Du Quoin, Illinois

Template:Geobox Du Quoin is a city in Perry County, Illinois, United States. The population was 6,448 at the 2000 census. The current mayor is John Rednour.

Geography

Du Quoin is located at 38°0′25″N 89°14′6″W (38.006815, -89.234885).Template:GR

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.9 square miles (17.9 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (17.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.01%) is water.

History

DuQuoin was named after Chief Jean Baptiste Ducoigne of the Kaskaskia, an Illiniwek people, who were defeated by the Shawnee near here in 1802.

In the early 19th century, DuQuoin was near the Lusk's Ferry Road, an important, early road that connected Kaskaskia with Lusk's Ferry on the Ohio River. The road ran easterly out of Steeleville to a point southwest of DuQuoin. There it turned to the southeast to cross the Big Muddy River and head for Lusk's Ferry.

The DuQuoin High Schools mascot is the Indians, from the people that settled the land before the city. The Indians have outstanding football and track programs. As of October of 2007 the Indians hold the Illinois State Record for most consecutive playoff appearances, going to the playoffs 24 years in a row and won state championships in football in 1988 and 1992

In 2006, the DuQuoin Middle School Warriors won the Southern Illinois Junior High School Athletic Association (SIJHSAA) State Basketball Tournament, beating Olney in the final round. The Warriors never lost a game that season, going 26-0.

The area east of Du Quoin is known as "Old Du Quoin" The actual City of Du Quoin was founded in 1853 as the people of what is now Old Du Quoin moved the town west to avail themselves of the Illinois Central Railroad lines that were being laid. The city government is a commission form of government with a mayor and four commissioners. Du Quoin is the largest community in Perry County.

DuQuoin is the birthplace of former MLB pitcher Don Stanhouse. It was also a place Minnesota Fats played a lot of his pool, as he lived in Dowell, a nearby town.

DuQuoin High School football standout Nick Hill signed a contract with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League.

DuQuoin is the former home of the Hambletonian (from 1957 to 1980), and is the current home of the World Trotting Derby, two of the world's largest harness races.

Rail Transportation

See also: Du Quoin (Amtrak station)

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Du Quoin. Amtrak Train 391, the southbound Saluki, is scheduled to depart Du Quoin at 1:49 pm daily with service to Carbondale. Amtrak Train 393, the southbound Illini, is scheduled to depart Du Quoin at 8:39 pm daily serving the same point as the southbound Saluki. Amtrak Train 390, the northbound Saluki, is scheduled to depart Du Quoin at 7:51 am daily with service to Centralia, Effingham, Mattoon, Champaign-Urbana, Rantoul, Gilman, Kankakee, Homewood, and Chicago. Amtrak Train 392, the northbound Illini, is scheduled to depart Du Quoin at 4:26 pm daily serving the same points as the northbound Saluki.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 6,448 people, 2,716 households, and 1,648 families residing in the city. The population density was 939.3 people per square mile (362.9/km²). There were 2,988 housing units at an average density of 435.3/sq mi (168.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 90.23% White, 7.23% African American, 0.36% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.36% from other races, and 1.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.32% of the population.

There were 2,716 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.0% were married couples living together, 12.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.3% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $29,124, and the median income for a family was $37,688. Males had a median income of $33,576 versus $18,958 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,883. About 13.3% of families and 18.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

External links

• City of Du Quoin
• Du Quoin Evening Call Daily Newspaper
• Du Quoin State Fair