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Encyclopedia > Centralia, Illinois

Centralia is a city located in Marion, Jefferson, Washington and Clinton Counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 14,136 at the 2000 census. The town was founded because it was the point where the two original branches of the Illinois Central Railroad, built in 1856, converged. The town is named for the railroad. The current mayor is Rebecca Ault. Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Washington County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Clinton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, and determined by the U.S. Census Bureau to include the mean center of U.S. population in 1960. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (149,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... The Illinois Central (AAR reporting mark IC), sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, was a railroad carrier in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. ... 1856 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Contents

History

Over the course of its 150-year history, Centralia, Ill., has weathered more than its share of setbacks. The Illinois Central railroad traffic that put the town on the map in 1851 has long since disappeared. Coal mining virtually stopped overnight following a 1947 mine disaster that killed 111 miners. The oil boom, which at one time made the surrounding countryside resemble a derrick factory showroom, dried up in the 1950s. But through good times and bad, Centralia (pop. 14,136) has managed to hold onto a constant source of community pride and pleasure. For nearly 70 years, the Centralia Orphans have been the “winningest” high school boys basketball team in the United States. With a lifetime record of 1,937 wins and 814 losses at the close of the 2002-03 season, the Orphans have celebrated more victories than any other boys’ high school basketball team in the country.


Geography

Centralia is located at 38°31′31″N, 89°7′57″W (38.525257, -89.132548).GR1 This is approximately 60 miles (100 km) east of St. Louis, Missouri. Centralia is on the border of south-west Marion County with portions of the city located in Clinton, Washington and Jefferson counties, and is 10 miles (16 km) north of exit 61 of I-64 and 10 miles (16 km) west of exit 109 of I-57. Centralia is one of three Illinois cities with portions in four counties, the others being Barrington Hills & Aurora. A mile is any of several units of distance, or, in physics terminology, of length. ... Incorporated Village in 1957. ... The Paramount Theatre under renovation, downtown Aurora. ...


According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 19.8 km² (7.6 mi²). 19.4 km² (7.5 mi²) of it is land and 0.4 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (1.83%) is water. The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ...


Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 14,136 people, 5,784 households, and 3,568 families residing in the city. The population density was 727.7/km² (1,884.4/mi²). There were 6,276 housing units at an average density of 323.1/km² (836.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 86.50% White, 10.34% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.73% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 1.71% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20% of the population. Image:1870 census Lindauer Weber 01. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... It has been suggested that Ethnicity (United States Census) be merged into this article or section. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ... The United States Census Bureau uses the federal governments definitions of race when performing a census. ...


There were 5,784 households out of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.1% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.95. Marriage is an interpersonal relationship with governmental, social, or religious recognition, usually intimate and sexual, and often created as a contract, or through civil process. ...


In the city the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.9% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.


The median income for a household in the city was $31,905, and the median income for a family was $39,123. Males had a median income of $30,511 versus $21,967 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,174. About 11.2% of families and 14.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.1% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries showing percentage of population who have an income below the national poverty line The poverty line is the level of income below which one cannot afford to purchase all the resources one requires to live. ...


Mine tragedy

On March 25, 1947, the Centralia No. 5 coalmine explosion near the town killed 111. The Mine Safety and Health Administration of the U.S. Department of Labor reported the explosion was caused when an underburdened shot or blown-out shot ignited coal dust. At the time of the explosion 142 men were in the mine. Sixty five men were killed by burns and injuries and forty five by afterdamp. Eight men were rescued but one died from the effects of afterdamp. This is slightly ironic as a more famous Centralia, Pennsylvania is best known for being the site of a mine fire. is the 84th day of the year (85th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1947 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wyoming coal mine Coal mining is the mining of coal. ... The Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) is an agency of the United States Department of Labor which administers the provisions of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Act of 1977 (Mine Act) to enforce compliance with mandatory safety and health standards as a means to eliminate fatal accidents; to... The United States Department of Labor is a Cabinet department of the United States government responsible for occupational safety, wage and hour standards, unemployment insurance benefits, re-employment services, and some economic statistics. ... Afterdamp is the toxic mixture of gases left in a mine following an explosion due to firedamp. ... Centralia is a borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. ...


Local features

Centralia's Foundation Park is a scenic 235 acre park that features hiking trails, an exercise trail, an ice skating pond and two fishing ponds both stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish. The park also sports a restored prairie, a Chapel in the Woods, the Hall Shelter, the Sentinel Shelter, The Bowl (an outdoor amphitheatre), Moose Oven and the Miner's Memorial.


Foundation Park is the site of the annual Balloon Fest, a hot air balloon festival. Recent events have had about forty balloons and drew 40000 visitors. Hot air balloon in flight The hot air balloon is the oldest successful human-carrying flight technology, dating back to its invention by the Montgolfier brothers in Annonay, France in 1783. ...


In addition to Foundation Park, the Centralia Foundation also supports the Centralia Carillon, ranked as eighth-largest in the world with 65 bells, the greatest of which weights 5-1/2 tons. For the University of Regina student newspaper, see The Carillon. ...


Centralia is home to Kaskaskia College and Centralia High School. Kaskaskia College, located adjacent Centralia, Illinois, is the oldest community college in the state of Illinois and serves 11,500 students. ...


Over the past half century, Centralia has experienced many economic tragedies including many factories/industries either shutting down, or moving out of town/state/country.


Centralia is the home of the Centralia Cultural Society. This community theatre has been providing the tri-county area with performances for over 50 years.


One of only two remaining 2500 class steam locomotives from the Illinois Central Railroad is preserved on static display at Centralia's Fairview Park. The locomotive is maintained by the Age of Steam Memorial non-profit organization.


Rail Transportation

See also: Centralia, Illinois (Amtrak station)

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Centralia. Amtrak Train 59, the southbound City of New Orleans, is scheduled to depart Centralia at 12:25am daily with service to Carbondale, Fulton, Newbern-Dyersburg, Memphis, Greenwood, Yazoo City, Jackson, Hazlehurst, Brookhaven, McComb, Hammond, and New Orleans. Amtrak Train 58, the northbound City of New Orleans, is scheduled to depart Centralia at 4:10am daily with service to Effingham, Mattoon, Champaign-Urbana, Kankakee, Homewood, and Chicago. Centralia is also served by Amtrak Train 390/391, the Saluki, daily in the morning, and Amtrak Train 392/393, the Illini, daily in the afternoon/evening. Both the Saluki and the Illini operate between Chicago and Carbondale. Other information Code CEN Traffic Passengers (2006) 11,860 1. ... The high-speed Acela Express in West Windsor, New Jersey. ... Amtraks City of New Orleans stops at the Memphis, Tennessee station in 2005. ... , Carbondale is a city in Southern Illinois in the midwest United States, about one hour north of Cairo. ... For other uses, see Memphis (disambiguation). ... : Crossroads of the South : The city of Grace and Benevolence United States Mississippi Hinds, (very small portions in Madison and Rankin) 106. ... New Orleans is the largest city in the state of Louisiana, United States of America. ... Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. ... Union Station is a Chicago train station that opened in 1925, replacing an earlier 1881 station, and is now the only intercity rail terminal in Chicago. ... The Saluki is a 310-mile (499 km) passenger train operated by Amtrak that will run between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois, starting October 30, 2006. ... The Illini is a 310-mile (499 km) passenger train operated by Amtrak that runs between Chicago and Carbondale, Illinois. ...


Centralia High School

Sports

The Centralia High School basketball team became known as the "Orphans" in 1936 because upstate sports reporters thought them shabby upstarts to be competing at the state level. However, the name became prophetic after the No. 5 mine disaster; at one time, all the players had lost a father in the mines. Also, the girls basketball team is called the "Annies"


There are some alternate theories as to why the sports teams of Centralia High School are called the "Orphans". One maintains that it was due to a large orphanage that at one time was present in the town, another widely accepted theory is that the players wore a bunch of unmatched jerseys when they went to state and a state reporter said that they look like a bunch of orphans out there.


Successes

Folks in town still remember the extraordinary success of the Orphans’ brightest star, Dwight “Dike” Eddleman, the team’s all-time leading scorer. During his high school years in the 1940s, he was the subject of a feature article in Life magazine. Later, he lettered in three sports at the University of Illinois, competed in the London Olympics (high jump) in 1948, and played in the NBA in the 1950s.


Today, the corner of the downtown Centralia Area Historical Society Museum devoted to local sports features a veritable shrine to Eddleman and his accomplishments. Others who rose up into the pros include Bobby Joe Mason, a Harlem Globetrotter for many years, and Dickie Garrett, who played briefly for the Los Angeles Lakers.


Kaskaskia Community College

About

Kaskaskia College (KC) was the first community college in Illinois established under the Junior College Act of 1965. It has a rich tradition of providing acomprehensive, high quality, cost-effective education. It's accreditation is under The North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. Kaskaskia College, located adjacent Centralia, Illinois, is the oldest community college in the state of Illinois and serves 11,500 students. ...


Transfer students at Kaskaskia College participates in the Illinois Articulation Initiative (IAI), a statewide agreement that allows transfer of completed Illinois General Education Transfer Core Curriculum between participating institutions. Kaskaskia College, located adjacent Centralia, Illinois, is the oldest community college in the state of Illinois and serves 11,500 students. ...


The career and occupational programs are styled in accordance with the wants and needs of students, the community, business and industry. The College is committed to working together with employers to assess technological, educational, and training needs. Kaskaskia College’s partnerships with the region’s manufacturers assure a valuable, educated workforce. The College serves as the primary resource for skills training programs, technical, and computer education for business and manufacturing in the district. Kaskaskia College, located adjacent Centralia, Illinois, is the oldest community college in the state of Illinois and serves 11,500 students. ...


Sports

The women's sports' teams are called the "Blue Angels" and the men's teams are called the "Blue Devils. The team colors are royal blue and white.


Notable residents

David Blackwell (born April 24, 1919) is Professor Emeritus of Statistics at the University of California, Berkeley, and is one of the eponyms of the Rao–Blackwell theorem. ... James Brady James Scott “Jim” Brady (born August 29, 1940) was Assistant to the President and White House Press Secretary under President Ronald Reagan. ... Ronald Wilson Reagan (February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981–1989) and the 33rd Governor of California (1967–1975). ... Thomas Dwight Dike Eddleman (December 27, 1922 – August 1, 2001) is generally considered the greatest athlete in the history of athletics at the University of Illinois. ... Gary Joseph Gaetti (born August 19, 1958 in Centralia, Illinois), nicknamed G-Man (Rat during his earlier days), is an American former third baseman in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins (1981-90), California Angels (1991-93), Kansas City Royals (1993-95), St. ... // Amos Tom Wargo (born September 16, 1942) is an American professional golfer, best known for winning the 1993 PGA Seniors Championship–one of the major championships on the mens Senior PGA Tour. ... Nancy Scranton (born April 26, 1961) is an American golfer. ... Kenneth Faye McBride (born August 12, 1935 in Huntsville, Alabama) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. ...

External links & References

Coordinates: 38.525257° N 89.132548° W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...


  Results from FactBites:
 
Centralia, Illinois - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (594 words)
The town was founded because it was the point where the two original branches of the Illinois Central Railroad, built in 1856, converged.
Several notable personalities were born in Centralia including James Brady (born August 29, 1940) and Gary Gaetti (born August 19, 1958).
Centralia is on the border of south-west Marion County with portions of the city located in Clinton County, and is 10 miles north of exit 61 of I-64 and 10 miles west of exit 109 of I-57.
  More results at FactBites »


 

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