Virginia, Illinois

Virginia
City
Main Street
Nickname:  Illinois’ Gem on the Prairie
Location of Virginia in Cass County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 39°57′09″N90°12′39″W / 39.95250°N 90.21083°W / 39.95250; -90.21083 [1]
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Cass
Township	Virginia
Founded	1836
Government
• Mayor	Randy McClure [2]
Area [3]
• Total	1.27 sq mi (3.29 km2)
• Land	1.21 sq mi (3.12 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.17 km2)
Elevation [1]	614 ft (187 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,514
• Density	1,254.35/sq mi (484.50/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	62691
Area code	217 452
FIPS code	17-78201
GNIS feature ID	2397152 [1]
Wikimedia Commons	Virginia, Illinois
Website	virginiaillinois.net

Virginia is a city in Cass County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,514 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Cass County. ^[4]

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Virginia has a total area of 1.27 square miles (3.29 km²), of which 1.21 square miles (3.13 km²) (or 94.96%) is land and 0.06 square miles (0.16 km²) (or 5.04%) is water. ^[5]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	954		—
1880	1,420		48.8%
1890	1,602		12.8%
1900	1,600		−0.1%
1910	1,501		−6.2%
1920	1,501		0.0%
1930	1,494		−0.5%
1940	1,418		−5.1%
1950	1,572		10.9%
1960	1,669		6.2%
1970	1,814		8.7%
1980	1,825		0.6%
1990	1,767		−3.2%
2000	1,728		−2.2%
2010	1,611		−6.8%
2020	1,514		−6.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [6]

As of the 2020 census ^[7] there were 1,514 people, 593 households, and 379 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,191.19 inhabitants per square mile (459.92/km²). There were 728 housing units at an average density of 572.78 per square mile (221.15/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.94% White, 0.73% African American, 0.53% Native American, 0.26% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 1.39% from other races, and 5.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.43% of the population.

There were 593 households, out of which 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.82% were married couples living together, 11.47% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.09% were non-families. 27.32% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.70 and the average family size was 2.26.

The city's age distribution consisted of 24.9% under the age of 18, 8.4% from 18 to 24, 22.2% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $48,625, and the median income for a family was $52,125. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $31,793 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,824. About 19.8% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under age 18 and 4.7% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

The Virginia Bar-B-Que is an annual barbecue held during the first weekend of June. It features live music, carnival rides, flea market, parades and barbecued food. ^[8]

Education

Virginia has one school: a K-12 facility run by Virginia Community Unit School District 64. The facility is broken down into sections: Virginia Elementary School, Virginia Junior High School, and Virginia High School.

Notable people

• Craig J. Findley (born 1948), newspaper editor, photographer, and Illinois state representative ^[9]
• Eric Jokisch (born 1989) - MLB pitcher (Chicago Cubs 2014), KBO pitcher (Kiwoom Heroes 2019-2023)
• John Linebaugh Knuppel (1923–1986), member of the Illinois Senate from 1971 until 1981.
• Arthur A. Leeper (1855–1931), lawyer and Illinois state senator
• Kyle MacWherter (1892–1977), American football player.
• Howard D. McKibben (born 1940), judge of the United States District Court for the District of Nevada from 1984 until 2005. McKibben was born in Virginia. ^[10]

See also

• Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area — nearby state conservation area

References

1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Virginia, Illinois
2. "History of Virginia". City of Virginia, Illinois. March 18, 2008. Archived from the original on April 21, 2008. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
3. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
4. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
5. Bureau, US Census. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
7. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
8. "Why?". Virginia Bar-B-Que website. November 28, 2004. Retrieved March 25, 2008.
9. 'Illinois Blue Book 1918-1982,' Biographical Sketch of Craig J. Findley, pg. 164
10. "McKibben, Howard D. - Civil Rights Litigation Clearinghouse". www.clearinghouse.net.

External links

• City of Virginia website — official site
• Virginia, Illinois, Economic Development in Cass County — community calendar and directory site