Pleasant Plains, Illinois

Pleasant Plains
Village
Location of Pleasant Plains in Sangamon County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 39°52′27″N89°55′12″W / 39.87417°N 89.92000°W / 39.87417; -89.92000
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Sangamon
Incorporated	April 8, 1876
Area [1]
• Total	1.33 sq mi (3.46 km2)
• Land	1.33 sq mi (3.46 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	614 ft (187 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	808
• Density	605.24/sq mi (233.65/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	62677
Area code	217
FIPS code	17-60599
Wikimedia Commons	Pleasant Plains, Illinois
Website	pleasantplainsillinois.com

Pleasant Plains is a village in Sangamon County, Illinois, United States. The population was 802 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village was incorporated April 8, 1876 ^[2]

Geography

Pleasant Plains is located at 39°52′27″N89°55′12″W / 39.87417°N 89.92000°W / 39.87417; -89.92000 (39.874221, -89.920106). ^[3]

According to the 2010 census, Pleasant Plains has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.63 km²), all land. ^[4]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	417		—
1890	518		24.2%
1900	575		11.0%
1910	625		8.7%
1920	1,078		72.5%
1930	486		−54.9%
1940	531		9.3%
1950	500		−5.8%
1960	518		3.6%
1970	644		24.3%
1980	688		6.8%
1990	701		1.9%
2000	777		10.8%
2010	802		3.2%
2020	808		0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [5]

As of the census ^[6] of 2010, there were 802 people, 310 households, and 228 families residing in the village. The population density was 626.0 inhabitants per square mile (241.7/km²). There were 310 housing units at an average density of 255.4 per square mile (98.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.4% White, 0.5% African American, 0.4% Asian, and 1.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 310 households, out of which 36.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.1% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.5% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the village, the population was spread out, with 28.2% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 20 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 25.8% from 45 to 64, and 13.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.5 years. 47.1% of the population was male and 52.9% of the population was female.

The median income for a household in the village was $46,053, and the median income for a family was $51,111. Males had a median income of $38,482 versus $25,446 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,714. About 3.5% of families and 2.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.7% of those under age 18 and none of those age 65 or over.

Pleasant Plains Historical Society

In an effort to re-connect to its historical roots, the Pleasant Plains Historical Society was created by mayor Jim Verkuilan and his friends in 2009. Its stated purpose is “To acquire, restore and maintain historical sites surrounding the community.” The Historical Society promptly took steps to purchase the Clayville, Illinois site, a goal accomplished in 2010. Clayville, a Lincoln-era stagecoach stop, had been operated by a predecessor of the University of Illinois Springfield from the 1970s until 1992. The Pleasant Plains Historical Society's affiliate, Clayville Historic Site, now operates the stagecoach stop and 1824 tavern building. ^{[7] [8]}

Notable people

Peter Cartwright's tombstone

• Peter Cartwright, politician and Methodist church leader
• William J. Frey, Illinois state legislator, farmer, and businessman
• John Goforth, former co-host of Hysteria 51 went to Pleasant Plains High School
• Brent Hand, co-host of Hysteria 51 went to Pleasant Plains High School
• Matt Kennedy, guitarist for The Dangerous Summer (band) went to Pleasant Plains High School
• James F. Short Jr., sociologist

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
2. "Name Index to Illinois Local Governments: Illinois State Archives". February 7, 2024. Retrieved February 7, 2024.
3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4. "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 25, 2015.
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
6. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
7. Reavy, Amanda (May 7, 2009). "Pleasant Plains forms group to try to buy Clayville site". The State Journal-Register (Springfield). Retrieved June 10, 2009.
8. "Clayville Historic Site". Clayville Historic Site: The Broadwell Inn. Retrieved August 24, 2013.

External links

• 

  Peter Cartwright

  Pleasant Plains Web Site