Kewanee, Illinois

City of Kewanee, Illinois
Nickname: 
Hog Capital of the World [1]
Location of Kewanee in Henry County, Illinois.
Location of Kewanee in Henry County, Illinois.
Coordinates: 41°14′N 89°56′W / 41.233°N 89.933°W / 41.233; -89.933
CountryUnited States
StateIllinois
CountyHenry
Incorporated1854
Area
[2]
 • Total
6.61 sq mi (17.12 km2)
 • Land6.60 sq mi (17.09 km2)
 • Water0.012 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
[3]
803 ft (245 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
12,509
 • Density1,896/sq mi (732.1/km2)
Time zoneUTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
61443[4]
Area code309
FIPS code17-39727
GNIS feature ID2395523[3]
Websitecityofkewanee.com

Kewanee (/kiːˈwɑːniː/ ⓘ) is a city in Henry County, Illinois. "Kewanee" is the Winnebago word for greater prairie-chicken,[5] which lived there. The population was 12,509 in the 2020 census, down from 12,916 in 2010.

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Kewanee has a total area of 6.61 square miles (17.12 km2), of which 6.60 square miles (17.09 km2) (or 99.82%) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km2) (or 0.18%) is water.[6]

The Kewanee Group is named after Kewanee.[7]

Climate

Climate data for Kewanee, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1939–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 67
(19) 		71
(22) 		85
(29) 		91
(33) 		96
(36) 		101
(38) 		105
(41) 		103
(39) 		102
(39) 		91
(33) 		79
(26) 		69
(21) 		105
(41)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 30.3
(−0.9) 		34.8
(1.6) 		47.7
(8.7) 		60.9
(16.1) 		72.0
(22.2) 		80.9
(27.2) 		83.7
(28.7) 		82.2
(27.9) 		76.5
(24.7) 		63.8
(17.7) 		48.5
(9.2) 		35.8
(2.1) 		59.8
(15.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 22.1
(−5.5) 		26.1
(−3.3) 		37.5
(3.1) 		49.3
(9.6) 		61.1
(16.2) 		70.5
(21.4) 		73.6
(23.1) 		71.4
(21.9) 		64.2
(17.9) 		52.4
(11.3) 		39.1
(3.9) 		27.8
(−2.3) 		49.6
(9.8)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 13.8
(−10.1) 		17.4
(−8.1) 		27.4
(−2.6) 		37.7
(3.2) 		50.2
(10.1) 		60.2
(15.7) 		63.4
(17.4) 		60.7
(15.9) 		51.9
(11.1) 		41.0
(5.0) 		29.7
(−1.3) 		19.7
(−6.8) 		39.4
(4.1)
Record low °F (°C) −27
(−33) 		−25
(−32) 		−11
(−24) 		−2
(−19) 		22
(−6) 		38
(3) 		42
(6) 		38
(3) 		25
(−4) 		17
(−8) 		−4
(−20) 		−24
(−31) 		−27
(−33)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 1.89
(48) 		2.06
(52) 		2.62
(67) 		3.96
(101) 		5.07
(129) 		5.00
(127) 		3.69
(94) 		3.86
(98) 		3.68
(93) 		2.93
(74) 		2.65
(67) 		2.17
(55) 		39.58
(1,005)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 8.7
(22) 		8.5
(22) 		3.2
(8.1) 		1.2
(3.0) 		0.1
(0.25) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.2
(0.51) 		0.3
(0.76) 		1.4
(3.6) 		7.5
(19) 		31.1
(79)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 9.3 8.6 10.2 12.3 14.0 12.3 9.6 9.5 8.0 10.8 9.5 9.4 123.5
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 5.8 4.9 2.1 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 1.0 4.4 19.1
Source: NOAA[8][9]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18802,704—
18904,56969.0%
19008,38283.5%
19109,30711.0%
192016,02672.2%
193017,0936.7%
194016,901−1.1%
195016,821−0.5%
196016,324−3.0%
197015,762−3.4%
198014,508−8.0%
199012,969−10.6%
200012,944−0.2%
201012,916−0.2%
202012,509−3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Kewanee had a population of 12,509, with 5,088 households and 3,233 families residing in the city.[11][12] The population density was 1,892.72 inhabitants per square mile (730.78/km2).[13]

The median age was 39.6 years. 24.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.6% were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.9 males age 18 and over.[11]

99.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 1.0% lived in rural areas.[14]

Of all households, 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. 38.7% were married-couple households, 21.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 30.9% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 34.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.02.[11]

Of the 5,754 housing units, 11.6% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.4%. The housing unit density was 870.63 per square mile (336.15/km2).[11][12][13]

Racial composition as of the 2020 census[12]
Race Number Percent
White 9,665 77.3%
Black or African American 873 7.0%
American Indian and Alaska Native 41 0.3%
Asian 50 0.4%
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander 6 0.0%
Some other race 932 7.5%
Two or more races 942 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino (of any race) 1,810 14.5%

Income and poverty

The median income for a household in the city was $40,196, and the median income for a family was $46,680. Males had a median income of $37,136 versus $26,297 for females. The per capita income for the city was $21,170. About 15.5% of families and 23.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 40.1% of those under age 18 and 14.3% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Industry

Kewanee Boiler

Kewanee was once known for its fire-tube boiler industry. The Kewanee Boiler Corporation manufactured and sold boilers throughout the world for over one hundred years. The company shuttered in 2002, however, boilers manufactured in Kewanee are still in common use. The Kewanee High School athletic teams are nicknamed the "Boilermakers". In 2023, the boiler shop burned down and now has a sign that says "Kewanee Boiler Workers Memorial, dedicated to over 130 years of boiler-making."

Kewanee was home to minor league baseball. The Kewanee Boilermakers minor league baseball team played in the Central Association from 1908 to 1913. In 1948–1949, the Kewanee A's rejoined the Central Association. Kewanee was an affiliate of the Philadelphia Athletics (1948–1949). Kewanee minor league teams played at Terminal Park (1908–1913) and Northeast Park (1948–1949).[15][16][17]

Parks

Kewanee has many different types of parks in the immediate area, offering a variety of activities such as boating, camping, hunting, fishing, playgrounds, baseball fields, and more. Parks inside the city limits are run by the Kewanee Park District.

Education

The northern part is in the Kewanee Community Unit School District 229, and the southern part is in the Wethersfield Community Unit School District 230.[18]

Kewanee has historically had two school districts, dating to when the community of Wethersfield was a separate municipality. Though the towns merged long ago, the two school districts both remain in the city of 13,400, divided at Division Street in the middle of Kewanee. While Kewanee School District #229 has around 2,015 students (533 High School), Wethersfield #230 has about 600 students. The two schools enjoy a usually friendly rivalry, since both district high schools are in different divisions for most sports. However, this rivalry did become very heated in the sports the two high schools once competed in, most notably basketball.

Black Hawk College-East Campus is recognized nationally for its equestrian program, as well as livestock judging teams. (Another Campus is located in the Quad Cities.)

Festivals

The most notable festival held in the community is Hog Days. It is held annually on Labor Day weekend. Events include a carnival, mud volleyball, a parade, and more.

Local media

Kewanee radio stations

FM radio

  • 93.9 KQCJ "Planet 93.9", alternative
  • 102.1 W271BL (Jack FM), Jack FM
  • 102.5 WJRE "HOG Country 102.5", country (RDS)
  • 104.7 W284CV "Rock2.0", rock
  • 100.1 W282AL (translates 1450 WKEI), news/talk

AM radio

  • 1450 WKEI, news/talk

Newspapers

Notable businesses

West Second Street, 1908
  • Hotel Kewanee
  • Sandy's Drive-In National Headquarters

Notable people

Transportation

The Kewanee Amtrak station serves trains on the Carl Sandburg and Illinois Zephyr daily. The current station was completed April 13, 2012.

References

  1. ^ "Kewanee, IL - Hog Capital of the World". www.roadsideamerica.com.
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  3. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Kewanee, Illinois
  4. ^ "Kewanee IL ZIP Code". zipdatamaps.com. 2023. Retrieved January 26, 2023.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 174.
  6. ^ "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  7. ^ "Kewanee Group - ILSTRAT". ilstratwiki.web.illinois.edu. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  8. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  9. ^ "Station: Kewanee 1 E, IL". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 11, 2021.
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  11. ^ a b c d "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  12. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  13. ^ a b c "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2026.
  15. ^ "Kewanee, Illinois Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "Northeast Park in Kewanee, IL history and teams on StatsCrew.com". www.statscrew.com.
  17. ^ Kernan, Sean (March 17, 2023). "Kewanee's Baseball History with the Kewanee Historical Society". Regional Daily News. Archived from the original on August 16, 2018. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  18. ^ Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Henry County, IL (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved June 17, 2025. - Text list
  19. ^ Wilson, Dreck Spurlock. African-American Architects: A Biographical Dictionary (1865–1945), (Google Books link), Taylor & Francis, 2004, pp. 15–26, (ISBN 0415929598).
  20. ^ Illinois Blue Book 1909-1910. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  21. ^ "Goffrier Studio - Artist Biography". Archived from the original on July 11, 2011. Retrieved July 10, 2010.
  22. ^ DeVilder, Susan. "Kewanee's Amber McReynolds considered for U.S. Postal Services board spot". Kewanee Star Courier. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  23. ^ Campos, Johnny (February 24, 2021). "Bradley grad Lindsay Stalzer set for U.S. pro debut". Peoria Journal-Star. Retrieved April 21, 2021. Fifteen years after leaving Bradley, volleyball player Lindsay Stalzer this weekend will play her first professional match in the United States. After years of playing overseas, the 36-year-old Kewanee native...
  24. ^ Fox, Margalit (March 11, 2007). "Marjabelle Y. Stewart, 82, White-Gloved Author, Dies". The New York Times. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  25. ^ "President Sullivan Ushers In a New Era at U.Va". UVA Today. August 1, 2010. Retrieved August 1, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
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