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Herrin, Illinois

Coordinates: 37°48′9″N 89°1′41″W / 37.80250°N 89.02806°W / 37.80250; -89.02806
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Herrin
N Park Ave (IL 148)
N Park Ave (IL 148)
Location of Herrin in Williamson County, Illinois.
Location of Herrin in Williamson County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 37°48′9″N 89°1′41″W / 37.80250°N 89.02806°W / 37.80250; -89.02806
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyWilliamson
Government
 • MayorSteve Frattini
Area
[1]
 • Total
9.92 sq mi (25.69 km2)
 • Land9.67 sq mi (25.05 km2)
 • Water0.24 sq mi (0.64 km2)
Elevation
[2]
420 ft (130 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
12,352
 • Density1,276.96/sq mi (493.05/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code
62948
Area code618
FIPS code17-34358
GNIS feature ID2394365[2]
Wikimedia CommonsHerrin, Illinois
Websitewww.cityofherrin.com

Herrin is a city in Williamson County, Illinois. The population was 12,352 at the 2020 census.[3] The city is part of the Marion-Herrin Micropolitan Area and is a part of the Carbondale-Marion-Herrin, Illinois Combined Statistical Area with 123,272 residents, the sixth most populous Combined statistical area in Illinois.

History

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Herrin City hall

The settlement of Herrin started out as scattered settlers on Herring's Prairie named for the first permanent settler Isaac Herring, a Baptist preacher. Later, his son-in-law David Herrin arrived and the similarity in names led to the eventual shortening of the name to just Herrin's Prairie. The trails from Jordan's fort to Humphreys' ford on the Big Muddy River intersected the old trail from Lusk's ferry at modern-day Golconda to Kaskaskia, which was first settled by French colonists.[4]

Isaac Herring entered the first land in what became Herrin on 4 November 1816, two years before Illinois became a state. He paid $2 an acre for the 160 acres (65 ha). At the time he lived to the west in Jackson County, the land entry was the northeast quarter off Section 30, Township 8 South, Range 2 East of the Third Principal Meridian.[5] Today that area runs between 17th and 27th streets, and from West Cherry Street on the north to West Stotlar Street on the south.[6]

David Ruffin Harrison started storekeeping on the prairie in 1858. During the Civil War, he built a frame store building and secured a fourth class post office that opened on May 26, 1864. After coal was discovered and mining began in nearby Carterville, Harrison, and his cousins Ephraim Snyder Herrin and Mrs. Williams in 1892 prospected for coal beginning at the southwest corner of Williams' farm, identified in 1939 as the corner of Legion Boulevard and East Herrin Street. (Legion Boulevard no longer appears on the maps, but the reference indicates the intersection was the North and North East public roads. The 1908 county atlas shows North East Public Road two blocks east of Park Avenue which would make it North 13th Street). "The men put up the cash, Mrs. Williams boarded the workers. A fine vein of coal was found at 185 feet."

In 1895, the Chicago and Carbondale Railroad organized to lay tracks between the Illinois Central Railroad at Carbondale and connect with the new Chicago, Paducah and Memphis Railroad that had opened up in 1894, going through the central part of the county. (This one later became the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad). Herrin convinced the developers to take their line between Carbondale and Johnston City through Herrin. Soon after it opened, the line was sold to the Chicago and Texas Railroad in the fall of 1895.

The following spring on May 8, 1896, the post office changed to Herrin post office. Cousins Harrison and Herrin, great-grandsons of Isaac Herring, made plans for a new town. They platted a 40-acre site divided by the line between Sections 19 and 30 of the township. They filed the plat 4 December 1896. The community incorporated as a village on March 21, 1898, and as a city two years later on April 17, 1900.[7][8]

Herrin was the site of the 1922 Herrin massacre, resulting in the deaths of 23 miners and guards.[9]

When mining made the town prosperous, Herrin had a recreational park known as White City Park. It opened on Memorial Day 1924 with 5000 in attendance. It had a salt water swimming pool, rides, and a theater. Touring big bands played here. The Dorsey Brothers and Frank Sinatra played bocce ball and performed there.

President Harry S. Truman came to Herrin in September 1948. Three future presidents came to Herrin during campaigns: Richard Nixon, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. Gerald Ford came to the Herrin-Marion airport in the 1970s.

At one time Herrin had 10 hotels, many clothing stores, grocery stores as well as department stores. Of the grocery stores Herrin has had over the years, not including national chains, Louie's P&R is the only local store to remain open.

In the beginning of the 21st century, Herrin by coincidence experienced two total eclipses of the sun in just seven years - the first on August 21st, 2017, and the second on April 8th, 2024.

Geography

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Herrin is located at 37°48′9″N 89°1′41″W / 37.80250°N 89.02806°W / 37.80250; -89.02806 (37.802412, -89.028093).[10]

According to the 2010 census, Herrin has a total area of 9.461 square miles (24.50 km2), of which 9.23 square miles (23.91 km2) (or 97.56%) is land and 0.231 square miles (0.60 km2) (or 2.44%) is water.[11]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
19001,559—
19106,861340.1%
192010,98660.1%
19309,708−11.6%
19409,352−3.7%
19509,331−0.2%
19609,4741.5%
19709,6231.6%
198010,70811.3%
199010,8571.4%
200011,2984.1%
201012,53410.9%
202012,352−1.5%
U.S. Census

2000 census

[edit]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 11,298 people, 4,831 households, and 3,014 families residing in the city.[failed verification] The population density was 1,377.5 inhabitants per square mile (531.9/km2). There were 5,202 housing units at an average density of 634.2 per square mile (244.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.72% White, 0.92% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.

There were 4,831 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 33.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,532, and the median income for a family was $39,108. Males had a median income of $31,545 versus $22,321 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,782. About 13.6% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Sister city

[edit]

On the 17th of July 2015 mayors Steve Frattini and Flavio Polloni signed the Twinning Proclamation Act to officially declare Herrin and Cuggiono as sister cities.

Events and festivals

[edit]

Herrin hosts the annual HerrinFesta Italiana, a Memorial Day weekend celebration of the town's Italian heritage. The five-day event often draws over 60,000 people for live music, authentic Italian food, a carnival, Bocce Ball tournament, and "Bigga Nose" and pasta-eating contests, as well as many other activities. Past artists and bands include Survivor (band), Dixie Chicks, Night Ranger, Josh Gracin, Blake Shelton, Blue Öyster Cult, Florida Georgia Line, Eddie Money, The Guess Who, Kansas (band), Starship (band), Papa Roach, Saving Abel, Theory of a Deadman, Foreigner (band), and Collective Soul.[13]

[edit]

Herrin, Illinois is mentioned in the 1927 silent film "It" The character Cyrus T. Waltham is said to have gone there "for the shooting" after he retires from running Waltham's, the "World Largest Store."

Notable people

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References

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  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Herrin, Illinois
  3. ^ "QuickFacts:Herrin city, Illinois". census.gov. Retrieved August 20, 2020.
  4. ^ Barbara Burr Hubbs. 1939, Reprint 1979. Pioneer Folks and Places. Marion, Ill.: Williamson County Historical Society. Inside cover, 144-145.
  5. ^ Illinois Public Domain Land Sales Database Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine. Illinois State Archives.
  6. ^ "Microsoft Research – Emerging Technology, Computer, and Software Research". Microsoft Research. Archived from the original on April 29, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  7. ^ Barbara Burr Hubbs. 1939, Reprint 1979. Pioneer Folks and Places. Marion, Ill.: Williamson County Historical Society. 146-149.
  8. ^ James N. Adams, comp. 1989. Illinois Place Names. Springfield, Ill.: Illinois State Historical Society. 389-390.
  9. ^ source needed
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ^ "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved December 27, 2015.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  13. ^ "History of the Entertainers - Herrin Festa Italiana". herrinfesta.com. Archived from the original on August 11, 2017. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  14. ^ "Illinois Blue Book 1941-1942," Biographical Sketch of E. N. Bowen, pg. 250-251
  15. ^ 'Illinois Blue Book 1949-1950, Biographical Sketch of Ora Collard, pg. 232-233
  16. ^ "Mariann Hunt obituary". ilesfuneralhomes.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 1, 2013.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Herrin, Illinois.
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