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.
39-553: The river rises from several short headstreams in southern McLean County that arise from 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
78-421: A 'long e' (ē, IPA /i/) sound ("muh-KLEEN"). The first white settlers in what became McLean County arrived around 1821. The first settlement was Blooming Grove, established in 1822 near present-day Bloomington . McLean County was formed on December 25, 1830, out of Tazewell County . It was named for John McLean , United States Senator for Illinois, who died in 1830. According to the U.S. Census Bureau ,
117-610: 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
156-593: 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
195-645: 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
234-472: A historic recreation of New Salem based on its original foundations in the 1930s. The village is located 15 mi (24 km) northwest of Springfield, and approximately 3 mi (4.8 km) south of Petersburg . New Salem was founded in 1829, when James Rutledge and John Camron built a gristmill on the Sangamon River . They surveyed and sold village lots for commercial business and homes on
273-587: A time. New Salem was not a small farm village, but instead a commercial village full of young businessmen and craftsmen trying to start a new life on the frontier. In 1906, William Randolph Hearst purchased the village land and deeded it to the Old Salem Chautauqua Association. In 1919, the land was gifted to the State of Illinois. The site was opened to the public on May 19, 1921. Over time, building reconstructions were erected on
312-420: Is a list of school districts (all fully K-12) with territory in the county, no matter how slight, even if the district's schools and/or administrative offices are not in the county: Illinois State University is in the county. 40°29′N 88°51′W / 40.49°N 88.85°W / 40.49; -88.85 New Salem (Menard County), Illinois Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site
351-568: Is a reconstruction of the former village of New Salem in Menard County, Illinois , where Abraham Lincoln lived from 1831 to 1837. While in his twenties, the future U.S. President made his living in this village as a boatman, soldier in the Black Hawk War , general store owner, postmaster, surveyor, and rail splitter, and was first elected to the Illinois General Assembly . Lincoln left New Salem for Springfield in 1837, and
390-534: Is divided into these townships : McLean County has a twenty-member board representing ten districts within the county. Each district elects two members. Districts 1-3 encompass all of the county outside of Bloomington and Normal. Districts 4-6 are within the town limits of Normal, and districts 7-10 are within Bloomington city limits. Like most of central Illinois, McLean County is historically Republican-leaning. The only Democrats to gain an absolute majority of
429-486: Is the largest county by land area in the U.S. state of Illinois . According to the 2020 Census , it had a population of 170,954. Its county seat is Bloomington . McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal , IL Metropolitan Statistical Area . Locally, the second syllable of McLean is pronounced with a 'long a' (ā, IPA /ei/) sound (i.e. "muh-KLAIN") (as with native son McLean Stevenson ), not with
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#1732773060320468-524: The 2010 United States Census , there were 169,572 people, 65,104 households, and 40,124 families residing in the county. The population density was 143.3 inhabitants per square mile (55.3/km ). There were 69,656 housing units at an average density of 58.9 per square mile (22.7/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 84.3% white, 7.3% black or African American, 4.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.5% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.4% of
507-619: The Sangamon River State Fish and Wildlife Area , Lincoln's New Salem , Saybrook, and the Sanganois State Fish and Wildlife Area . The river was mentioned in Sufjan Stevens 's song "Decatur, Or, Round Of Applause For Your Stepmother!". Singer songwriter Ben Bedford references the Sangamon in several of his songs, one of which is titled after it. McLean County, Illinois McLean County
546-552: 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
585-564: 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
624-534: The county has a total area of 1,186 square miles (3,070 km ), of which 1,183 square miles (3,060 km ) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.5 km ) (0.2%) is water. It is the largest county in Illinois by land area and third-largest by total area after Cook and Lake Counties, which have large portions of their areas on Lake Michigan . McLean County is actually larger than the land area of Rhode Island (1045 sq mi). In recent years, average temperatures in
663-579: The county in 2020 with a narrow majority. Further solidifying the county's leftward shift in the 2020s, Governor J. B. Pritzker won the county by 1.3% in 2022 , making it the first time since 1948 it supported a Democrat for governor. In 2024 , Kamala Harris became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win McLean County yet lose the presidential election. McLean County is one of only thirteen counties to have voted for Obama in 2008, Romney in 2012, Trump in 2016, and Biden in 2020. Here
702-678: The county seat of Bloomington have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.71 inches (43 mm) in February to 4.52 inches (115 mm) in May. As of
741-419: The county's vote before the 21st century have been Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936, and Lyndon Johnson by a mere 1.2% in 1964. Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and Illinois resident Barack Obama in 2008 both carried the county by narrow pluralities. In recent years, however, McLean has trended sufficiently Democratic that Hillary Clinton in 2016 lost the county by just 1.3 percent, while Joe Biden won
780-416: 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
819-459: 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
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#1732773060320858-516: The family to a new homestead in Macon County , Illinois, 22-year-old Lincoln struck out on his own. Lincoln arrived in New Salem by way of flatboat and he remained in the village for about six years. During his stay, Lincoln earned a living as a shopkeeper, soldier in the Black Hawk War , general store owner, postmaster, land surveyor , and rail splitter, as well as doing odd jobs around
897-611: The foundations of the original village, mostly by the Civilian Conservation Corps , during the Great Depression . The location is presently called Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site , featuring 23 buildings, mostly log houses and costumed interpreters, representing the era of Lincoln's residency. The cabins, shops, and businesses are furnished by period implements, objects, and furniture, with many acquired from area farms and homes. In addition to
936-401: 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 the river turns west, forming the southern boundary of Mason County with Menard and Cass counties. It joins the Illinois River from
975-427: The population. In terms of ancestry, 31.2% were German , 15.4% were Irish , 11.4% were American , and 11.0% were English . Of the 65,104 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size
1014-482: The ridge stretching to the west above the mill. Over the first few years of its existence, the town grew rapidly, but after the county seat was located in nearby Petersburg , the village began to shrink and by 1840, it was abandoned. The fact that the Sangamon River was not well-suited for steamboat travel was also a reason for the town's decline. In 1831, when Abraham Lincoln's father, Thomas , relocated
1053-495: 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,
1092-448: 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
1131-510: 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
1170-418: The riverbanks on Talisman' s trip upriver, and co-piloted the steamer with Rowan Herndon back to Beardstown . In the summer of 1961, after a period of design and fabrication by Dubuque Boat & Boiler Works at Dubuque, Iowa , the new sternwheel steamboat Talisman made its way to New Salem by way of the Mississippi River , Illinois River , and the Sangamon River. The steamer, christened Talisman ,
1209-574: The town was recreated based on period documents and the recollections and drawings of former residents, who had been interviewed in the late 19th century. In 1832 a 136-foot, 150-ton river steamer Talisman ventured from Cincinnati, Ohio , down the Ohio River , up the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers, and into central Illinois on the Sangamon River, while chartered to Springfield businessman Vincent Bogue. Lincoln helped clear obstructions from
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1248-437: The village was generally abandoned about 1840, as other towns developed. After Lincoln's death in 1865, historians and biographers collected the memories, documents, and plans of the village from former residents and neighbors of Lincoln, and the site's archaeological remains were studied. In 1921, a state park opened on the village site to commemorate Lincoln and Illinois' frontier history. The Civilian Conservation Corps built
1287-500: The village was home to a cooper shop, blacksmith shop, wool carding mill, four general stores (including the Lincoln-Berry General Store ), a tavern , a grocery, two doctors' offices, a shoemaker , a carpenter , a hat maker , a tanner , a schoolhouse / church , several residences, common pastures, and kitchen gardens. During its short existence, the village was home to anywhere from 20 to 25 families at
1326-485: The village, the 700 acres (280 ha) park includes extensive woodlands. Twenty-two of the village buildings are reconstructed; one log cabin, the Onstot Cooper Shop , is original, although it had been previously moved by Henry Onstot to Petersburg in 1840. In 1922, it was returned to New Salem on what archeologists believe was its original foundation. In addition to archeological investigations, much of
1365-563: The village. As far as historians know, Lincoln never owned a home in the village as most single men did not own homes at this time; however, he would often sleep in the tavern or his general store and take his meals with a nearby family. While living here, Lincoln ran for the Illinois General Assembly in 1832, handily winning his New Salem precinct but losing the countywide district election. He tried again in 1834 and won. Lincoln left New Salem and moved to Springfield, also in his election district, around 1837. When Lincoln lived in New Salem,
1404-474: Was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 32.1 years. The median income for a household in the county was $ 57,642 and the median income for a family was $ 77,093. Males had a median income of $ 52,271 versus $ 39,685 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 28,167. About 6.2% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line , including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over. McLean County
1443-477: Was a scaled-down representation of the previous vessel, at 40 tons and 73 feet in length, with an upper cabin and powered by a 60 bhp diesel engine. The recreation boat was given a landing next to the Rutledge Camron Saw and Grist Mill site on the riverbank, and tourists had the opportunity to take short excursions on the river. Unfortunately, just like the original Talisman , the recreated steamer
1482-553: Was destroyed in a controlled burn. Lincoln's New Salem was visited by approximately 600,000 people in 2006. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972, under the name, Lincoln's New Salem Village. The historic site includes a visitor's center with an exhibit and theater. Active recreational infrastructure centers on the Mentor Graham Trail , 0.75 mi (1.21 km) long, and
1521-400: Was plagued by low water levels on the river which gradually increased the difficulty of navigation over the years until in 1998 the river dam at Petersburg was abandoned and water levels became too low. The boat was finally grounded a few miles upriver from the historical site, and then served as a large lawn decoration about a hundred feet from the riverbank. On November 19, 2021, the boat
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