Princeton, Illinois

city in and the county seat of Bureau County, Illinois, United States

Princeton is a city in Bureau County, Illinois, United States. It is also the county seat of Bureau County.[3] In 2020, 7,832 people lived there.[2] Princeton is part of the Ottawa Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Princeton
City of Princeton
Matson Library
Matson Library
Location of Princeton in Bureau County, Illinois.
Location of Princeton in Bureau County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 41°22′43″N 89°28′1″W / 41.37861°N 89.46694°W / 41.37861; -89.46694
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyBureau
TownshipsPrinceton, Dover
Settled1830s
Incorporated, City1884
Government
 • TypeCouncil-Manager
Area
 • Total8.24 sq mi (21.34 km2)
 • Land8.24 sq mi (21.34 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)  0%
Elevation
780 ft (240 m)
Population
 • Total7,832
 • Density950.49/sq mi (367.00/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
Zip codes
61356
Area code815
FIPS code17-61899
Websitewww.princeton-il.com

History

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Bureau County was a New England settlement. The first people of Princeton were from New England. These people were "Yankees." They were part of a group of New England farmers who went west into what was then the wilds of the Northwest Territory during the early 1800s. Most of them came because of the Erie Canal.[4][5] When they came to what is now Bureau County, there was nothing but forest and wild prairie. The New Englanders created farms, built roads, created government buildings and created post routes. Culturally, Bureau County would be very similar with early New England culture for most of its history.[5][6][7] During slavery, it was a stop on the Underground Railroad at the home of Owen Lovejoy.[8][9]

Princeton's old nickname was "The City of Elms" because there were many elm trees in Princeton during the middle of the 20th century.[10]

Geography

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Princeton is at 41°22′43″N 89°28′1″W / 41.37861°N 89.46694°W / 41.37861; -89.46694 (41.378481, −89.466924).[11] The United States Census Bureau says that Princeton has a total area of 7.48 square miles (19.37 km2). All of it is land.[12]

People

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Historical population
Census Pop.
18602,473
18703,26432.0%
18803,4395.4%
18903,396−1.3%
19004,02318.5%
19104,1312.7%
19204,126−0.1%
19304,76215.4%
19405,2249.7%
19505,76510.4%
19606,2508.4%
19706,95911.3%
19807,3425.5%
19907,197−2.0%
20007,5014.2%
20107,6602.1%
20207,8322.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[13]
 
South historic Main Street district in Princeton, Illinois.

2020 census

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The 2020 census says that there were 7,832 people living in Princeton. They made up 3,533 households.[2]

Infrastructure

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Transportation

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Amtrak has service to Princeton. It is on the California Zephyr, the Illinois Zephyr, the Carl Sandburg and the Southwest Chief. It goes daily in both directions between Chicago and points west from Princeton.[14]

Education

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Princeton has the Princeton High School. It is the oldest township high school in the state. It was created in 1867.[15]

Famous 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. 2.0 2.1 2.2 "DP1: PROFILE OF GENERAL POPULATION AND HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 22, 2023.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. New England in the Life of the World: A Record of Adventure and Achievement By Howard Allen Bridgman pg. 93
  5. 5.0 5.1 Bradsby, Henry C. (1885-01-01). History of Bureau County, Illinois. Unigraphic.
  6. Matson, Nehemiah (1872-01-01). Reminiscences of Bureau County [Illinois] in Two Parts. Republican book and job office.
  7. Harrington, George B. (1906-01-01). Past and Present of Bureau County, Illinois: Together with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead. Pioneer Publishing Company. ISBN 9780608368887.
  8. History of Princeton Archived 2011-07-17 at the Wayback Machine
  9. Past and Present of Bureau County, Illinois: Together with Biographical Sketches of Many of Its Prominent and Leading Citizens and Illustrious Dead, Volume 1 by George B. Harrington page 103
  10. A., Belden, David (2010). Princeton. Bureau County Historical Society. Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia. p. 7. ISBN 9780738578187. OCLC 648936368.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  11. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  12. "G001 – Geographic Identifiers – 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-12-27.
  13. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  14. "Amtrak – Stations – Princeton, IL (PCT)". Amtrak.com. Retrieved 2007-04-03.
  15. "Princeton High School Student Handbook". phs-il.org. Archived from the original on 2007-06-30. Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  16. "Parr Builds a Mission With Words and Technology". Bureau County Republican. 2009-12-28. Archived from the original on 2014-02-21. Retrieved 2019-11-13.
  17. 'Illinois Blue Book 167-1968,' Biographical Sketch of Joseph R. Peterson, pg. 174–175
  18. "Joseph Ruklick". databaseBasketball.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2012. Retrieved December 3, 2012.

Other websites

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