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Charleston is the county seat of Coles County, Illinois6. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 21,039. The city is home to Eastern Illinois University and has close ties with its neighbor Mattoon, Illinois.
Geography
Charleston is located at 39°29'19" North, 88°10'44" West (39.488721, -88.178976)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 22.5 km² (8.7 mi²). 20.7 km² (8.0 mi²) of it is land and 1.8 km² (0.7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 7.84% water.
The glacier that covered most of Illinois (and made it so flat) reached its southernmost advance just South of Charleston about 24,000 years ago.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there are 21,039 people, 7,672 households, and 3,329 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,016.7/km² (2,632.2/mi²). There are 8,148 housing units at an average density of 393.7/km² (1,019.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 92.50% White, 4.25% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.34% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.08% from two or more races. 1.76% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 7,672 households out of which 20.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.9% are married couples living together, 7.3% have a female householder with no husband present, and 56.6% are non-families. 34.6% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.5% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.22 and the average family size is 2.88.
In the city the population is spread out with 13.8% under the age of 18, 44.1% from 18 to 24, 18.7% from 25 to 44, 13.7% from 45 to 64, and 9.7% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 23 years. For every 100 females there are 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 84.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $24,140, and the median income for a family is $44,312. Males have a median income of $30,906 versus $21,822 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,522. 30.1% of the population and 10.3% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.7% of those under the age of 18 and 11.8% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
These figures may be somewhat skewed as 10,000 residents of Charleston are students at Eastern Illinois University, many of whom have their primary place of residence in other cities though they spend nine months of the year in Charleston.
Historical Information
Native Americans lived in the Charleston area long before Europeans arrived.
Charleston was named after city founder name Charles Morton and was a combination of both of his names. Abraham Lincoln was a frequent visitor as nearby was the 1840s home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, his father and stepmother. One of the famous Lincoln-Douglas debates was held in Charleston. On March 28, 1864 a riot erupted after Union soldiers and local Republicans clashed with local Confederate sympathizers known as Copperheads. By the time the Copperhead Riot had ended, nine were dead and twelve had been wounded.
Thomas Lincoln's cabin has been restored and is open to the public as the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, 8 mi. south of Charleston. The Lincoln farm is maintained as a living museum of life in 1840s Illinois by historical re-enactors. The fall Harvest Frolic is a popular annual festival.
Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln are buried in the nearby Shiloh Cemetery.
External links
http://www.illinoishistory.gov/hs/Log.htm
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