Mattoon
City
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Coles
Coordinates	39°28′44″N 88°22′23″W / 39.47889, -88.37306
Area	9.3 sq mi (24 km²)
- land	9.3 sq mi (24 km²)
Population	18,291 (2000)
Density	1,964.8 /sq mi (759 /km²)
Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code	61938
Area code	217
Location of Mattoon within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: Mattoon, Illinois

Mattoon is a city in Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 18,291 at the 2000 census. Mattoon was the site of the "Mad Gasser" attacks of the 1940s. List of cities in Illinois, arranged in alphabetical order. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Coles County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... 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. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... 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. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ... 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. ... Square kilometre (U.S. spelling: square kilometer), symbol km², is a decimal multiple of SI unit of surface area square metre, one of the SI derived units. ...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... −12 | −11 | −10 | −9:30 | −9 | −8 | −7 | −6 | −5 | −4 | −3:30 | −3 | −2:30 | −2 | −1 | −0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7...  CST or UTC-6 The Central Time Zone observes standard time by subtracting six hours from UTC during standard time (UTC-6) and five hours during daylight saving time (UTC-5). ... -12 | -11 | -10 | -9:30 | -9 | -8 | -7 | -6 | -5 | -4 | -3:30 | -3 | -2:30 | -2 | -1 | -0:25 | UTC (0) | +0:20 | +0:30 | +1 | +2 | +3 | +3:30 | +4 | +4:30 | +4:51 | +5 | +5:30 | +5:40 | +5:45 | +6 | +6:30 | +7 | +7:20 | +7... The 217 area code currently covers much of Central Illinois, including the capital city of Springfield as well as the cities of Champaign, Urbana, Decatur, Danville, Quincy, and Rantoul. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 443 × 600 pixelsFull resolution‎ (768 × 1,040 pixels, file size: 811 KB, MIME type: image/png) Please see the file description page for further information. ... Image File history File links Illinois_-_outline_map. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Coles County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... Daily Journal-Gazette (Mattoon), September 2, 1944 The Mad Gasser of Mattoon (also known as The Anesthetic Prowler, The Mad Anesthetist, and The Phantom Anesthetist, The Mad Gasser of Roanoke, or simply Mad Gasser) was the name given to the person or persons believed to be behind a series of...

History

Early settlers from the South lived in forested areas along the headwaters of the Little Wabash River to the southwest of the present town. They distrusted the prairie, which they saw as the source of fevers. Early Mattoon residents called the prairies the "Fever Capital of the World".

The history of Mattoon is tied to that of local railroads. In 1853, railroad surveyors from the Illinois Central Railroad and Terre Haute and Alton Railroad found their railroads would cross in the Mattoon area, and a burst of investment and land speculation began. The two railroads raced to the meeting point, on the understanding that the first to arrive would not have to pay to maintain the crossing. Local settlers marked out the plots for sale with pegs, and the village was originally known as "Pegtown." This is the top-level page of WikiProject trains Rail tracks Rail transport refers to the land transport of passengers and goods along railways or railroads. ... 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. ... Speculation involves the buying, holding, and selling of stocks, bonds, commodities, currencies, collectibles, real estate, derivatives or any valuable financial instrument to profit from fluctuations in its price as opposed to buying it for use or for income via methods such as dividends or interest. ...

In 1861, the town was officially named after William B. Mattoon, the chief construction engineer working for the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad. The reason for this honor is unclear; some say he won the naming rights because his rail crew arrived first. Others say he beat other claimants in a card game, or that Pegtown residents hoped the wealthy Mattoon would invest in the town if they named it after him. With its combination of excellent transportation and remarkably fertile prairie soils, Mattoon expanded rapidly. For a brief time in the 1880s, Mattoon was know as the "Expansion Capital of the World". By the dawn of the 20th century, Mattoon's growing population and rail access brought manufacturing and industry. For other uses, see Prairie (disambiguation). ...

On the night before the Lincoln-Douglas debate of September 18, 1858, at the Coles County Fairgrounds, both Lincoln and Douglas had slept in nearby Mattoon, [1],[2]. On June 17, 1861, General Ulysses S. Grant took his first post of the American Civil War when he assumed command of the 21st Illinois Infantry in Mattoon. This article is about a style of debate. ... is the 168th day of the year (169th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Ulysses S. Grant,[2] born Hiram Ulysses Grant (April 27, 1822 – July 23, 1885), was an American general and the eighteenth President of the United States (1869–1877). ... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total...

In 1865, Amish settlers began a community to the north near Arthur, IL. Amish farmstands and horse-drawn buggies are not uncommon sights in the northern part of Mattoon today. In fact, Mattoon was for a time on the short list to be named "Amish Capital of the World", but had to settle for the significantly less prestigious "Amish Capital of Southern Illinois" crown. This article is about Old Order Amish, but also refers to other Amish sects. ... Arthur is a village located in Douglas and Moultrie (Arthurs primary street, Vine Street is the county line) Counties, Illinois. ...

In the 1890s, Mattoon led the successful campaign to have a proposed college in eastern Illinois located in Coles County. The citizens were chagrined when neighboring Charleston was chosen as the home of the future Eastern Illinois University instead. Charleston is the county seat of Coles County, Illinois6. ... Eastern Illinois University is a state university located in Charleston, Illinois. ...

On May 26, 1917, the town was devastated by a tornado, which killed 101 people. This led Mattoon to be known as the "Tornado Capital of the World." The titles was stripped from the forlorn town and moved to a trailer park in Tennessee. is the 146th day of the year (147th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1917 (MCMXVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 13-day slower Julian calendar (see: 1917 Julian calendar). ... This article is about the weather phenomenon. ... For the Beth Orton album, see Trailer Park (album). ... This article is about the U.S. state of Tennessee. ...

In 1940, the discovery of petroleum reserves in the countryside immediately surrounding Mattoon led to a small "oil boom" in the 1940s and 1950s, bringing with it economic benefits and increased civic pride. Oil extraction continues to be an important economic activity. In 1966, Lake Land College was built just south of the city. The community college offers degrees for immediate employment and pre-university education. Petro redirects here. ... Lake Land College (usually pronouced as one word, Lakeland) is a community college in Mattoon in Coles County, Illinois. ... A community college is a type of educational institution. ...

Mattoon was home to several minor-league teams in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The last stadium, with a capacity of approximately 2,000 seats, was torn down in the late 1950s, but the city maintains a strong baseball tradition. As the self-styled "Baseball Capital of the World", Mattoon still has a thriving junior league and hosted many junior league regionals and World Series. Traditionally a bastion of manufacturing, Mattoon has been challenged by the loss of several major plants in the last two decades. This article is about the sport. ...

Recent history and current issues

Traditionally a bastion of manufacturing, Mattoon has been challenged by the loss of several major plants in the last two decades. On December 18, 2007, Mattoon was chosen to be the site of the U.S. Department of Energy's FutureGen zero emission power plant. The United States Department of Energy (DOE) is a Cabinet-level department of the United States government responsible for energy policy and nuclear safety. ... FutureGen is a project of the US government to build a zero-emissions coal-fired power plant that produces hydrogen and electricity while using carbon dioxide sequestration. ... Zero emission refers to an engine, motor, or other energy source, that emits no waste products that pollutes the environment or disrupts the climate. ... A power station (also power plant) is a facility for the generation of electric power. ...

After the arrival of the Lender's Bagels factory in 1986, Mattoon became the self-declared "Bagel Capital of the World." The town is also home to the world's largest bagel and an annual summer event called "Bagelfest." Lenders Bagel Bakery started when Harry Lender immigrated to the United States from Poland in 1927. ... For other uses, see Bagel (disambiguation). ...

In December, 2007, Mattoon was named the official site for the FutureGen clean-coal gasification project. The project will build a near zero-emissions coal-fueled power plant that intends to produce hydrogen and electricity while using carbon capture and storage. 1</ref> FutureGen is a project of the US government to build a zero-emissions coal-fired power plant that produces hydrogen and electricity while using carbon dioxide sequestration. ...

Mattoon is also known as the home to the "original" Burger King. Burger King is the name of a restaurant owned by the Hoots family in Mattoon, Illinois. ...

Transportation

Transportation is still a vital part of local economic life. Much of the major commercial development in recent years has occurred along Interstate 57, which crosses the eastern edge of Mattoon. Interstate 57 (abbreviated I-57) is an interstate highway in the midwestern United States. ...

Rail transportation

See also: Mattoon (Amtrak station)

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Mattoon. Amtrak Train 59, the southbound City of New Orleans, is scheduled to depart Mattoon at 11:13pm daily with service to Effingham, Centralia, 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 Mattoon at 5:23am daily with service to Champaign-Urbana, Kankakee, Homewood, and Chicago. Mattoon 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. 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. ...

The Illinois Central Station in the heart of downtown Mattoon is badly decaying, and local activists have sought funding for years to restore it. 2.5 million dollars were obtained for it via the 2005 Transportation Bill. Today the station is unmanned; passengers boarding at the Mattoon station must order their tickets by telephone or online. The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

Geography

Mattoon is located at 39°28′44″N, 88°22′23″W (39.478850, -88.373086)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.3 square miles (24.1 km²), all of it land. Nearby rivers have been dammed to form Lake Paradise and Lake Mattoon south of the city. 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 mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... A square metre (US spelling: square meter) is by definition the area enclosed by a square with sides each 1 metre long. ...

The terminal moraine of the Wisconsin Glacier is located just to the south of Mattoon. Heading south on I-57 there is an impressive vista from the top of the moraine at the south Mattoon exit. While the moraine is of Wisconsinan age (about 10,000 years before present), the land to the south is of Illinoian age (about 100,000 years before present). The small oil field to the south of the moraine is also attributed to glacial activity: The weight of the glacier to the north created cracks in the underlying bedrock. Oil collected adjacent to these cracks. This article is about geological phenomena. ... Vegetation types at time of last glacial maximum. ... Drilling rig in a small oil field Near Sarnia, Ontario, 2001 An oil field is an area with an abundance of oil wells extracting petroleum (oil) from below ground. ...

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 18,291 people, 8,105 households, and 4,676 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,964.8 people per square mile (758.6/km²). There were 8,830 housing units at an average density of 948.5/sq mi (366.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.64% White, 1.42% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% 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 8,105 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% 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 2.87. Matrimony redirects here. ...

In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,800, and the median income for a family was $43,780. Males had a median income of $32,339 versus $21,949 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,186. About 7.6% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 10.0% 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. ...

Famous People

• Will Leitch, author and editor of sports blog Deadspin, was born in Mattoon and has featured the city in his writing.
• Edward Mills Purcell, Nobel Laureate, was educated in Mattoon's public schools. [3],
• Arland D. Williams Jr., hero of Air Florida Flight 90, was born in Mattoon, where an elementary school is named for him.
• Hope Summers, actress who had a recurring role on The Andy Griffith Show.
• Patricia Roberts Harris, US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, last US Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, first US Secretary of Health and Human Services in Carter administration and first African American woman to serve as a US Ambassador, representing US in Luxembourg, and the first African American woman to enter line of succession to the Presidency.

Will Leitch (born October 10, 1975) is a writer based in New York City. ... Deadspin is a sports website owned by Gawker Media that claims to deliver sports without access, favor or discretion. ... Edward Mills Purcell (August 30, 1912 – March 7, 1997) was an American physicist who shared the 1952 Nobel Prize for Physics for his independent discovery (published 1946) of nuclear magnetic resonance in liquids and in solids. ... The Nobel Prizes (pronounced no-BELL or no-bell) are awarded annually to people who have done outstanding research, invented groundbreaking techniques or equipment, or made outstanding contributions to society. ... Arland Dean Williams Jr. ... U.S. National Transportation Safety Board diagram of flight path for Air Florida flight 90 which crashed on takeoff at Washington, D.C. on January 13, 1982, killing 78 persons. ... Hope Summers (June 7, 1896 - June 22, 1979) was a character actress best-known for her work on The Andy Griffith Show. ... The Andy Griffith Show is an American television series that aired on CBS from October 3rd, 1960 to April 1st, 1968. ... Categories: 1924 births | 1985 deaths | U.S. Secretaries of Health and Human Services | U.S. Secretaries of Health, Education, and Welfare | People stubs ... For other persons named Jimmy Carter, see Jimmy Carter (disambiguation). ... An African American (also Afro-American, Black American, or simply black) is a member of an ethnic group in the United States whose ancestors, usually in predominant part, were indigenous to Africa. ... This is a list of ambassadors from the United States. ...

References

The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 123rd day of the year (124th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The United States Census Bureau (officially Bureau of the Census as defined in Title ) is a part of the United States Department of Commerce. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance to the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 31st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links

• Official website of the city of Mattoon
• General history of Mattoon
• A brief history of Mattoon baseball
• Arland D. Williams Jr. Elementary School official website
• Save Mattoon
• Railroad depot preservation and restoration website
• Mattoon Schools

• Mattoon, Illinois is at coordinates 39°28′44″N 88°22′23″W / 39.47885, -88.373086 (Mattoon, Illinois)Coordinates: 39°28′44″N 88°22′23″W / 39.47885, -88.373086 (Mattoon, Illinois)

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Coles County, Illinois
County seat: Charleston
Cities	Charleston | Mattoon | Oakland Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Coles County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... Official language(s) English[1] Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Largest metro area Chicago Metropolitan Area Area  Ranked 25th  - Total 57,918 sq mi (140,998 km²)  - Width 210 miles (340 km)  - Length 390 miles (629 km)  - % water 4. ... A county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county, primarily used in the United States. ... Charleston is the county seat of Coles County, IllinoisGR6. ... For other uses, see City (disambiguation). ... Charleston is the county seat of Coles County, IllinoisGR6. ... Oakland is a city located in Coles County, Illinois. ...
Villages	Ashmore | Humboldt | Lerna // The word village has many meanings relating to local government in the United States. ... Ashmore is a village located in Coles County, Illinois. ... Humboldt is a village located in Coles County, Illinois. ... Lerna is a village located in Coles County, Illinois. ...
Townships	Ashmore | Charleston | East Oakland | Humboldt | Hutton | Lafayette | Mattoon | Morgan | North Okaw | Paradise | Pleasant Grove | Seven Hickory A civil township is a widely-used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to a county. ... Ashmore Township is located in eastern Coles County, Illinois. ... Charleston Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ... East Oakland Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ... Humboldt Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ... Hutton Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ... Lafayette Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ... Mattoon Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ... Morgan Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ... North Okaw Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ... Paradise Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ... Pleasant Grove Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ... Seven Hickory Township is located in Coles County, Illinois. ...