: Fartman's Paradise | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Illinois |
| County | Carroll |
| Township | Savanna |
| Elevation | 600 ft (183 m) |
| Coordinates | 42°5′24″N 90°8′24″W / 42.09°N 90.14°W |
| Area | 2.7 sq mi (7 km²) |
| - land | 2.6 sq mi (7 km²) |
| - water | 0.1 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Population | 3,542 (2000) |
| Density | 1,357.7 /sq mi (524 /km²) |
| Mayor | Larry Stebbins |
| Timezone | CST (UTC-6) |
| - summer (DST) | CDT (UTC-5) |
| Postal code | 61074 |
| Area code | 815 |
  Location of Savanna within Illinois
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| Wikimedia Commons: Savanna, Illinois | |
| Website: http://www.savannaillinois.com | |
Savanna is a city in Carroll County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,542 at the 2000 census. As of 2005 census estimates, the population had decreased to 3,288. [1]
Savanna is located along the Mississippi River at the mouth of the Plum River. Going from north to south, the second automobile bridge between Iowa and Illinois is located just north of Savanna, and is part of the U.S. Highway 52 route. The bridge leads to Sabula, Iowa, which is across the river from Savanna. U.S. Highway 52 goes through Savanna.
Savanna has produced several notable natives. These include "America's Waltz King" Wayne King, professional wrestler Tommy Treichel, guitarist Billy Zoom (Tyson Kindell), and former NASA astronaut Dale Gardner.
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[edit] Savanna Army Depot
In 1917, the United States Army purchased 13,062 acres (53 km2) of land about seven miles (11 km) north of Savanna to construct the Savanna Army Depot. Originally the land was to be used as a test range for munitions produced at the Rock Island, Illinois Arsenal. In 1921, the mission of the installation was changed to be a depot.
By 1995, the Savanna Army Depot was identified by Congress as one of the bases that would be closed under the Base Realignment and Closure Act. On March 18, 2000, the Savanna Army Depot was closed.
Some of the land is being redeveloped. One of the most controversial redevelopment projects was the building of a medium security prison on the depot land. Instead, the Thomson Correctional Center was constructed several miles south of Savanna, just outside of the town of Thomson, IL.Which to this day remains empty but may be opened soon.
[edit] Geography
Savanna is located at 42°5′24″N 90°8′24″W / 42.09°N 90.14°W (42.090069, -90.140050)[1].
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.0 km²), of which, 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (3.33%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 3,542 people, 1,558 households, and 886 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,357.7 people per square mile (524.0/km²). There were 1,790 housing units at an average density of 686.1/sq mi (264.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 94.10% White, 1.52% African American,
0.34% Native American, 0.23% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.57% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 5.25% of the population.
There were 1,558 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.1% were non-families. 38.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.7% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 22.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $27,180, and the median income for a family was $38,255. Males had a median income of $28,125 versus $20,954 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,150. About 14.2% of families and 16.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Today
Savanna is experiencing an influx of "weekenders" from Chicago & St. Louis, drawn to the area by its small town charm and affordable housing stock. Many homes have been purchased recently & restored as second homes for those seeking a quiet weekend home away from the city.[citation needed]
An annual garden walk takes place in July showcasing some of the area's finest gardens, which benefit from the area's fertile Mississippi River soil.
The downtown area has revived some since the mid-1990s closing of the Army Depot with the addition of new ornamental lighting to complement the late 1800s buildings. The city is trying to lure more shops to the main street in hopes of becoming more of a weekend destination, like nearby Galena. Many of the downtown buildings are believed to be haunted by the ghost of who was beleived to actually be the first man to settle the city of Savanna, Weldon Newburn, but he named it New Chicagabluffingtonville. He was an old bootlegger running from the Chicago Outfit and settled on Savanna believing that the areas mix of high limestone bluffs and grassy plains would be a good place to hide while also having a great abundance of water to continue his bootlegging and fishmongering businesses. When the true founder of Savanna waggoned his way into town and found Mr. Newburn he asked the name of this beautiful place and upon finding out it was titled New Chicagabluffingtonville he was so appauled that he then screamed so loud his unpregnant wife went into labor right then and there. Since this was the first child to be born in New Chicagabluffingtonville he was rightly named King Sassyfrass. Moments after Sassyfrass' birth he crawled to the river and drank the water which instantly made him grow to 6 feet 20 inches. He then grabbed Weldon Newburn and broke him over his knee. Sassyfrass' father then cowered with fear and screamed 'spare my life'. Sassyfrass didn't. A cougar then climbed down the bluff to confront Sassyfrass for the rights to the area. He didnt stand a chance. After the victory King Sassyfrass screamed his first word. 'SAVANNA!!!'. From there King Sassyfrass built a sign that welcomed everyone to the great place now named Savanna and then grabbed his sister and told his mother to live happily in the new town he had created for her. King Sassyfrass then began using his sister as a way of flight and flew high into the heavens. From there he met Jesus and God. They didnt survive. And that is now Weldon Newburn and King Sassyfrass came to found Savanna and then take over the heavens to rule the world.
On a related note, Vinny is gay.
Savanna is known as "The Metropolis" of Carroll County because it contains the county's only stop light.
[edit] References
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2005-05-03. http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
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