Spring Valley, Illinois

Last updated

Spring Valley
Nickname: 
The Valley
Bureau County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Spring Valley Highlighted.svg
Location of Spring Valley in Bureau County, Illinois.
Illinois in United States (US48).svg
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 41°19′38″N89°12′3″W / 41.32722°N 89.20083°W / 41.32722; -89.20083
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
County Bureau
Township Hall
Government
  MayorMelanie Malooley Thompson
Area
[1]
  Total7.40 sq mi (19.17 km2)
  Land7.36 sq mi (19.06 km2)
  Water0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Population
 (2020)
  Total5,582
  Density750/sq mi (290/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
  Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)
61362
Area code 815
FIPS code 17-72156
Wikimedia CommonsSpring Valley, Illinois
Website spring-valley.il.us

Spring Valley is a city situated on the Illinois River in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 5,582 at the 2020 census, up from 5,558 in 2010. It is part of the Ottawa Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

Geography

Spring Valley is located at 41°19′38″N89°12′3″W / 41.32722°N 89.20083°W / 41.32722; -89.20083 (41.327154, -89.200752). [2]

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Spring Valley has a total area of 7.40 square miles (19.17 km2), of which 7.36 square miles (19.06 km2) (or 99.47%) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) (or 0.53%) is water. [3]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1890 3,837
1900 6,21461.9%
1910 7,03513.2%
1920 6,493−7.7%
1930 5,270−18.8%
1940 5,010−4.9%
1950 4,916−1.9%
1960 5,3719.3%
1970 5,6054.4%
1980 5,8223.9%
1990 5,246−9.9%
2000 5,3982.9%
2010 5,5583.0%
2020 5,5820.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [4]

As of the 2020 census [5] there were 5,582 people, 2,221 households, and 1,421 families residing in the city. The population density was 754.83 inhabitants per square mile (291.44/km2). There were 2,539 housing units at an average density of 343.34 per square mile (132.56/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 79.34% White, 1.83% African American, 0.64% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 7.40% from other races, and 9.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 18.70% of the population.

There were 2,221 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.32% were married couples living together, 10.45% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.02% were non-families. 29.27% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.87% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.75 and the average family size was 2.26.

The city's age distribution consisted of 19.7% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 26.4% from 45 to 64, and 22.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $50,549, and the median income for a family was $58,545. Males had a median income of $42,969 versus $17,281 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,500. About 11.9% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.

Name

Spring Valley lies in the valley of Spring Creek. The hills on either side of this valley were, and are to some extent today, laced with springs that still feed Spring Creek.[ citation needed ]

There were numerous springs in the town itself. One in the vicinity of the once Hunter-Doherty Lumber yard was so large and fast-flowing that the indigenous people from that area had an encampment there. Remains of this encampment were visible in the early days of the town. There was a large spring that flowed from the side of the hill between East St. Paul Street and East Devlin Street, down a gully into Spring Creek. Springs still feed the pond of water at the foot of Number One slag dump on East St. Paul Street. This area is now the "Coal Mine Park" owned by Spring Valley PRIDE. The first drinking water supply was piped from large springs on North Sixth Street.

So, with the springs and valleys, it was easy to conceive the name Spring Valley. There is a record that the Indians called this territory, "The Valley of the Springs."

The fact that Spring Valley is located at the point in the river valley where the high bluffs, which contains the famous stream, are closer together than anywhere else in the grain belt and that there is a minimum flood plain has made this point most attractive for the location of grain elevators. It has become the fulcrum of the grain handling industry of the upper section of the Illinois River.

History

Map of Persons per Square Mile Spring-valley2.gif
Map of Persons per Square Mile

Coal

Spring Valley was founded in 1884 in the heart of the coal fields of Northern Illinois for the express purpose of mining of coal. The building of Spring Valley was the enterprise of Henry J. Miller, one of the first settlers of this area, and his son-in-law, Charles J. Devlin. Charles Devlin had lived in Peru, Illinois as the manager of the Union Coal Company in LaSalle. [6] They conceived the idea of establishing a coal metropolis, in the Valley and on the slopes of the bluffs bordering Spring Creek, in the southeastern corner of Bureau County. They acquired the mineral rights of 5,000 acres (20 km2) and purchased 500 acres (2.0 km2) on which to build the town. They secured the financial aid and cooperation of coal and railroad capitalists, E.N. Saunders of St. Paul, Minnesota, a director of the Chicago and North Western railroad, Mr. Taylor of What Cheer, Iowa, and William L. Scott of Erie, Pennsylvania. Scott was a United States Senator from Pennsylvania during the administration of President Grover Cleveland. Most of these men are remembered in the name of the streets of the town. [7]

The Route 89 Bridge in Spring Valley, Illinois This bridge is outdated as it has since been replaced in the summer of 2018. Route 89 Bridge in Spring Valley, Illinois.jpg
The Route 89 Bridge in Spring Valley, Illinois This bridge is outdated as it has since been replaced in the summer of 2018.

Two companies were formed, the Spring Valley Coal Company in partnership with Alexander Campbell, and the Spring Valley Town Site Co. [8] Backed by the almost unlimited resources of the coal barons, these two companies spent over $212 million in less than four years in the building of the town.

The boring of the mine commenced in 1884 and the town surveyed and platted. Spring Valley did not grow from a crossroads country store or framehouse, it was planned with the hope it would grow to be a large city. Space was set aside for churches, schools and public buildings and broad streets were laid out. St. Paul Street became one of the widest streets in the state and in 1984 made even wider. In the residential section of the city property line, lies 25 feet (7.6 m) from curb and ample room for expansion.

Spring Valley was a boom town, its growth was so rapid that it was called the "Magic City." In less than four years, by 1888, the Chicago North Western railroad had laid a line from DeKalb, Illinois, four mines had been sunk and the town had 3,000 people.

Violent strikes

There were large-scale violent strikes in the late 1880s. [9] Italian coal miners in the 1890s brought in anarchism, and the violence escalated during the depression of 1893-96. The strikes were failures but the angry miners voted for the Populist ticket in 1894. [10]

In August 1895, Spring Valley experienced the state's most destructive race riot to date, out of which came major legislation prohibiting companies from bringing in squads of men to replace existing workers. Tension between mine owners and union agitators led to a lockout in 1889. Many Italian immigrants arrived to cross the picket lines but eventually staged their own strike in 1894, encouraging the industry to bring in African Americans to break the strike. Relations between the races rapidly deteriorated, leading to the riot that ended the use of Black strike breakers. Governor John Peter Altgeld's response to the August 4 attack on the black community by displaced Italian miners ultimately revealed his support of fellow immigrants over African Americans. [11] Another riot erupted in 1895 when recent Polish, Lithuanian, Italian, and Belgian immigrants raided, burned, and looted the Black section of town, leaving fourteen Black townspeople injured. [12] Black victims of the riot took their attackers to court and used their status as citizens to win the case against the new immigrants. [13]

Spring Valley remained a brawling, boisterous place until the competition from cheaper Southern Illinois coal fields forced the mine to close in late 1927.

Ethnicity

Spring Valley like every other coal town came to know almost every nationality in Europe. These people came from LaSalle, Peru, Braidwood, Braceville and all mining camps of Northern Illinois. The English, Scottish, Irish, Welsh, and Cornish from the Coal fields of Great Britain, from Northern France and Belgium. Polish, and Germans, Swedes and Lithuanians from opposite shores of the Baltic Sea, Slavish peasants from Central Europe and immigrants from sunny Italy. Many arriving here attired in their native dress tagged and ticketed from their port of entry. The town also developed a black section known as the "Location." In 1905, the Bureau County Republican Newspaper stated that there were 32 distinct nationalities groups in Spring Valley.

The Spring Valley police station Spring Valley Police Station.jpg
The Spring Valley police station

Institutions founded

By 1888, two years after the incorporation of the town, February 8, 1886, two churches, the Congregational and the Immaculate Conception, had been built, two schools erected, the Immaculate Conception Parochial and the Lincoln Public School, which includes a two-year high school course, a newspaper (the Spring Valley Gazette), and a public library.

This library, an institution for which all towns wait many years, was established by the "Knights of Labor", the Coal Miner's Union in 1885 before the town was a year old, before even a city government was formed. This early interest in education culminated in the establishment of two schools believed to be the first of their kind in the state.

The Hall Township High and Vocational School training in shop, carpentry, printing, drafting, cooking, sewing, typing, shorthand, bookkeeping and banking. This school was constructed in 1914.

City government

The city government is aldermanic, with two aldermen to each of four wards, and a mayor, who is elected at large. As of 2024, the aldermen comprising the Spring Valley City Council were as follows: [14]

Transportation

While there is no fixed-route transit service in Spring Valley, intercity bus service is provided by Burlington Trailways in nearby Peru. [15]

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williamson County, Illinois</span> County in Illinois, United States

Williamson County is a county in Southern Illinois. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 67,153. The largest city and county seat is Marion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Montevallo, Alabama</span> City in Alabama, United States

Montevallo is a city in Shelby County, Alabama, United States. A college town, it is the home of the University of Montevallo, a public liberal arts university with approximately 3,000 students. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city of Montevallo is 7,229.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lafayette, Colorado</span> City in Colorado, United States

The City of Lafayette is a home rule municipality located in southeastern Boulder County, Colorado, United States. The city population was 30,411 at the 2020 United States Census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cherry, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Cherry is a village in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 435 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Ottawa Micropolitan Statistical Area. It is located northwest of LaSalle-Peru, just a few miles north of Interstate 80, and is about 75 miles (121 km) east of the Quad Cities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ladd, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Ladd is a village in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,236 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Ottawa Micropolitan Statistical Area. Ladd is perhaps most known for a Vietnam War tank located in the center of its park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seatonville, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Seatonville is a village in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. The population was 321 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Ottawa Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Staunton, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Staunton is the second largest city in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,054.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virden, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Virden is a city in Macoupin and Sangamon counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 3,231 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Toluca, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Toluca is a city in Marshall County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,340 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Peoria, Illinois, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Braidwood, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Braidwood is a city in Will County, Illinois, United States, approximately 53 miles (85 km) southwest of Chicago and 18 miles (29 km) south of Joliet. The population was 6,191 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Johnston City, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Johnston City is a city in Williamson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,348 at the 2020 census. This was a center of coal mining in the early 20th century, having a peak of population in the 1920s. The mining jobs attracted many immigrants from Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wheelwright, Kentucky</span> City in Kentucky, United States

Wheelwright is a home rule-class city in Floyd County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 780 at the 2010 census, down from 1,042 in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bearcreek, Montana</span> Incorporated town in Montana, United States

Bearcreek is an incorporated town in Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 91 at the 2020 census. Bearcreek uses the Mayor/Council form of government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hazleton, Pennsylvania</span> City in Pennsylvania, United States

Hazleton is a city in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 29,963 at the 2020 census. Hazleton is the second-most populous city in Luzerne County. It was incorporated as a borough on January 5, 1857, and as a city on December 4, 1891.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coaldale, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Coaldale is a borough in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, United States. Initially settled in 1827, it was incorporated in 1906 from part of the former Rahn Township; it is named for the coal industry—wherein, it was one of the principal early mining centers. Coaldale is in the southern Anthracite Coal region in the Panther Creek Valley, a tributary of the Little Schuylkill River, along which U.S. Route 209 was eventually built between the steep climb up Pisgah Mountain from Nesquehoning (easterly) and its outlet in Tamaqua, approximately five miles to the west.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shenandoah, Pennsylvania</span> Borough in Pennsylvania, United States

Shenandoah is a borough in Schuylkill County in the Coal Region of Pennsylvania. It is distinct from Shenandoah Heights, which is part of West Mahanoy Township immediately to the north. As of 2021, the borough's population was 4,247.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Helper, Utah</span> City in Utah, United States

Helper is a city in Carbon County, Utah, United States, approximately 110 miles (180 km) southeast of Salt Lake City and 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the city of Price. The population was 2,201 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roslyn, Washington</span> City in Washington, United States

Roslyn is a city in Kittitas County, Washington, United States. The population was 950 at the 2020 census. Roslyn is located in the Cascade Mountains, about 80 miles east of Seattle. The town was founded in 1886 as a coal mining company town. During the 20th century, the town gradually transitioned away from coal, and today its economy is primarily based on forestry and tourism. The town was the filming location for The Runner Stumbles, Northern Exposure, and The Man in the High Castle. Many of the town's historical structures have been preserved, and its downtown was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coal miners' strike of 1873</span> Union strike in the United States

The Coal miners' strike of 1873, was a strike against wage cuts in the Mahoning, Shenango, and TuscarawasValleys of northeastern Ohio and northwestern Pennsylvania. In the Tuscarawas Valley, the labor action lasted six months, and in the Mahoning Valley four and a half months, but the walkouts failed. The introduction of imported strikebreakers and manufacturers finding substitutes for the area's special block-coal, forced the organized miners back to work at prevailing wages.

The Spring Valley race riot of 1895 was a violent racial conflict between Eastern and Southern European immigrants and African American coal workers in the mining town of Spring Valley, Illinois. The conflict was in response to the robbery and shooting of Italian miner Barney Rollo, who reported that his assailants were five black men. The assault provoked the town's long-standing social and racial unrest, and many white immigrant workers united against the African American miners. During the investigation into the shooting several black miners were temporarily taken into custody for questioning and many white townspeople began to form a mob, demanding that all blacks be fired and removed from Spring Valley. The mine manager refused, which prompted the white miners to violently riot against both the black miners and their families, forcing them to flee to the nearby town of Princeton.

References

  1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  2. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  3. Bureau, US Census. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2022.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  5. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  6. Pianceti, Jim (2011). The Promise of a Better Life: The Coal Mines of Eastern Bureau County, Illinois. Ladd, Illinois: Locust Street Publishing.
  7. John H. M. Laslett (2000). Colliers Across the Sea: A Comparative Study of Class Formation in Scotland and the American Midwest, 1830-1924. University of Illinois Press. p. 128ff. ISBN   9780252068270.
  8. Pianceti, Jim (2011). The Promise of a Better Life: The Coal Mines of Eastern Bureau County, Illinois. Ladd, Illinois: Locust Street Publishing.
  9. Henry Demarest Lloyd, A Strike of Millionaires Against Miners: Or, The Story of Spring Valley. An Open Letter to the Millionaires (1890)
  10. Gianna S. Panofsky, "A View of Two Major Centers of Italian Anarchism in the United States: Spring Valley and Chicago, Illinois." in Italian Ethnics: Their Languages, Literature, and Lives (1987)
  11. Felix L. Armfield, "Fire on the Prairies: The 1895 Spring Valley Race Riot", Journal of Illinois History 2000 3(3): 185-200
  12. Caroline A. Waldron, "'Lynch-Law Must Go!' Race, Citizenship, and the Other in an American Coal Mining Town", Journal of American Ethnic History (2000) 20(1) p. 60 in JSTOR
  13. Caroline A. Waldron, "'Lynch-Law Must Go!' Race, Citizenship, and the Other in an American Coal Mining Town", Journal of American Ethnic History (2000) 20(1) pp: 50-77 in JSTOR
  14. "City Council".
  15. "Illinois Bus Stops" . Retrieved September 28, 2023.
  16. "Chad Durbin Stats". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved December 3, 2012.
  17. "Joe Krabbenhoft | Men's Basketball Coach". Wisconsin Athletics. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
  18. Barakat, Matthew (June 5, 2013). "Arab-American scholar Alixa Naff dies at 93". Seattle Times. Associated Press. Archived from the original on February 10, 2015.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)