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Wood River, Illinois

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Wood River, Illinois
City
Wood River, Illinois
Wood River, Illinois
Flag of Wood River, Illinois
Flag
Official logo of Wood River, Illinois
Logo
Motto: 
"Progressing in the Spirit of Lewis & Clark"
Location in Madison County, Illinois
Location in Madison County, Illinois
Coordinates: 38°52′14″N 90°04′32″W / 38.87056°N 90.07556°W / 38.87056; -90.07556[1]
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyMadison
TownshipsWood River
Fort Russell
Government
 • TypeManager-Council
Area
[2]
 • Total
7.23 sq mi (18.72 km2)
 • Land6.97 sq mi (18.06 km2)
 • Water0.25 sq mi (0.65 km2)
Elevation
[1]
436 ft (133 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total
10,464
 • Density1,500.3/sq mi (579.25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP code
62095
Area code618
FIPS code17-83271
GNIS feature ID2397363[1]
Websitewww.woodriver.org

Wood River is a city in Madison County, Illinois. The population was 10,464 as of the 2020 census.[3]

Wood River developed as a company town around a Standard Oil refinery built in 1907 and 1908 and was chartered as a city in 1923.[4][5] The community lies near the site of Camp River Dubois, the winter staging camp of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, a heritage reflected in the city's motto, "Progressing in the Spirit of Lewis & Clark."[5]

History

[edit]

Wood River developed as a company town around an oil refinery. The Standard Oil Company broke ground on a refinery near the site in April 1907, and the plant began operating at the start of 1908.[6] The community was founded in 1907; it merged with the neighboring settlement of East Wood River in 1910 and with Benbow City in 1917, and was chartered as a city in 1923.[7]

Standard Oil shaped the early town beyond employment. The company purchased about two dozen Sears, Roebuck and Company mail-order houses to shelter workers, and it helped establish the community's first school and a volunteer fire department in 1909.[6] The refinery later operated as an Amoco facility and closed in the mid-1990s; Amoco merged with British Petroleum in 1998, and a long-term environmental remediation of the site followed.[6]

Geography

[edit]

Wood River is located in western Madison County on the Mississippi River approximately 15 miles (24 km) upstream of downtown St. Louis, Missouri. It is among several contiguous cities and villages that have come to be known as the "Riverbend" area. The current confluence of the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers is just south of one of these neighboring villages, Hartford. Wood River is bordered to the northwest by East Alton, to the north by Rosewood Heights, to the northeast by Bethalto, to the southeast by Roxana, to the south by Hartford, and to the southwest, across the Mississippi River, by West Alton, Missouri.

Illinois Route 3 passes through the west side of the city, leading north 5 miles (8 km) to the north side of Alton and south 18 miles (29 km) to East St. Louis. Illinois Route 143 passes through the center of Wood River as Madison Avenue, leading northwest 5 miles (8 km) to the center of Alton and southeast 9 miles (14 km) to Edwardsville. Illinois Route 111 follows Central Avenue through the center of Wood River, leading north 3.5 miles (5.6 km) to the west part of Bethalto and south 16 miles (26 km) to Washington Park. Illinois Route 255, a four-lane limited-access highway, passes through the east side of Wood River, leading northwest 10 miles (16 km) to Godfrey and south 15 miles (24 km) to Collinsville.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Wood River has a total area of 7.23 square miles (18.73 km2), of which 6.98 square miles (18.08 km2) are land and 0.25 square miles (0.65 km2), or 3.47%, are water.[2]

The city lies near the mouth of the Wood River, the small tributary of the Mississippi that shares its name, close to that river's confluence with the Missouri to the south.[8]

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
191084—
19203,4764,038.1%
19308,136134.1%
19408,1970.7%
195010,19024.3%
196011,69414.8%
197013,18612.8%
198012,446−5.6%
199011,490−7.7%
200011,296−1.7%
201010,657−5.7%
202010,464−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, Wood River had a population of 10,464. The median age was 39.2 years. 21.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 16.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.9 males age 18 and over.[10][11]

98.3% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.7% lived in rural areas.[12]

There were 4,491 households in Wood River, of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 36.0% were married-couple households, 23.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[10]

There were 4,933 housing units, of which 9.0% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.1% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.2%.[10]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[11]
RaceNumberPercent
White9,24088.3%
Black or African American4454.3%
American Indian and Alaska Native240.2%
Asian530.5%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander50.0%
Some other race750.7%
Two or more races6225.9%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race)2172.1%

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2020 to 2024 five-year estimates), the median household income in Wood River was $62,703 and the per capita income was $35,016, and about 13.9 percent of residents lived below the poverty line.[13][14] The median value of owner-occupied housing units was $108,100.[13] Among residents age 25 and older, an estimated 94.3 percent were high school graduates or higher and 15.5 percent held a bachelor's degree or higher.[13][14]

2000 census

[edit]

At the 2000 census there were 11,296 people, 4,725 households, and 2,995 families living in the city. The population density was 1,865.2 inhabitants per square mile (720.2/km2). There were 5,001 housing units at an average density of 825.8 per square mile (318.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.57% White, 0.63% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.35% from other races, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.21%.[15]

Of the 4,725 households 29.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.6% were non-families. 31.7% of households were one person and 14.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.

The age distribution was 24.1% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% 65 or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median household income was $33,875 and the median family income was $41,688. Males had a median income of $35,097 versus $24,522 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,098. About 13.2% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.2% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

[edit]

Wood River's economy has been tied to petroleum refining since its founding around a Standard Oil refinery in 1907 and 1908.[6] That plant later became an Amoco facility and closed in the mid-1990s.[6] Petroleum refining remains prominent in the immediate area: the Phillips 66 Wood River Refinery, which has a crude oil processing capacity of about 345,000 barrels per day and produces transportation fuels, is located in the neighboring village of Roxana rather than within the city.[16]

Government

[edit]

Wood River is governed by an elected mayor and a city council. As of 2026 the mayor is Tom Stalcup, and the council has four members.[17] The city's departments include police, fire, public services, finance, parks and recreation, building and zoning, and a city clerk's office.[18]

Education

[edit]

Public secondary education is provided by East Alton-Wood River Community High School District 14, whose high school, East Alton–Wood River High School, is located in Wood River.[19] The school's athletic teams are nicknamed the Oilers, a reference to the Standard Oil refinery around which the town developed.[19]

Landmarks and culture

[edit]

Wood River is closely associated with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Corps of Discovery wintered from December 1803 to May 1804 at Camp River Dubois, which stood at the mouth of the Wood River near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, and set out up the Missouri River on May 14, 1804.[8][20] The Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, which interprets the camp and displays a full-scale keelboat replica, is located just south of the city in Hartford.[21] Also in Hartford, the Lewis and Clark Confluence Tower, which has observation decks at 50, 100, and 150 feet, opened in 2010 to mark the bicentennial of the expedition's departure and overlooks the confluence.[22]

Within the city, the Wood River Museum and Visitor Center, operated by the Wood River Heritage Council, presents exhibits on the town's Standard Oil refinery history and its Lewis and Clark heritage.[23]

Transportation

[edit]

The nearest Amtrak station is Alton, about 8 miles to the northwest, served by the Texas Eagle and the Lincoln Service.[24]

St. Louis Regional Airport, a general aviation airport about 3 miles to the northeast in Bethalto, has no scheduled commercial service.[25] The nearest airport with commercial passenger service is St. Louis Lambert International Airport, about 25 miles to the west in Missouri.[26]

Local bus service is provided by Madison County Transit, which operates several routes serving Wood River.[27]

Notable people

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Wood River, Illinois
  2. 1 2 "2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "P1. Race – Wood River city, Illinois: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved February 14, 2023.
  4. ↑ Mason, Shannan. "Standard Oil Company / Community Service". Madison Historical. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  5. 1 2 "History of Wood River, IL". City of Wood River. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Mason, Shannan. "Standard Oil Company / Community Service". Madison Historical: The Online Encyclopedia and Digital Archive for Madison County, Illinois. Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  7. ↑ "History of Wood River, IL". City of Wood River. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  8. 1 2 "Lewis & Clark State Historic Site (Camp Dubois)". National Park Service. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  11. 1 2 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  12. ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  13. 1 2 3 "QuickFacts: Wood River city, Illinois". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  14. 1 2 "Wood River, IL". Census Reporter. Retrieved July 3, 2026. American Community Survey 2020 to 2024 five-year estimates
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  16. ↑ "Wood River Refinery". Phillips 66. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  17. ↑ "City Council". City of Wood River. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  18. ↑ "Government". City of Wood River. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  19. 1 2 "East Alton-Wood River Community High School". East Alton-Wood River Community High School District 14. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  20. ↑ "History of Wood River, IL". City of Wood River. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  21. ↑ "Lewis & Clark State Historic Site". Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  22. ↑ "Lewis & Clark Confluence Tower". National Park Service. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Wood River Museum and Visitor Center". Wood River Heritage Council. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Alton, IL (ALN)". Great American Stations. Amtrak. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  25. ↑ "St. Louis Regional Airport". St. Louis Regional Airport. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  26. ↑ "St. Louis Lambert International Airport". St. Louis Lambert International Airport. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Bus Schedules". Madison County Transit. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Joe Astroth". SABR BioProject. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Roger Counsil". Indiana State University Athletics. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Gary Lane". University of Missouri Athletics. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Ken Retzer". SABR BioProject. Society for American Baseball Research. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Dewayne Staats: The play-by-play heroes of his childhood crackled through the nighttime sky". Sports Broadcast Journal. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  33. ↑ "John Stoneham". Baseball-Reference. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Jean Stothert profile". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  35. ↑ "John Ewing wins decisive victory over Jean Stothert in race for Omaha mayor". Omaha World-Herald. May 14, 2025. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Harriss beats Tharp for State Senate 56th". Advantage News. Retrieved July 3, 2026.
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