Kewanee, Illinois
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Kewanee () is a city in Henry County,
Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...
. "Kewanee" is the Winnebago word for
greater prairie-chicken The greater prairie-chicken or pinnated grouse (''Tympanuchus cupido''), sometimes called a boomer,Friederici, Peter (July 20, 1989)"The Last Prairie Chickens" ''Chicago Reader''. Retrieved August 27, 2014.(Chinese ä¸­æ–‡ï¼šå¸•è‰ºæ˜Žå½©å¤§å‡¤å‡ ...
, which lived there. The population was 12,509 in the 2020 census, down from 12,916 in 2010.


Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Kewanee has a total area of , of which (or 99.82%) is land and (or 0.18%) is water. The Kewanee Group is named after Kewanee.


Climate


Demographics

As of the 2020 census there were 12,509 people, 5,068 households, and 3,233 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 5,754 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 77.26%
White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 6.98%
African American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.33% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.05%
Pacific Islander Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 7.45% from other races, and 7.53% from two or more races.
Hispanic The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or Latino of any race were 14.47% of the population. There were 5,068 households, out of which 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.53% were married couples living together, 12.55% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.21% were non-families. 31.83% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.92% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 2.41. The city's age distribution consisted of 23.9% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 22% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40.3 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males. The median income for a household in the city was $40,196, and the median income for a family was $46,680. Males had a median income of $37,136 versus $26,297 for females. The
per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the city was $21,170. About 15.5% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the
poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 40.1% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.


Industry

Kewanee was once known for its
fire-tube boiler A fire-tube boiler is a type of boiler invented in 1828 by Marc Seguin, in which hot gases pass from a fire through one or more tubes running through a sealed container of water. The heat of the gases is transferred through the walls of the tube ...
industry. The Kewanee Boiler Corporation manufactured and sold boilers throughout the world for over one hundred years. The company shuttered in 2002, however, boilers manufactured in Kewanee are still in common use. The Kewanee High School athletic teams are nicknamed the "
Boilermaker A boilermaker is a Tradesman, tradesperson who Metal fabrication, fabricates steels, iron, or copper into boilers and other large containers intended to hold hot gas or liquid, as well as maintains and repairs boilers and boiler systems.Bure ...
s". In 2023, the boiler shop burned down and now has a sign that says "Kewanee Boiler Workers Memorial, dedicated to over 130 years of boiler-making." Kewanee was home to
minor league baseball Minor League Baseball (MiLB) is a professional baseball organization below Major League Baseball (MLB), constituted of teams affiliated with MLB clubs. It was founded on September 5, 1901, in response to the growing dominance of the National Le ...
. The
Kewanee Boilermakers The Kewanee Boilermakers were a minor league baseball team based in Kewanee, Illinois. From 1908 to 1913, the Boilermakers played exclusively as members of the Central Association, hosting home games at Terminal Park. The 1948 Kewanee A's succeed ...
minor league baseball team played in the
Central Association The Central Association was an American minor league baseball league. The Central Association began play in 1908, evolving from the 1907 Iowa State League. The Central Association played continuously through 1917 before folding. The league reforme ...
from 1908 to 1913. In 1948–1949, the Kewanee A's rejoined the Central Association. Kewanee was an affiliate of the
Philadelphia Athletics The Philadelphia Athletics were a Major League Baseball team that played in Philadelphia from 1901 to 1954, when they moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and became the Kansas City Athletics. Following another move in 1967, they became the Oakland ...
(1948–1949). Kewanee minor league teams played at Terminal Park (1908–1913) and Northeast Park (1948–1949).


Parks

Kewanee has many different types of parks in the immediate area, offering a variety of activities such as boating, camping, hunting, fishing, playgrounds, baseball fields, and more. Parks inside the city limits are run by the Kewanee Park District.


Schools

Kewanee has had two school districts, dating to when the community of Wethersfield was a separate municipality. Though the towns merged long ago, the two school districts both remain in the city of 13,400, divided at Division Street in the middle of Kewanee. While Kewanee School District #229 has around 2,015 students (533 High School), Wethersfield #230 has about 600 students. The two schools enjoy a usually friendly rivalry, since both district high schools are in different divisions for most sports. However, this rivalry did become very heated in the sports the two high schools once competed in, most notably
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
. Black Hawk College-East Campus is recognized nationally for its equestrian program, as well as livestock judging teams. (Another Campus is located in the
Quad Cities The Quad Cities is a region of five cities (originally Tri-Cities, later four, see #History, History) in the U.S. states of Iowa and Illinois: Davenport, Iowa, Davenport and Bettendorf, Iowa, Bettendorf (the fifth to be included) in southeaster ...
.)


Festivals

The most notable festival held in the community is Hog Days. It is held annually on Labor Day weekend. Events include a carnival, mud volleyball, a parade, and more.


Local media


FM radio

* 93.9
KQCJ KQCJ (93.9 FM) is a commercial radio station, licensed to Cambridge, Illinois and serving the Quad Cities radio market. Known as "Planet 93.9" the station airs an alternative rock radio format. It is operated by Fletcher M. Ford, of Regional ...
"Planet 93.9",
alternative Alternative or alternate may refer to: Arts, entertainment and media * Alternative (Kamen Rider), Alternative (''Kamen Rider''), a character in the Japanese TV series ''Kamen Rider Ryuki'' * Alternative comics, or independent comics are an altern ...
* 102.1 W271BL (Jack FM),
Jack FM Jack FM is a radio network brand that is licensed by Sparknet Communications, with the exception of the European Union where it is licensed by Oxis Media. It plays an adult hits radio format, format, in most cases not using disc jockey, DJs. F ...
* 102.5 WJRE "HOG Country 102.5",
country A country is a distinct part of the world, such as a state, nation, or other political entity. When referring to a specific polity, the term "country" may refer to a sovereign state, state with limited recognition, constituent country, ...
(RDS) * 104.7 W284CV "Rock2.0", rock * 100.1 W282AL (translates 1450 WKEI),
news/talk Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues and consisting entirely or almost entirely of original spoken word content rather than outside music. They may feature monologues, dialogues between the hosts, interviews ...


AM radio

* 1450 WKEI, news/talk


Newspapers

* '' Star Courier''
The Kewanee Voice


Notable businesses

* Hotel Kewanee * Sandy's Drive-In National Headquarters


Notable people

* Walter T. Bailey (1882–1941), architect. Born and raised in Kewanee, Bailey was the first
African-American African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from any of the Black racial groups of Africa. ...
graduate of the University of Illinois' School of Architecture.Wilson, Dreck Spurlock. ''African-American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary (1865–1945)'',
Google Books link
,
Taylor & Francis Taylor & Francis Group is an international company originating in the United Kingdom that publishes books and academic journals. Its parts include Taylor & Francis, CRC Press, Routledge, F1000 (publisher), F1000 Research and Dovepress. It i ...
, 2004, pp. 15–26, ().
*
B. Frank Baker Benjamin Franklin Baker (July 26, 1864 – April 10, 1939) was an American businessman and politician. Background Baker was born in Aurora, Illinois. He lived in Kewanee, Illinois with his wife and family. Baker worked in the manufacturing busin ...
(1864–1939), member of the
Illinois Senate The Illinois Senate is the upper chamber of the Illinois General Assembly, the legislative branch of the government of the State of Illinois in the United States. The body was created by the first state constitution adopted in 1818. Under the ...
, was a resident of Kewanee and served as its mayor. *
Neville Brand Lawrence Neville Brand (August 13, 1920 – April 16, 1992) was an American soldier and actor. He was known for playing villainous or antagonistic character roles in Westerns, crime dramas, and ''films noir'', and was nominated for a BAFTA A ...
(1920–1992), actor and decorated
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
veteran *
Mike Cernovich Michael Cernovich (born November 17, 1977) is an American right-wing social media personality, political commentator, and conspiracy theorist. Though he initially called himself alt-right, he dissociated from the movement after Richard Spen ...
(born 1977), media personality. * W. K. Davidson (1904–1974), Illinois state representative, senator and restaurateur. * Edward Robb Ellis (1911–1998), journalist and diarist *
Richard Estes Richard Estes (born May 14, 1932, in Kewanee, Illinois) is an American artist, best known for his photorealist paintings. The paintings generally consist of reflective, clean, and inanimate city and geometric landscapes. He is regarded as one of ...
(born 1932), artist * Frederick Dilley Glidden (pen name
Luke Short Luke Lamar Short (January22, 1854September8, 1893) was an American Old West gunfighter, cowboy, U.S. Army scout, dispatch rider, gambler, boxing promoter, and saloon owner. He survived numerous gunfights, the most famous of which were aga ...
), Western writer, known for ''
Ramrod A ramrod (or scouring stick) is a metal or wooden device used with muzzleloader, muzzleloading firearms to push the projectile up against the propellant (mainly blackpowder). The ramrod was used with weapons such as muskets and cannons and was u ...
'' (1947) and ''
Blood on the Moon ''Blood on the Moon'' is a 1948 RKO black-and-white "psychological" Western film noir starring Robert Mitchum, Barbara Bel Geddes, Robert Preston and Walter Brennan. Directed by Robert Wise, the cinematography is by Nicholas Musuraca. The m ...
'' (1948) * Bill Goffrier, guitarist for The Embarrassment * Belden Hill (1864–1934), MLB third baseman for the
Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...
* Em Lindbeck (1934–2008), MLB outfielder for the
Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League Central, Central Division. One of the AL's eight chart ...
, mayor of Kewanee * Glenn McDonald (born 1952), NBA small forward / shooting guard for the
Boston Celtics The Boston Celtics ( ) are an American professional basketball team based in Boston. The Celtics compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NBA), Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), ...
and
Milwaukee Bucks The Milwaukee Bucks are an American professional basketball team based in Milwaukee. The Bucks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Central Division (NBA), Central Division of the Eastern Conference (NBA), East ...
* Amber McReynolds (born 1979), chief executive of the National Vote at Home Institute and member of the
Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service is the governing body of the United States Postal Service (USPS). The board oversees the activities of the Postal Service, while the postmaster general actively manages its day-to-day ...
, was raised in Kewanee. *
Albinus Nance Albinus Roberts Nance (March 30, 1848 – December 7, 1911) was an Politics of the United States, American politician. He served as a soldier during the American Civil War, and as the List of governors of Nebraska, fourth governor of Nebraska. N ...
(1848–1911), 4th governor of
Nebraska Nebraska ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Ka ...
, was raised in Kewanee * Dennis Nelson, professional football player * Sod Ryan (1905–1964), NFL tackle for the
Chicago Bears The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago. The Bears compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They are one of two remaining ...
* Lindsay Stalzer (born 1984), professional volleyball player, was raised in Kewanee. * Marjabelle Young Stewart (1924–2007), writer and expert on
etiquette Etiquette ( /ˈɛtikɛt, -kɪt/) can be defined as a set of norms of personal behavior in polite society, usually occurring in the form of an ethical code of the expected and accepted social behaviors that accord with the conventions and ...
, moved to Kewanee in 1965 and resided there until her 2007 death. * Teresa Sullivan (born 1949), President of the
University of Virginia The University of Virginia (UVA) is a Public university#United States, public research university in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson and contains his The Lawn, Academical Village, a World H ...
(2010–2018), was raised in Kewanee. *
Dale Whittaker A. Dale Whittaker (born August 13, 1961) is an American academic and senior program officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He was the fifth president of the University of Central Florida. He succeeded former president John Hitt in 2018 ...
, fifth President of the University of Central Florida *


Transportation

The Kewanee Amtrak station serves trains on the ''
Carl Sandburg Carl August Sandburg (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967) was an American poet, biographer, journalist, and editor. He won three Pulitzer Prizes: two for his poetry and one for his biography of Abraham Lincoln. During his lifetime, Sandburg w ...
'' and ''
Illinois Zephyr The ''Illinois Zephyr'' and ''Carl Sandburg'' are a pair of passenger trains operated by Amtrak on a route between Chicago and Quincy, Illinois. As '' Illinois Service'' trains, they are partially funded by the Illinois Department of Transport ...
'' daily. The current station was completed April 13, 2012.


References


External links


City of Kewanee
{{authority control Cities in Illinois Cities in Henry County, Illinois Populated places established in 1854 1854 establishments in Illinois