City in Illinois, United States
Effingham is a city in and the county seat of Effingham County, Illinois, United States. It is in South Central Illinois. Its population was 12,252 at the 2020 census. The city is part of the Effingham, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.
The city bills itself as "The Crossroads of Opportunity" because of its location at the intersection of two major Interstate highways: I-57 running from Chicago to Sikeston, Missouri, and I-70 running from Utah to Maryland. It is also served by U.S. Route 45, which runs from Ontonagon, Michigan to Mobile, Alabama, U.S. Route 40, the historic National Road, which stretches from Atlantic City, New Jersey to Silver Summit, Utah, and Illinois routes 32 and 33 also run through the city. It is also a major railroad junction, the crossing of the Illinois Central main line from Chicago to Memphis with the Pennsylvania Railroad line from Indianapolis to St. Louis. For this reason, Effingham has a much broader range of restaurants and lodging facilities than typical towns of its size.
Demographics
Historical population
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|
| 1870 | 2,383 | | — |
|---|
| 1880 | 3,065 | | 28.6% |
|---|
| 1890 | 3,260 | | 6.4% |
|---|
| 1900 | 3,774 | | 15.8% |
|---|
| 1910 | 3,898 | | 3.3% |
|---|
| 1920 | 4,024 | | 3.2% |
|---|
| 1930 | 4,978 | | 23.7% |
|---|
| 1940 | 6,180 | | 24.1% |
|---|
| 1950 | 6,892 | | 11.5% |
|---|
| 1960 | 8,172 | | 18.6% |
|---|
| 1970 | 9,458 | | 15.7% |
|---|
| 1980 | 11,270 | | 19.2% |
|---|
| 1990 | 11,851 | | 5.2% |
|---|
| 2000 | 12,384 | | 4.5% |
|---|
| 2010 | 12,328 | | −0.5% |
|---|
| 2020 | 12,252 | | −0.6% |
|---|
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As of the 2020 census[7] there were 12,252 people, 5,205 households, and 3,029 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,160.78 inhabitants per square mile (448.18/km2). There were 5,862 housing units at an average density of 555.38 per square mile (214.43/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.00% White, 0.85% African American, 0.25% Native American, 1.31% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.80% from other races, and 4.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.60% of the population.
There were 5,205 households, out of which 27.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.77% were married couples living together, 11.82% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.81% were non-families. 33.26% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.64% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 2.29.
The city's age distribution consisted of 22.9% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 26.4% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37.1 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,551, and the median income for a family was $69,405. Males had a median income of $37,288 versus $26,182 for females. The per capita income for the city was $31,029. About 10.8% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
History
Effingham was first settled in 1814, and was known from then until 1859 as Broughton.[8] In 1859, it became the county seat with buildings relocated from nearby (now deserted) Ewington.[9] The community was named after General E. Effingham, a local surveyor.[10]
In the late 1880s, local citizens founded Austin College, which lasted for several decades, and ultimately was purchased to become the Illinois College of Photography, also known as Bissel College. That school closed due to the Great Depression in the 1930s.[11]
On April 4, 1949, St. Anthony's Hospital caught fire and burned to the ground, killing 74 people.[12] As a result, fire codes nationwide were improved. Due to extensive media coverage, including a Life magazine cover story,[12] donations for rebuilding the hospital came from all 48 states and several foreign countries.
Effingham was a sundown town;[13] daytime segregation was enforced until at least the mid-1960s.[14]
Education
Effingham has several schools, both public and private. The private schools are both religiously affiliated and include Saint Anthony and Sacred Heart. Saint Anthony Grade School (SAGS) serves grades preschool (age 3+) to eighth grade. SAGS has the Bullpup as its mascot. Sacred Heart Grade School (SHS) serves preschool (age 3+) to eighth grade. SHS's mascot is the Shamrock. The public schools include the Early Learning Center, South Side Elementary, Central Grade School, Effingham Junior High School (EJHS), and Effingham High School. The Early Learning Center serves preschool and kindergarten age children. South Side Elementary serves first and second graders. Aspire is a school for students who are likely to drop out or those who get expelled. Central Grade School serves third through fifth grade students. Central Grade school's mascot is the Mustang. EJHS serves junior high students in grades six to eight. EJHS's mascot is the Mustang.
Effingham High School (EHS) is the public high school.[17] The new EHS opened in the fall of 1998, and has a current enrollment of 849.[18] The former EHS building, built in 1939 as a WPA project and expanded in 1965, is currently the junior high, serving grades 6–8. The old junior high, Central School, is now a grade school serving grades 3–5. EHS athletics were originally known as the Warriors but the name was changed after Ada Kepley, a city resident, referred to Effingham as the "Heart of America" in a campaign to attract visitors to the city. The name stuck, with references in the city government and the downtown movie theater named the Heart Theater. EHS athletics are now known as the Flaming Hearts.
Effingham is also home to St. Anthony High School, a private Roman Catholic High School. SAHS athletics are known as the Bulldogs.
SHS athletics and extra-curricular activities currently consist of boys' baseball, girls' softball, girls' basketball (grades 4–8), boys' basketball (grades 4–8), girls' track (grades 5-8), boys' track (grades 5–8), girls' cross country (grade 5–8), boys' cross country (grades 5–8), volleyball, cheerleading, band (grades 5–8), chorus (grades 5–8), musicals, plays, student council, and scholar bowl.[19]
SAGS athletics and extra-curricular activities currently consist of boys' baseball, girls' softball, girls' track, boys' track, girls' cross country, boys' cross country, volleyball (grades 7-8), girls' basketball (grades 6-8), boys' basketball (grades 6-8), cheerleading,[20] student council, scholastic bowl, spring musical, art club, eco-meet, and bridge club.[21]
SAHS athletics and extra-curricular activities currently consist of soccer, boys' golf, girls' golf, girls' volleyball, girls' tennis, girls' and boys' cross country, boys' fall baseball, boys' basketball, girls' basketball, cheerleading, wrestling, bellettes (dance), swimming, boys' tennis, spring baseball, girls' track, boys' track, softball, bass fishing, National Honor Society, WYSE (world youth in science and engineering), Society for Academic Achievement (SAA), scholar bowl, Spanish club, band, chorus, fall musical, spring play, drama club, book club, chemistry club, Spanish scholar bowl, and pep club.[22]
EJHS athletics and extra-curricular activities currently consist of baseball, soccer, cross country, tennis, golf, cheerleading, football,
volleyball, basketball, swimming, chorus, band, theatre, and scholar bowl.
EHS athletics and extra-curricular activities currently consist of boys' baseball, coed soccer, cross country, girls' and boys' tennis, boys'
and girls' golf, coed wrestling, basketball cheerleading, girls' track, boys' track, football cheerleading, competition cheerleading, football, girls' softball, volleyball, girls' and boys' basketball, girls' and boys' swimming, chorus, band, marching band, theatre, student council, dance, WYSE, National Honor Society, Society for Academic Achievement (SAA), color guard, FACS club, math club, Young Heart Writers club, chemistry club, Spanish club, French club, book club, pep club, and scholar bowl.
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