The Sangamon River is a principal tributary of the Illinois River , approximately 246 miles (396 km) long, in central Illinois in the United States . It drains a mostly rural agricultural area and runs through Decatur and past Springfield . The river is associated with the early career of Abraham Lincoln , who was a sometime boatman working on the river, and played an important role in early European settlement of Illinois, when the area around was known as the "Sangamon River Country". The section of the Sangamon River that flows through Robert Allerton Park near Monticello was named a National Natural Landmark in 1971.
31-579: Illiopolis is a village in Sangamon County , Illinois , United States . The population was 891 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Springfield, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area . The name was formed from Illinois and -polis , a Greek suffix meaning "city". Illiopolis is located at 39°51′5″N 89°14′50″W / 39.85139°N 89.24722°W / 39.85139; -89.24722 (39.851351, −89.247131). According to
62-610: A 16 foot by 16 foot (4.8 m by 4.8 m) cabin along the river. The following year in 1831, he canoed down the river to homestead on his own near New Salem in Menard County northwest of Springfield. Later that year he floated down the river with companions on a flatboat to the Illinois River , and then following the Mississippi River to New Orleans . Lincoln was impressed by the navigational difficulties on
93-593: A conflict between the Illini and Fox as part of the larger French and Iroquois Wars . French traders were active in the region throughout the middle 18th century when it was part of the Illinois Country . The first U.S. settlers arrived in the region in the 1810s. In 1821, Elijah Iles built a log-framed store, the first commercial building in Springfield. Groups of Cumberland Presbyterians settled
124-724: A glacial moraine southeast of Bloomington-Normal, Illinois . Part of the moraine is publicly owned as the Moraine View State Recreation Area . The river's course forms a large arc through central Illinois, first flowing east into Champaign County, Illinois , south through Mahomet , then west through Monticello and Decatur , then turning northwest to flow along the north side of Springfield . It receives Salt Creek at 40°7′33.24″N 89°49′30.36″W / 40.1259000°N 89.8251000°W / 40.1259000; -89.8251000 , approximately 25 miles (40 km) north-northwest of Springfield; then
155-646: A guide and axeman. In later years, he told of taking a steamship three miles (5 km) into the prairie after losing his way on the Sangamon during a flood. During his first campaign for the Illinois General Assembly in 1832, he made navigational improvements on the river a centerpiece of his platform. From 1848 to 1860, Lincoln practiced law in the Illinois Eighth Judicial Circuit, which meant he regularly crossed
186-425: A household in the village was $ 46,442, and the median income for a family was $ 52,898. Males had a median income of $ 36,250 versus $ 26,786 for females. The per capita income for the village was $ 19,473. About 2.7% of families and 3.0% of the population were below the poverty line , including 3.6% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over. Borden, Inc constructed a PVC plant west of Illiopolis in 1962 in
217-564: A portion of the town to be evacuated. The fire burned for several days and the plant had not reopened as of 2007. On March 6, 2007, the United States Chemical Safety Board (CSB) released its final report on the incident indicating that an operator bypassed a safety interlock and drained a pressurized reactor instead of an empty one they were in the process of cleaning. The report listed as root causes, that Formosa-IL and Borden Chemical "did not adequately address
248-444: Is divided into these townships : Here is a listing of school districts (all are full K–12) with any territory in this county, no matter how small, even if the administrative headquarters and/or schools are in other counties: 39°46′N 89°40′W / 39.76°N 89.66°W / 39.76; -89.66 Sangamon River The river rises from several short headstreams in southern McLean County that arise from
279-401: Is governed by a 29-member board. Each member of the board is elected from a separate district. Other elected officials include: Sangamon County has been a Republican stronghold for decades, consistently supporting GOP candidates in local, state, and national elections. Despite its relatively large population and the presence of Springfield, the state's capital and a significant urban center,
310-680: Is water. In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Springfield have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of 112 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.62 inches (41 mm) in January to 4.06 inches (103 mm) in May. As of
341-512: The 2010 census , there were 197,465 people, 82,986 households, and 51,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 227.4 inhabitants per square mile (87.8/km ). There were 89,901 housing units at an average density of 103.5 per square mile (40.0/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 83.6% white, 11.8% black or African American, 1.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of
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#1732801158231372-408: The 2010 census, Illiopolis has a total area of 0.46 square miles (1.19 km), all land. As of the census estimates of 2011, there were 897 people, 362 households, and 263 families residing in the village. The population density was 2,027.0 inhabitants per square mile (782.6/km). There were 390 housing units at an average density of 863.0 per square mile (333.2/km). The racial makeup of the village
403-553: The Lake Michigan Glacial Lobe advanced rapidly, leaving a terminal moraine parallel to the modern Sangamon River. The ice stagnated and melted behind this moraine, without the meltwater overtopping the terminal moraine. Along this stretch, the eastern part of the watershed of the Sangamon therefore consists of short creeks, two to three miles (3–5 km) in length, that drain the face of the moraine. This forms an asymmetric watershed typical of rivers formed along
434-566: The city was forced to warn people not to allow babies to consume water in Decatur because of "blue baby syndrome", Methemoglobinemia . Decatur has now installed nitrate treatment to avoid this problem. The upper Sangamon, between Mahomet and Monticello, runs along the face of a terminal moraine within the Lake Michigan Glacial Lobe, which ranges in age from 28,000 to 12,000 BP. During the glacial Woodfordian Substage (middle Wisconsin Stage), ice of
465-783: The county has remained reliably conservative. In recent years, however, the county has shown signs of shifting toward the Democratic Party, reflecting changing demographics and political attitudes, particularly as the Republican Party has embraced more socially conservative positions. In 2024, sheriff deputy Sean Grayson was fired after killing Sonya Massey , an unarmed woman, within her home located in Woodside Township near Springfield, Illinois following her call for assistance. Massey's father, community members, and elected officials raised strong concerns about
496-420: The department, after it was revealed prior to Grayson's hiring in 2023. He had been kicked out of the U.S. Army in 2016 after being convicted of 2 DUI's, and worked at 5 different Illinois police departments between 2020 and 2023. Sheriff Jack Campbell who hired Grayson, after receiving calls to resign, including from Governor J.B Pritzker announced he would step down effective August 31, 2024. Sangamon County
527-460: The face of a terminal moraine. The river was home to many different groups of Native Americans in the centuries before the arrival of Europeans . The name of the river comes from a Pottawatomie word Sain-guee-mon meaning "where there is plenty to eat." In the 18th century, groups of the Kickapoo settled along the river. In the middle 18th century, the region near the river was the scene of
558-624: The industrial area that had been the Sangamon Ordnance Plant. It operated the plant until 1987 when it transferred to Borden Chemicals and Plastics Operating Limited Partnership. Following that company's bankruptcy, the facility was purchased by Formosa Plastics Corporation in 2002. On April 24, 2004, the Formosa Plastics plant (formerly Borden) in Illiopolis exploded, killing five people, injuring others and causing
589-638: The name was first given to the river by the French explorers of the late 17th century as they passed through the region. The river was named to honor "St. Gamo", or Saint Gamo, an 8th-century French Benedictine monk. The French pronunciation "San-Gamo" is the legacy. Prior to being elected President of the United States , Abraham Lincoln represented Sangamon County in the Illinois Legislature . Lincoln, along with several other legislators,
620-405: The nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The careers of these men and the people with whom they collaborated helped to shape much of the history and development of Sangamon County, Illinois. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 877 square miles (2,270 km ), of which 868 square miles (2,250 km ) is land and 8.7 square miles (23 km ) (1.0%)
651-448: The population. In terms of ancestry, 29.4% were German , 14.8% were Irish , 12.1% were English , 9.5% were American , and 6.3% were Italian . Of the 82,986 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.1% were non-families, and 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
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#1732801158231682-403: The potential for human error. Sangamon County, Illinois Sangamon County is a county located near the center of the U.S. state of Illinois . According to the 2020 census , it had a population of 196,343. Its county seat and largest city is Springfield , the state capital . Sangamon County is included in the Springfield, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area . Sangamon County
713-560: The river as he traveled around the circuit. The Potawatomi Trail of Death passed through here in 1838. Despite its environmental problems, the Sangamon River is a focus of recreation for the people of Central Illinois. Key parklands along the river, moving from upstream to downstream, include Shady Rest , Robert Allerton Park , the parks bordering Lake Decatur, Rock Springs Conservation Area , Lincoln Trail Homestead State Park, Springfield's Carpenter Park and Riverside Park,
744-557: The river turns west, forming the southern boundary of Mason County with Menard and Cass counties. It joins the Illinois River from the east just north of Beardstown . The Sangamon is impounded in Decatur to form Lake Decatur , constructed in 1920–1922 to provide a water supply for Decatur. This lake, formed by damming the main stem of the river, with no control over upstream land uses, has had major problems with siltation and agricultural pollution . The lake often has excessive nitrate levels from agricultural runoff. Many times
775-448: The river valley beginning in 1825, giving the region a distinctive culture identified and described at the turn of the 20th century by Edgar Lee Masters . Abraham Lincoln arrived with his family in the area in 1830 to settle a section of government land bisected by the river. The site, now Lincoln Trail Homestead State Memorial , was selected by Lincoln's father after the family migrated from Indiana . The 21-year-old Lincoln helped build
806-510: The river, especially during the arrival of the first steamship , the Talisman , a 150-ton steamer, up the river to Springfield in March 1832. Some sources state that Lincoln himself piloted the first steamship up the Sangamon to Springfield, accomplishing this feat with many men, almost as large as Lincoln, with axes to chop through whatever trees impeded the journey. More likely Lincoln acted as
837-476: Was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 39.2 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 52,232 and the median income for a family was $ 66,917. Males had a median income of $ 48,324 versus $ 36,691 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 28,394. About 9.9% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over. Sangamon County
868-452: Was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 2.99. In the village, the population was spread out, with 25.4% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 30.1% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males. The median income for
899-463: Was 98.91% White , 0.22% Native American , and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.11% of the population. There were 362 households, out of which 34.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.3% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 23.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.4% had someone living alone who
930-559: Was formed in 1821 out of Madison and Bond counties. The county was named for the Sangamon River , which runs through it. The origin of the name of the river is unknown; among several explanations is the theory that it comes from the Pottawatomie word Sain-guee-mon (pronounced "sang gä mun"), meaning "where there is plenty to eat." Published histories of neighboring Menard County (formed from Sangamon County) suggest that
961-753: Was instrumental in securing Springfield , the Sangamon County seat, as the state's capital. Sangamon County was also within the congressional district represented by Lincoln when he served in the US House of Representatives . Another legislator who represented Sangamon County was Colonel Edmund Dick Taylor , also known as "Father of the Greenback". The prominent financiers and industrialists Jacob Bunn and John Whitfield Bunn were based in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, as well as in Chicago, during