Amboy, Illinois

Amboy, Illinois
City
Downtown Amboy, Illinois
Downtown Amboy, Illinois
Location of Amboy in Lee County, Illinois.
Location of Amboy in Lee County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 41°43′52″N 89°22′30″W / 41.73111°N 89.37500°W / 41.73111; -89.37500[2]
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyLee
Area
[1]
 • Total
6.21 sq mi (16.09 km2)
 • Land6.21 sq mi (16.09 km2)
 • Water0 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[2]
761 ft (232 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
2,278
 • Density366.8/sq mi (141.61/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
61310
Area codes815, 779
FIPS code17-01270
GNIS feature ID2393944[2]
Websitecityofamboy.com

Amboy is a city in Lee County, Illinois, United States, along the Green River. As of the 2020 census, Amboy had a population of 2,278.[3]

History

Amboy had its start in the 1850s when the Illinois Central Railroad was extended to that point.[4] The community's name is a transfer from Amboy, New Jersey.[5]

The chain of Carson Pirie Scott & Co. began in Amboy when Samuel Carson opened his first dry goods store there in 1854.

The Christian denomination Community of Christ, formerly the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, had a general conference in Amboy on April 6, 1860, at which time Joseph Smith III reorganized the church founded by his father Joseph Smith Jr.[6]

The Illinois Central facility in Amboy served as the railroad's division headquarters for the railroad's region. The building was saved from demolition and is a museum. The actual railroad and trainyard were abandoned and removed in the early 90's.[7]

303 East Main St., Amboy, IL - c. 1910

Amboy was the site of an ammunition factory for World War II - The Green River Ordnance Plant. It was roughly bordered by Sterling Rd to the south, Bataan Rd to the East, and Bataan Rd. to the North and West of the facility. The facility employed 4500 people at one time. The facility was completed on Dec. 15, 1942 and used until VJ day in August 1945.[8]

The plant is also known as the place where Vesta Stoudt first invented modern duct tape. [1]

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Amboy has a total area of 6.37 square miles (16.50 km2), all land.[9]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,615—
18702,82574.9%
18802,448−13.3%
18902,257−7.8%
19001,826−19.1%
19101,749−4.2%
19201,94411.1%
19301,9721.4%
19401,9860.7%
19502,1287.2%
19602,067−2.9%
19702,1845.7%
19802,3778.8%
19902,3770.0%
20002,5617.7%
20102,500−2.4%
20202,278−8.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

As of the 2020 census[11] there were 2,278 people, 952 households, and 640 families residing in the city. The population density was 357.73 inhabitants per square mile (138.12/km2). There were 1,077 housing units at an average density of 169.13 per square mile (65.30/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.53% White, 0.79% African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.61% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.67% from other races, and 5.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.74% of the population.

There were 952 households, out of which 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.47% were married couples living together, 10.61% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.77% were non-families. 27.84% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.24% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.02 and the average family size was 2.50.

The city's age distribution consisted of 24.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 20.9% from 25 to 44, 28.4% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $59,815, and the median income for a family was $70,671. Males had a median income of $45,809 versus $25,194 for females. The per capita income for the city was $26,668. About 7.3% of families and 14.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

It is in the Amboy Community Unit School District 272.[12]

Notable people

  • Betty Degner, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
  • Augustus Newnham Dickens, brother of Charles Dickens
  • Henry F. McElroy, Missouri businessman and politician
  • Michael M. Mihm, United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois[13]
  • David C. Shapiro, dentist and Illinois state legislator
  • Frank Shaughnessy, Notre Dame football player, pro baseball player and executive
  • Vesta Stoudt, invented modern duct tape at the Green River Ordinance Plant.

See also

  • Amboy Illinois Central Depot

References

  1. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Amboy, Illinois
  3. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved February 4, 2026.
  4. ^ Callary, Edward (September 29, 2008). Place Names of Illinois. University of Illinois Press. p. 8. ISBN 978-0-252-09070-7.
  5. ^ Illinois Central Magazine. Illinois Central Railroad Company. 1922. p. 43.
  6. ^ Joseph Smith III Comes to the Amboy Conference History of the Church 3:242–273
  7. ^ "Amboy Depot Museum".
  8. ^ "Green River Ordnance Plant (GROP) history – Wikipedia, & NIU collection (DeKalb, IL)". May 31, 2018.
  9. ^ US Census Bureau. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  12. ^ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lee County, IL (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 26, 2025. - Text list
  13. ^ Michael Martin Mihm at the Biographical Directory of Federal Judges, a publication of the Federal Judicial Center.
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