Jacksonville, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                            = Jacksonville, Illinois
| official_name                   = 
| native_name                     = 
| native_name_lang                = 
| other_name                      = 
| settlement_type                 = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline                   = JacksonvilleILSquare 2006.jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_alt                       = 
| image_caption                   = [[American Civil War|Civil War]] monument in Central Park
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = 
| etymology                       = 
| nickname                        = "The Athens of the West"<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jacksonvilleil.org/VisitorsGuide2013.pdf |title=Jacksonville Visitor's Guide |publisher=Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau |location=Jacksonville, Illinois |access-date=December 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131216192057/http://www.jacksonvilleil.org/VisitorsGuide2013.pdf |archive-date=December 16, 2013 |page=7 }}</ref>
| motto                           = "Where People Make The Difference"<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.jacksonvilleil.com/|title= City of Jacksonville, Illinois |publisher= City of Jacksonville, Illinois |access-date=August 31, 2012}}</ref>
| anthem                          = 
| image_map                       = File:Morgan County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Jacksonville Highlighted.svg
| mapsize                         = 
| map_alt                         = 
| map_caption                     = Location in Morgan County, Illinois
| pushpin_map              = Illinois#USA
| pushpin_label          = Jacksonville
| pushpin_relief           = yes
| coordinates                     = {{coord|39|43|45|N|90|13|54|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint                   = 
| coordinates_footnotes           = <ref name=gnis/>
| grid_name                       = 
| grid_position                   = 
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = State
| subdivision_name1               = Illinois
| subdivision_type2               = County
| subdivision_name2               = [[Morgan County, Illinois|Morgan]]
| subdivision_type3               = 
| subdivision_name3               = 
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = 1825
| established_title1              = 
| established_date1               = 
| founder                         = 
| named_for                       = 
| seat_type                       = 
| seat                            = 
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = [[Mayor-Council government|Mayor-Council]]
| governing_body                  = 
| leader_party                    = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = Andy Ezard
| leader_title1                   = 
| leader_name1                    = 
| total_type                      = 
| unit_pref                       = Imperial
| area_footnotes                  = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022">{{cite web |title=2022 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Illinois |url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2022_Gazetteer/2022_gaz_place_17.txt |publisher=United States Census Bureau |accessdate=March 22, 2023}}</ref>
| area_total_km2                  = 27.87
| area_total_sq_mi                = 10.76
| area_land_km2                   = 27.36
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 10.56
| area_water_km2                  = 0.51
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.20
| elevation_footnotes             = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft                    = 587
| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web| url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=&g=1600000US1738115&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P1| title=P1. Race – Jacksonville city, Illinois: 2020 DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171)| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=March 22, 2023}}</ref>
| population_total                = 17616
| population_density_km2          = 643.94
| population_density_sq_mi        = 1667.71
| timezone1                       = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1                     = −6
| timezone1_DST                   = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST                 = −5
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code                     = 62650
| area_code                       = [[Area codes 217 and 447|217, 447]]
| area_code_type                  = [[North American Numbering Plan|Area codes]]
| geocode                         = 
| iso_code                        = 
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 17-38115
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 2395451<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2395451}}</ref>= 
| blank2_name                     = 
| blank2_info                     = 
| blank2_name_sec2                = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2                = 
| website                         = {{URL|www.jacksonvilleil.com}}
| footnotes                       = 
}}

'''Jacksonville''' is a city in [[Morgan County, Illinois]], United States. The population was 17,616 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]],<ref name="Census 2020"/> down from 19,446 in [[2010 United States census|2010]]. It is the [[county seat]] of Morgan County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> It is home to [[Illinois College]], [[Illinois School for the Deaf]], and the [[Illinois School for the Visually Impaired]]. Jacksonville is the principal city of the Jacksonville [[Jacksonville, Illinois micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which includes all of Morgan and [[Scott County, Illinois|Scott]] counties.

==History==
Jacksonville was established by European Americans on a {{convert|160|acre|adj=on}} tract of land in the center of Morgan County in 1825, two years after the county was founded. The founders of Jacksonville were settlers from [[New England]]. They were descended from the [[English American|English]] [[Puritans]] who had settled New England in the 1600s and were part of a wave of New England farmers who headed west into what was then the wilds of the [[Northwest Territory]] during the early 1800s. Most of them arrived as a result of the completion of the [[Erie Canal]] and the end of the [[Black Hawk War]]. When they arrived in what is now Jacksonville, there was nothing but dense virgin forest and wild prairie. The "[[Yankee]]" New Englanders laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings and established post routes. They brought with them values such as a passion for education, establishing many schools, as well as staunch support for [[abolitionism]]. They were mostly members of the [[Congregationalist Church]], though some were [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopalian]]. Due to the [[Second Great Awakening]], some of them had converted to [[Methodism]] and [[Presbyterianism]], while some others became [[Baptist]], before moving to what is now Jacksonville. Jacksonville, like some other parts of Illinois, would be culturally very continuous with early New England culture for most of its early history.<ref>Stewart Hall Holbrook, ''The Yankee Exodus: An Account of Migration from New England.'' University of Washington Press, 1968</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=American Zion: The Old Testament as a Political Text from the Revolution to the Civil War |last=Shalev |first=Eran |date=2013 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=9780300188417 |location=New Haven, Conn. |pages=70–71 |oclc=841172308}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Recollections of a Nonagenarian |last=Holbrook |first=John Calvin |date=1897 |publisher=Pilgrim Press |location=Boston |pages=96 |hdl = 2027/mdp.39015064369419}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=Jacksonville, Illinois: The Traditions Continue |last1=Kay |first1=Betty Carlson |last2=Barwick |first2=Gary Jack |date=1999 |publisher=Arcadia Pub |isbn=9780738502328 |location=Charleston, S.C. |pages=21|oclc=43110457}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=http://public.eblib.com/choice/publicfullrecord.aspx?p=4312622 |title=Yankee Colonies Across America: Cities upon the Hills |last=Rosenberg |first=Chaim M |date=2015 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-1498519847 |location=Lanham |pages=81 |oclc=934035950}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |title=New England in the Life of the world. A Record of Adventure and Achievement |last=Bridgman |first=Howard Allen |date=1920 |publisher=Pilgrim Press |location=Boston |pages=93 |oclc=903470282 |hdl = 2027/hvd.32044012018057}}</ref>

The town was laid out on a treeless prairie and along a state road that ran from [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]] to the [[Illinois River]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Jacksonville, Illinois: The Traditions Continue |last1=Kay |first1=Betty Carlson|last2=Barwick|first2=Gary Jack|year=1999|publisher=Arcadia Pub|isbn=9780738502328|location=Charleston, S.C.|oclc = 43110457}}</ref>

The town grew at a rapid rate, and a town square was quickly developed. In 1829, the Presbyterian Reverend John M. Ellis worked to found a new "seminary of learning" in the new state of Illinois. A group of Congregational students at [[Yale College]] heard about his plans and headed westward to establish the new school. These students were a part of the famous "Yale Bands", groups of students who established several colleges in the frontier, what is now the [[Midwest]]. [[Illinois College]] was one of the first institutions of higher learning in the Midwest. A new courthouse was built on the square, churches were constructed, railroads were planned, and stores and taverns were built. By 1834, Jacksonville had the largest population of any city in the state of Illinois, vastly outnumbering [[Chicago]] (only founded the year before). In the 1830s, the town was on the path of Native Americans who were being forcibly [[Indian removal|removed]] by the federal government to west of the Mississippi. The [[Potawatomi]] passed through here in 1838 on what they called their [[Potawatomi Trail of Death|Trail of Death]] as they were forced from their traditional homelands to the dry and barren [[Indian Territory]] to the west.

Jacksonville's education complex and standing in the state were developed by the establishment of state institutions: the [[Illinois School for the Deaf]] and what is now called the [[Illinois School for the Visually Impaired]]. The Illinois Conference Female Academy was founded for education for girls; it later developed as [[MacMurray College]]. By 1850, Illinois College had issued Illinois' first college degrees and opened the first medical school in the state. Because of this, Jacksonville earned the nickname of "Athens of the West".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://jacksonvilleil.org/local-history-people/ |title=Local History & People |date=<!--not specified--> |publisher=Jacksonville Area Convention & Visitors Bureau<!--present in archive.org--> |access-date=February 22, 2017}}</ref>

In 1851, Illinois opened its first state mental hospital in Jacksonville; it became a major employer for the area.<ref>{{cite book |title=The History of Elgin Mental Health Center: Evolution of a State Hospital |first=William |last=Briska |publisher=Crossroads Communications |year=1997 |page=12 |isbn=0-916445-45-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title= |publisher=mantenostatehospital.com | date=January 2, 2016 | url=http://www.mantenostatehospital.com/jacksonville.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102204521/http://www.mantenostatehospital.com/jacksonville.html | archive-date=January 2, 2016 | url-status=dead | access-date=August 9, 2019}}</ref>

The attorney [[Abraham Lincoln]] occasionally had legal business in Jacksonville, frequently acting either as co-counsel or opposing counsel with David A. Smith, a Jacksonville resident.<ref name="Lincolninjacksonville.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.lincolninjacksonville.com/sites.html |title=Voices of Jacksonville – Audio tour sites |publisher=Lincolninjacksonville.com |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref> In what is now Central Park, Lincoln delivered a strong antislavery speech on September 6, 1856, in support of the presidential campaign of [[John C. Frémont]], lasting over two hours.<ref>''Collected Works of Abraham Lincoln.'' Vol. 2 pp. 369–373, as reported in '' The Illinois Sentinel,'' September 12, 1856. Online at: http://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln2/1:393?rgn=div1;view=fulltext</ref> A mural depicting the event has been painted on the side of a building at the southwest corner of the square.<ref name="Lincolninjacksonville.com"/> During the antebellum years, Jacksonville was a stopping point on the historic [[Underground Railroad]], as refugee slaves moved north to freedom, many going into Canada.

One of Lincoln's early political rivals, [[Stephen A. Douglas]] settled in Jacksonville in 1833 where he first got involved in local politics. He quickly rose the ranks of Illinois politics and was elected to the House of Representatives in 1842.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Stephen Douglas |url=https://www.battlefields.org/learn/biographies/stephen-douglas |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=American Battlefield Trust |language=en-US}}</ref>

===1900 to present===
Between 1892 and 1910, Jacksonville was home to [[minor league baseball]], as the [[Jacksonville Jacks]] and Jacksonville Lunatics played in eight different minor leagues. Jacksonville teams played at League Park on Finley Street.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.statscrew.com/venues/v-1246 |title=League Park in Jacksonville, IL history and teams on StatsCrew.com |website=statscrew.com}}</ref>

In 1911 as part of the progressive movement, Jacksonville adopted the [[city commission government|city commission]] form of government, the first mayor being George W. Davis.<ref>{{cite news |title=Personal Points |date=April 5, 1912 |work=[[Rock Island Arg.|Rock Island Argus]] |page=5 (col. 3–4) |via=[[Chronicling America]] |url=http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92053934/1912-04-05/ed-1/seq-5/ }}</ref>

In the summer of 1965, in order to keep up with customer demand for records by [[the Beatles]], the wildly popular English band,<ref>{{cite web |author=Wolf |url=http://www.beatlelinks.net/forums/archive/index.php/t-7289.html |title=1960s press coverage of the Beatles' sales [Archive&#93; – BeatleLinks Fab Forum |publisher=Beatlelinks.net |date=January 2, 2002 |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref> [[Capitol Records]] opened a vinyl record pressing plant on the western outskirts of Jacksonville, at 1 Capitol Way. The plant produced a number of highly collectible pressings. This plant eventually served the Capitol Records Club, producing vinyl LPs and later audiocassettes, CDs, and DVDs of a number of artists.

At its peak, operating as [[EMI Records]] (owner of Capitol), the plant employed over 1,000 workers. It was a significant location in the music industry.  For example, all seven albums released by country western artist [[Garth Brooks]] sold more than 50 million copies. EMI held a "thank-you" luncheon for 1,000 workers at the Jacksonville plant on March 10, 1995.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6AsEAAAAMBAJ |title=Garth Brooks Sets Records |last=<!--no byline--> |date=April 8, 1995 |access-date=February 22, 2017 |magazine=Billboard |page=44 (column 1) |via=Google Books}}</ref> A decade later, in 2004 EMI ceased manufacturing operations at Jacksonville.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x574921394/EMI-employment-down-to-two-dozen-in-Jacksonville |title=EMI employment down to two dozen in Jacksonville |last=Landis |first=Tim |date=November 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411200537/http://www.sj-r.com/top-stories/x574921394/EMI-employment-down-to-two-dozen-in-Jacksonville |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |work=[[State J.-Regist.|The State Journal-Register]] |via=SJ-R.com |access-date=March 11, 2013 }}</ref>

==Geography==
Jacksonville is located at {{Coord|39|43|55|N|90|14|4|W|type:city}} (39.731936, −90.234394).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is {{convert|32|mi}} west of [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]], the state capital, and {{convert|70|mi}} east of [[Hannibal, Missouri]].

[[Interstate 72]] passes to the south of the city, with access from Exits 64 and 68. [[U.S. Route 67]] passes just west of the city limits, leading south {{convert|64|mi}} to [[Alton, Illinois|Alton]] and north {{convert|66|mi}} to [[Macomb, Illinois|Macomb]]. [[Illinois Route 104]] passes through Jacksonville as Morton Avenue, leading southeast {{convert|18|mi}} to [[Waverly, Illinois|Waverly]], while [[Illinois Route 267]] runs south from Jacksonville, leading {{convert|27|mi}} to [[Greenfield, Illinois|Greenfield]]. [[Illinois Route 78]] leads north from Jacksonville {{convert|16|mi}} to [[Virginia, Illinois|Virginia]].

According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], Jacksonville has a total area of {{convert|10.76|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|0.20|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, or 1.83%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2022"/> The city sits in the middle of mostly flat, fertile farmland. One branch of Mauvaisterre Creek empties into Lake Mauvaisterre, a small reservoir surrounded on three sides by parkland.  {{convert|4|mi|0}} south of the city lies Lake Jacksonville, a {{convert|476|acre|adj=on}} lake with {{convert|18.6|mi|1}} of shoreline.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifishillinois.org/profiles/display_lake.php?waternum=00173|title=Lake Profile – JACKSONVILLE, LAKE|website=ifishillinois.org}}</ref> Lake Jacksonville was named the "Number One Fishing Spot in Illinois" by ''[[Field & Stream]]'' magazine.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jacksonvilleil.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BD30D7AD9-9508-4787-B56E-B3182FF681EF%7D |title=Lake Jacksonville - Jacksonville |access-date=March 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808120947/http://www.jacksonvilleil.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BD30D7AD9-9508-4787-B56E-B3182FF681EF%7D |archive-date=August 8, 2014 }}</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Jacksonville 2E, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1895–present)
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 75
| Feb record high F = 80
| Mar record high F = 91
| Apr record high F = 94
| May record high F = 103
| Jun record high F = 107
| Jul record high F = 114
| Aug record high F = 112
| Sep record high F = 106
| Oct record high F = 98
| Nov record high F = 84
| Dec record high F = 74
| year record high F = 114
| Jan high F = 36.0
| Feb high F = 41.1
| Mar high F = 52.4
| Apr high F = 64.9
| May high F = 74.8
| Jun high F = 83.3
| Jul high F = 86.5
| Aug high F = 85.2
| Sep high F = 80.0
| Oct high F = 67.7
| Nov high F = 53.0
| Dec high F = 41.2
| year high F = 63.8
| Jan mean F = 27.1
| Feb mean F = 31.2
| Mar mean F = 41.2
| Apr mean F = 52.6
| May mean F = 63.3
| Jun mean F = 72.1
| Jul mean F = 75.3
| Aug mean F = 73.4
| Sep mean F = 66.7
| Oct mean F = 55.0
| Nov mean F = 42.5
| Dec mean F = 32.2
| year mean F = 52.7
| Jan low F = 18.1
| Feb low F = 21.4
| Mar low F = 30.1
| Apr low F = 40.3
| May low F = 51.7
| Jun low F = 60.8
| Jul low F = 64.0
| Aug low F = 61.7
| Sep low F = 53.5
| Oct low F = 42.3
| Nov low F = 31.9
| Dec low F = 23.3
| year low F = 41.6
| Jan record low F = −24
| Feb record low F = −28
| Mar record low F = −14
| Apr record low F = 10
| May record low F = 26
| Jun record low F = 36
| Jul record low F = 43
| Aug record low F = 39
| Sep record low F = 23
| Oct record low F = 9
| Nov record low F = -5
| Dec record low F = −21
| year record low F = -28
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 1.93
| Feb precipitation inch = 1.72
| Mar precipitation inch = 2.81
| Apr precipitation inch = 4.27
| May precipitation inch = 4.82
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.89
| Jul precipitation inch = 3.96
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.39
| Sep precipitation inch = 3.50
| Oct precipitation inch = 2.97
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.01
| Dec precipitation inch = 1.98
| year precipitation inch = 39.25
| Jan snow inch = 5.1
| Feb snow inch = 4.3
| Mar snow inch = 2.0
| Apr snow inch = 0.3
| May snow inch = 0.0
| Jun snow inch = 0.0
| Jul snow inch = 0.0
| Aug snow inch = 0.0
| Sep snow inch = 0.0
| Oct snow inch = 0.0
| Nov snow inch = 1.0
| Dec snow inch = 3.5
| year snow inch = 16.2
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 7.7
| Feb precipitation days = 7.2
| Mar precipitation days = 10.8
| Apr precipitation days = 12.3
| May precipitation days = 13.3
| Jun precipitation days = 10.5
| Jul precipitation days = 8.7
| Aug precipitation days = 8.9
| Sep precipitation days = 8.2
| Oct precipitation days = 9.9
| Nov precipitation days = 9.8
| Dec precipitation days = 8.1
| year precipitation days = 115.4
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 3.9
| Feb snow days = 3.2
| Mar snow days = 1.4
| Apr snow days = 0.2
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 0.6
| Dec snow days = 3.1
| year snow days = 12.4
|source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ilx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 21, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00114442&format=pdf
| title = Station: Jacksonville 2E, IL
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 21, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 2745
|1860= 5528
|1870= 9203
|1880= 10927
|1890= 12935
|1900= 15078
|1910= 15326
|1920= 15713
|1930= 17747
|1940= 19844
|1950= 20387
|1960= 21690
|1970= 20553
|1980= 20284
|1990= 19324
|2000= 18940
|2010= 19446
|2020= 17616
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |title=U.S. Census website |access-date=January 25, 2015 }}</ref> of 2010, there were 19,446 people, 7,357 households, and 4,174 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,905|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 8,162 housing units at an average density of {{convert|805.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 85.3% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 10.2% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.3% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.7% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.1% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.4% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3% of the population.

There were 7,357 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.8% were married couples living together, 13.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.3% were non-families. 36.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.0% under the age of 18, 14.2% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,670, and the median income for a family was $56,343. Males had a median income of $42,409 versus $30,208 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,245. About 11.9% of families and 18% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.9% of those under age 18 and 11.8% of those age 65 or over.

==Business==
[[Image:EliWheelinJacksonville.JPG|thumb|Big Eli Wheel on corner of E. Morton and S. Main]]

Jacksonville is the home of the [[Eli Bridge]] Company, manufacturer of [[Ferris wheel|Ferris wheels]] and other amusement rides such as the Scrambler. W.E. Sullivan founded the firm with the introduction of his first portable "Big Eli" Wheel on the Jacksonville Square on May 23, 1900. He was inspired to make this portable version of the famous amusement ride after visiting the [[World's Columbian Exposition]] and seeing the original Ferris Wheel created by [[George Washington Gale Ferris Jr.]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-24 |title=This Week In Illinois History: Big Eli, The First Portable Ferris Wheel (May 23, 1900) |url=https://www.northernpublicradio.org/illinois/2021-05-24/this-week-in-illinois-history-big-eli-the-first-portable-ferris-wheel-may-23-1900 |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=Northern Public Radio: WNIJ and WNIU |language=en}}</ref>

Jacksonville was once home to the [[J. Capps & Son]] Company, one of the largest manufacturers of textiles and clothing in the United States, and owned by the Capps family, which was intermarried with the family of [[Jacob Bunn]] and [[John Whitfield Bunn]] of [[Springfield, Illinois]], and Chicago.

[[Reynolds Group Holdings]] (formerly Mobil Plastics, Tenneco, Pactiv) and [[Nestlé|Nestlé Beverage Co.]] have facilities in Jacksonville.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jredc.org/workforce/major-employers|title=Jacksonville Regional Economic Development Corporation Major Employers|work=jredc.org|access-date=2021-01-19|language=en}}</ref>

Jacksonville was also home to a food processing plant for [[ACH Food Companies]] from 1952 to 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=LANDIS |first=TIM |title=Food processing plants closing in Jacksonville, Champaign; 450 jobs gone |url=https://www.sj-r.com/story/news/2008/12/12/food-processing-plants-closing-in/44260106007/ |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=The State Journal-Register |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Education==
[[File:Illinois School For the Deaf.jpg|thumb|left|[[Illinois School for the Deaf]]]]

Jacksonville is home to one private four-year college, [[Illinois College]]. Illinois College is the second oldest college in Illinois,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ic.edu/aboutus/historic.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040919122907/http://www.ic.edu/aboutus/historic.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 19, 2004|title=(unknown)}}</ref> founded in 1829 (and the first to grant a degree – 1835)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.ic.edu/RelId/607297/ISvars/default/History.htm|title=History|publisher=Illinois College|at=¶1 and ¶3|access-date=February 22, 2017}}</ref> by one of the famous Yale Bands—students from Yale College who traveled westward to found new colleges. It briefly served as the state's first medical school from 1843 to 1848, and became co-educational in 1903. Beecher Hall, the first college building erected in Illinois, is named after its first president,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ic.edu/about/history|title=Illinois College: Our History|work=ic.edu|access-date=2021-01-19|language=en}}</ref>[[Edward Beecher]], brother to [[Henry Ward Beecher]] and [[Harriet Beecher Stowe]]. Jacksonville was also the home of the now-closed private four-year college, [[MacMurray College]] from 1846 to 2020.

Jacksonville is also home to three state-run institutions, including the [[Illinois School for the Deaf]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.illinoisdeaf.org/ |title=Illinois School for the Deaf |publisher=Morgan.k12.il.us |access-date=June 16, 2014}}</ref> the [[Illinois School for the Visually Impaired]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.isvi.net/ |title=isvi.net |publisher=isvi.net |access-date=March 5, 2014}}</ref> and the Jacksonville Correctional Center.  [[Lincoln Land Community College]]'s Western Region Education Center is also located in Jacksonville.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://llcc.edu/Default.aspx?alias=llcc.edu/wrec |title=Education Service Areas |date=November 23, 2010 |publisher=Land of Lincoln Community College |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209153321/http://llcc.edu/Default.aspx?alias=llcc.edu%2Fwrec |archive-date=February 9, 2012 |url-status=dead |access-date=May 1, 2012 }}</ref>

Jacksonville is home to three high schools, two private, and one public, including [[Routt Catholic High School]]. [[Jacksonville School District 117]] provides education for the city and much of the county with six elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school, [[Jacksonville High School (Illinois)|Jacksonville High School]].

==Media==
The city's daily newspaper, the ''[[Jacksonville Journal-Courier]]'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.myjournalcourier.com |title= |publisher=myjournalcourier.com |access-date=May 1, 2012}}</ref> is the oldest continuously published newspaper in Illinois (since 1830).

The city also has a weekly newspaper, ''[http://the-source.net/ The Source]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Source |url=http://the-source.net/ |access-date=2023-02-24 |website=The Source |language=en-US}}</ref>

Several radio stations operate in Jacksonville- [[WCIC]] 90.7-FM, [[WLDS]] 1180-AM, [[WEAI (FM)|WEAI]] 107.1-FM, [[WJVO]] 105.5-FM, and [[WJIL]], which simulcasts on 102.9-FM and 1550-AM.

[[NOAA Weather Radio]] station WXM90 transmits from Lynnville and is licensed to NOAA's Central Illinois [[National Weather Service Lincoln, Illinois|National Weather Service]] Forecast Office at Lincoln and St. Louis, broadcasting on a frequency of 162.525 mHz (channel 6 on most newer weather radios, and most SAME weather radios). The station activates the SAME tone alarm feature and a 1050&nbsp;Hz tone activating older radios (except for AMBER Alerts, using the SAME feature only) for hazardous weather and non-weather warnings and emergencies, along with selected weather watches, for the Illinois counties of Brown, Calhoun, Cass, Greene, Morgan, Pike, and Scott. Weather permitting, a tone alarm test of both the SAME and 1050&nbsp;Hz tone features are conducted every Wednesday between 11 am and Noon.

==Infrastructure==

===Health care===
[[Jacksonville Memorial Hospital]], formerly known as Passavant Area Hospital, is the prime source of medical treatment in the area.

The [[Jacksonville Developmental Center]], a state facility, operated here from 1851 to November 2012.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x35745822/Last-of-Jacksonville-Developmental-Center-residents-moved-out |title=Last of Jacksonville Developmental Center residents moved out |last=Reynolds |first=John |date=November 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130202054646/http://www.sj-r.com/breaking/x35745822/Last-of-Jacksonville-Developmental-Center-residents-moved-out |archive-date=February 2, 2013 |work=[[State J.-Regist.|The State Journal-Register]]  |location=Springfield, Illinois |via=SJ-R.com |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Notable people==
{{Main|List of people from Jacksonville, Illinois}}

==Culture==
[[File:"Township 15 North, Range 10 West," from Atlas Map of Morgan County, Illinois.jpg|thumb|An atlas map from 1872 showing Portuguese landowners living near Jacksonville.]]

In 2005, [[Sufjan Stevens]] released ''[[Illinois (Sufjan Stevens album)|Illinois]]'',<!-- DO NOT CHANGE THE NAME OF THE ALBUM: the album is "Illinois", one track is "Come on Feel the Illinoise": see the Talk:Sufjan_Stevens page--> a concept album making reference to various people and places associated with the state. Its fifth track, "Jacksonville," refers to various landmarks in the town, such as Nichols Park. It also contains a story about A. W. Jackson, a "colored preacher" urban legend supposes the town is named after, as well as President [[Andrew Jackson]] (President from 1829 to 1837) after whom the town's officials say it is actually named.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jacksonvilleil.govoffice2.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={A69B0752-CE5B-46E8-8CA9-E297734325BB} |title=History of Jacksonville – Jacksonville |publisher=Jacksonvilleil.govoffice2.com |date=August 26, 1955 |access-date=May 1, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209180740/http://www.jacksonvilleil.govoffice2.com/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC=%7BA69B0752-CE5B-46E8-8CA9-E297734325BB%7D |archive-date=February 9, 2012 }}</ref>

The [[Grammy]]-winning album ''[[Stones in the Road]]'' by singer-songwriter [[Mary Chapin Carpenter]] features the song "John Doe #24" that describes a series of events that occurred in Jacksonville relating to the person on whose life the song is based. The song tells the story of a blind and deaf man who was found wandering the streets in Jacksonville in 1945. The man was hospitalized for diabetes and kept in various institutions until he died nearly 50 years later in 1993. During his 48 years of institutionalization, nobody ever found out his name, nor did anyone who knew or was related to him come to Jacksonville to establish his identity. It was speculated that he was originally from New Orleans, but this was never verified. Likewise, how he came to Jacksonville remains a mystery to this day.

Cultural offerings include the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra, the Jacksonville Theatre Guild, the Art Association of Jacksonville and its David Strawn Art Gallery, as well as many public events and activities hosted by MacMurray College and Illinois College. Recent additions to the cultural scene include the Imagine Foundation and the Eclectic art gallery, both located in the city's downtown.  The [http://www.jacksonvilleareamuseum.org/ Jacksonville Area Museum], located just outside the downtown area, is home to many historical artifacts and is the repository of the MacMurray College Archive collection.

Jacksonville also holds the unusual distinction of having a large number of pipe organs for a city of its size – eleven in all – found at various local churches, as well as both of its four-year colleges.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Church Pipe Organs of Jacksonville, Illinois : Four Centuries of Organ Music CD |url=https://dev.okdnet.net/books-videos-audios/audios/church-pipe-organs-of-jacksonville-illinois-four-centuries-of-organ-music-cd.html |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=OKDnet Emporium |language=en}}</ref>

A notable [[Portuguese American]] community has existed on the outskirts of Jacksonville since the nineteenth century.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/portam/jacksonville.html |title= Portuguese Land Owners near Jacksonville |website= Library of Congress |access-date=June 18, 2020}}</ref> The origins of this community can be traced to 1838, when a Scottish reverend named [[Robert Reid Kalley]] visited the Portuguese island of [[Madeira]] and converted a number of the locals to [[Protestantism in Portugal|Protestantism]].<ref name="loc.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/portam/exiles.html |title= Protestant Exiles from Madeira in Illinois |website= Library of Congress |access-date=June 18, 2020}}</ref> These Madeiran Protestants faced discrimination and alienation due to being Protestant in a largely [[Catholicism in Portugal|Catholic]] community, causing the converts to relocate from Madeira to the Caribbean island of [[Trinidad]] before coming to the United States in 1849 and settling near Jacksonville.<ref name="loc.gov"/>

==Attractions==
Jacksonville Speedway is a dirt racetrack<ref name=":0" /> on the Morgan County Fairgrounds that was first established in 1912. The track was originally a flat 1/2 mile track but was later replaced by the current banked 1/4 mile configuration. Though the racetrack was close to closing its doors in the early 2010s, it attracted the [[World of Outlaws]] racing series which attracted lots of fans and increased business.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dawson |first=Dave |date=June 23, 2023 |title=How Jacksonville Speedway took advantage of its 'last chance' |url=https://www.myjournalcourier.com/news/article/jacksonville-speedway-moves-far-beyond-last-18165530.php |url-status=live |access-date=April 13, 2024 |work=Journal-Courier}}</ref> It has a grandstand that can seat 2,000 people.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.enjoyillinois.com/explore/listing/jacksonville-speedway|title=Jacksonville Speedway|first=110 North Westgate Avenue Jacksonville|last=IL 62650|website=Enjoy Illinois}}</ref> 

Nichols Park is a park on the south side of Jacksonville. It has a playground, golf course, lake, and community pool.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NICHOLS PARK |url=https://www.jacksonvilleil.gov/departments/parks_and_lakes/nichols_park.php |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=www.jacksonvilleil.gov}}</ref>

During the month of December, The Farmers State Bank and Trust building in downtown Jacksonville can be seen displaying the "World's Tallest Advent Calendar" by displaying the 24 days leading up to Christmas in the windows of the East side of the building.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-22 |title='World's Tallest' Advent calendar returns to downtown Jacksonville |url=https://www.wandtv.com/community/worlds-tallest-advent-calendar-returns-to-downtown-jacksonville/article_daa22628-8979-11ee-92a6-030b1b6e6398.html |access-date=2024-04-13 |website=WAND-TV |language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist|33em}}

== Further reading ==
* Don H. Doyle, ''The Social Order of a Frontier Community: Jacksonville, Illinois, 1825–70'', 1978
* Vernon R.Q. Fernandes, ''The People of Jacksonville—A Pictorial History'', 1991
* Vernon R.Q. Fernandes, ''Faces & places—a Morgan County family album'', 1995
* Vernon R.Q. Fernandes, ''Passavant Area Hospital : 125 years of caring'', 1999

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Official|www.jacksonvilleil.com}}
*[http://www.city-data.com/city/Jacksonville-Illinois.html City-Data.com]
*{{Wikisource-inline|list=
**{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Jacksonville|display=Jacksonville. II. A city and the capital of Morgan co., Illinois|short=x|noicon=x}}
**{{Cite NIE|wstitle=Jacksonville (Illinois)|display=Jacksonville. A city and the county-seat of Morgan County, Ill.|short=x|noicon=x}}
**{{Cite EB1911|wstitle=Jacksonville (Illinois)|display=Jacksonville, a city and the county-seat of Morgan county, Illinois, U.S.A.|short=x|noicon=x}}
**{{Cite NSRW|wstitle=Jacksonville (Illinois)|display=Jacksonville, a city and capital of Morgan co., Ill.|short=x|noicon=x}}
}}

{{Jacksonville, Illinois}}
{{Morgan County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Jacksonville, Illinois micropolitan area]]
[[Category:Cities in Morgan County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places on the Underground Railroad]]
[[Category:County seats in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1825]]
[[Category:Jacksonville, Illinois]]