Stillman Valley, Illinois
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| Stillman Valley | |
| Village | |
 Sign leading into Stillman Valley.
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| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Illinois |
| County | Ogle |
| Township | Marion |
| River | Stillman Creek |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 1.4 sq mi (4 km²) |
| - land | 1.4 sq mi (4 km²) |
| - water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km²) |
| Population | 1,048 (2000) |
| Density | 735.7 /sq mi (284 /km²) |
| Date | 1875 |
| Village President | Jim Mays (R) |
| Postal code | 61084 |
| Area code | 815 |
  Location of Stillman Valley within Illinois
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| Wikimedia Commons: Stillman Valley, Illinois | |
| Website: http://www.stillmanvalley.us/ | |
Stillman Valley is a village in Marion Township, Ogle County, Illinois, United States. It lies east of Byron, south of Rockford, and west of Davis Junction. The population was 1,048 at the 2000 census. As of the 2005 estimate, Stillman Valley's population had risen to 1,097. The village is located on the Iowa, Chicago and Eastern Railroad, on the old Chicago Great Western Railway before it merged and was pulled up. Also, Illinois Route 72 runs through the village, and is near the location for the beginning of the Black Hawk War. The war memorial for the Battle of Stillman's Run is located in this village.
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[edit] Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.4 km²), all of it land.
[edit] History
Stillman Valley was founded in north central Illinois in 1876. A creek running through the community was named after Major Stillman of the Illinois Militia who led troops in the first named battle of the Black Hawk War on May 14, 1832. The battle and the creek became humorously known as "Stillman's Run" after Stillman and his men fled the battlefield believing they were being chased by thousands of Chief Black Hawk's warriors.[1] The day after the battle, Abraham Lincoln helped burying the dead soldiers from the battle.[2] The village was named after Stillman Creek; the valley serves as the watershed for the creek, hence the name Stillman Valley.[citation needed]
The battlefield and the site where the soldiers from the Black Hawk War are buried is in present-day Stillman Valley at the Stillman's Run Battle Site. A large memorial to this battle is located in there. It reads, in part: "Here, on May 14, 1832, the first engagement of the Black Hawk War took place. When 275 Illinois militiamen under Maj. Isaiah Stillman were put to flight by Black Hawk and his warriors."
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,048 people, 395 households, and 295 families residing in the village. The population density was 735.7 /sq mi (284.1 /km²). There were 417 housing units at an average density of 292.7/sq mi (113.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.23% White, 0.29% African American, 0.67% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.48% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.
There were 395 households out of which 39.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.5% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.3% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 3.14.
In the village the population was spread out with 30.5% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 31.3% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 90.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $46,845, and the median income for a family was $54,792. Males had a median income of $36,635 versus $28,250 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,036. About 4.6% of families and 4.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.5% of those under age 18 and 5.7% of those age 65 or over. They are state champions in football 99,00,03
[edit] Political Representation
Stillman Valley has a Board of Trustees who serve alternating four year terms. The Village President (by statute this is synonymous with the term "Mayor") serves a four year term as well. The current mayor is the Honorable Jim Mays; his term expires in 2008. The village is currently represented in the state General Assembly by Representative Bob Pritchard and state Senator Brad Burzynski. Stillman Valley is in Illinois' 16th Congressional District. As of 2006, the district Representative is Donald Manzullo (R).
Stillman Valley, like the rest of Ogle County, tends to vote for Republicans in overwhelming numbers. Stillman Valley voted for George W. Bush for President of the United States in both the 2000 and 2004 elections.
[edit] Past Mayors of Note
- The Honorable James Leather served as the Mayor from 1984 - 2004 for a total of 20 years service.
- Stillman Valley elected an 18-year old high school senior as its mayor in 1976.
[edit] Schools
Stillman Valley is in the *Meridian Unified School District. (District #223) The school district has four schools and covers approximately 125 square miles. The schools are Highland Grade School, Monroe Center School, Meridian Junior High School and Stillman Valley High School.
[edit] Notable People
George Bird was a Major League Baseball center fielder in the 19th century.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ Matile, Roger. "Maj. Stillman’s run: advancing to the rear," Ledger-Sentinel (Oswego, Illinois), 24 May 2007. Retrieved 14 August 2007.
- ^ "Stillman's Run Memorial," Abraham Lincoln Online. Retrieved on March 11, 2007
- ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
[edit] External links
- Stillman Valley official website
- Stillman Valley unofficial website
- Battle of Stillman's Run
- Abraham Lincoln Online
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