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{{use mdy dates|date=November 2014}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Villa Grove
| official_name = City of Villa Grove
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| other_name =
| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline
| imagesize =
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| image_flag =
| image_seal =
| etymology =
| nickname =
| motto = "A nice place to live.
| anthem =
| image_map = File:Douglas County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Villa Grove Highlighted.svg
| mapsize =
| map_alt =
| map_caption = Location of Villa Grove in Douglas County, Illinois.
| image_map1 = Illinois in United States (US48).svg
| mapsize1 =
| map_alt1 =
| map_caption1 = Location of Illinois in the United States
| pushpin_map =
| pushpin_label_position =
| pushpin_label =
| pushpin_map_alt =
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| coordinates = {{coord|39|51|
| coor_pinpoint =
| coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| grid_name =
| grid_position =
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = {{flag|United States}}
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|Illinois}}
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Douglas County, Illinois|Douglas]]
| subdivision_type3 = Township
| subdivision_name3 = [[Camargo Township, Douglas County, Illinois|Camargo]]
| subdivision_type4 =
| subdivision_name4 =
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = 1903
| established_title1 =
| established_date1 =
| established_title2 =
| established_date2 =
| established_title3 =
| established_date3 =
| extinct_title =
| extinct_date =
| founder =
| named_for =
| seat_type =
| seat =
| seat1_type =
| seat1 =
| government_footnotes =
| government_type =
| governing_body =
| leader_party =
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name =
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_name1 =
| total_type =
| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_footnotes = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2020">{{cite web|title=2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2020_Gazetteer/2020_gaz_place_17.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=March 15, 2022}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 3.91
| area_total_sq_mi = 1.51
| area_land_km2 = 3.89
| area_land_sq_mi = 1.50
| area_water_km2 = 0.02
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.01
| area_water_percent =
| area_metro_footnotes =
| area_metro_km2 =
| area_metro_sq_mi =
| area_rank =
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 646
| elevation_point =
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes =
| population_total = 2472
| pop_est_as_of =
| pop_est_footnotes =
| population_est =
| population_rank =
| population_density_km2 = 635.64
| population_density_sq_mi = 1645.81
| population_metro_footnotes =
| population_metro =
| population_density_metro_km2 =
| population_density_metro_sq_mi =
| population_density =
| population_density_rank =
| population_blank1_title =
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| demographics2_footnotes =
| demographics2_title1 =
| demographics2_info1 =
| timezone1 = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1 = -6
| timezone1_DST = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST = -5
| timezone2 =
| utc_offset2 =
| timezone2_DST =
| utc_offset2_DST =
| postal_code_type = [[ZIP code|ZIP Code(s)]]
| postal_code = 61956
| postal2_code_type =
| postal2_code =
| area_code_type =
| area_code = [[Area code 217|217]]
| geocode =
| iso_code =
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 17-77941
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] ID
| blank1_info = 2397140<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2397140}}</ref>
| blank2_name =
| blank2_info =
| blank_name_sec2 =
| blank_info_sec2 =
| blank1_name_sec2 =
| blank1_info_sec2 =
| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2 = Villa Grove, Illinois
| website = https://villagrove.org/
| footnotes =
}}
'''Villa Grove''' is a city in [[Douglas County, Illinois|Douglas County]], [[Illinois]], along the [[Embarras River (Illinois)|Embarras River]]. The population was 2,
== History ==
Villa Grove was chartered in 1903 after the area was recognized by the [[Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad]] (C&EI) as being exactly halfway between Chicago and St. Louis. This made it a desirable location for a steam locomotive repair facility.<ref name="VillaGrove.org">{{cite web |url= http://www.villagrove.org/1_5_History.html |title= Villa Grove History page |website= villagrove.org |
Villa Grove was known for its Pancake Festivals in the 1940s, which drew crowds over 10,000. In the 1970s, the festival was replaced by the Ag Days celebration. Ag Days currently offers carnival rides, a car show, a parade, multiple vendors, live music, and a demolition derby.<ref name="VillaGrove.org" />
In 1923, Villa Grove's high school basketball team, the Blue Devils, defeated Rockford
[[File:Railroad Roundhouse 1939 800x450 mini.jpg|thumb|Railyard aerial view]]
Villa Grove's historic rail depot was demolished in the predawn hours of Friday, October 29, 1976, despite a city ordinance that was intended to protect the structure.<ref>{{cite news |title= Historic Railroad Depot Torn down; Town is Unhappy |location= Mt Vernon, IL |newspaper= Register News |date= November 1, 1976 }}</ref> The city later received reparation for the destruction.<ref name="VillaGrove.org" /> [[File:VGdepot.jpg|thumb|Villa Grove C&EI depot, 1960s]]
On August 10, 2011, a 100-year-old vacant building on main street in Villa Grove was destroyed by a fire set by a two boys age 14 and 9. At least 15 fire departments responded to the blaze containing it to the original structure.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2011-08-10/fire-downtown-villa-grove.html |title= Fire in downtown Villa Grove |newspaper= News Gazette |location= Champaign, IL |date= August 10, 2011}}</ref> The boys were ordered to pay $126,076 in restitution. The 14-year-old received 3 years probation, 30 days in jail and 100 hours of community service. The 9 year old received 2 years probation and 50 hours community service. State law prohibited jail time for the 9 year old.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2011-12-14/restitution-set-two-boys-who-admitted-setting-villa-grove-building-fire.html |title= Restitution set for two boys who admitted setting Villa Grove building on fire |date= December 14, 2011 |first= Tim |last= Mitchell |newspaper= News Gazette |location= Champaign, IL }}</ref> Adjacent businesses were temporarily displaced due to damage caused by smoke and heat.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2011-08-26/salon-owner-packs-business-van-after-fire-villa-grove.html |title= Salon owner packs business into van after fire in Villa Grove |date= August 26, 2011 |first= Amy |last= Rose |newspaper= News Gazette |location= Champaign, IL }}</ref>
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Villa Grove's location at the confluence of Jordan Slough and the [[Embarras River (Illinois)|Embarras River]] has resulted in flooding during the city's history. In January 1950, Villa Grove was isolated by flooding, more than 1/3 of the city was underwater and the Red Cross reported 100 families were homeless.<ref>{{cite news |title= Southern Illinois River Areas Brace for Flood; Wabash Rises at Mt. Carmel |location= Harrisburg, IL |newspaper= Daily Register |date= January 5, 1950 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= National Guard Battles Floods; At least 4,000 people in area are homeless |location= Jacksonville, IL |newspaper= Daily Journal |date= January 8, 1950 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title= Army to Check Flood Problem at Villa Grove |location= Mattoon, IL |newspaper= Daily Journal Gazette |date= January 21, 1950}}</ref> Another flood in April 1994 left over half of the city's 1,000 homes flooded<ref>{{cite news |title= Flood weary residents run for high ground |location= Lawrence, KS |newspaper= Journal World |date= April 14, 1994 }}</ref> and the city's water supply was tainted.<ref>{{cite news |title= Floodwaters Return; Midwesterners Victimized Again |location= Harrisonburg, IL |newspaper= Daily News Record |date= April 15, 1994 }}</ref> At one point, portions of main street were 6 feet underwater.<ref>{{cite news |title= Heavy April Showers Bring Flooding |newspaper= Daily Herald |location= Arlington Heights, IL |date= April 13, 1994 }}</ref>
After the severe flooding in 1994 and additional flooding in the following years, a program was implemented to purchase and demolish homes voluntarily from owners in the [[flood plain]]. The [[Federal Emergency Management Agency]] (FEMA) and the [[Illinois Emergency Management Agency]] (IEMA) used the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) to purchase 17 homes in two phases from 1995 to 2000. IEMA noted that when another flood occurred in June 2008, the 17 properties purchased would have again been flooded had they not been purchased and demolished. Additional plans were also made to purchase more flood prone properties after the 2008 flood.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.llis.dhs.gov/content/when-enough-really-enough |title= When Enough is Really Enough |website= llis.dhs.gov |
These improvements have minimized the amount of area impacted by flooding. In 2021, a new bridge was built on Illinois Route 130 over the river. The new bridge is at a higher elevation and allows for better drainage. These improvements have resulted in minimal flooding in the area in recent years.
== Local Economy ==
Villa Grove is situated far enough from Champaign-Urbana that it can support several restaurants and businesses. The city currently supports several restaurants, bars, two gas stations, two grocery stores, and a nine-hole golf course and country club. There are several parks that provide various playing fields and the city has recently built a new community center for rec-teams to play in.
[[File:Hensonparkvg.jpg|thumb|Henson Park]]
[[File:Vfwparkvg.jpg|thumb|VFW Park on Main Street]]
== City Services ==
The City of Villa Grove maintains a full-time administrative staff, public works department, police department, and a paid on-call fire department. The city recently sold its water and sewer utilities to Illinois American Water.
[[File:VGFD.jpg|thumb|left|Villa Grove Fire Department]]
== Geography ==
== Demographics ==
Line 210 ⟶ 197:
|2000= 2553
|2010= 2537
|2020= 2472
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/
}}As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref name=":0" /> there were 2,472 people, 992 households, and 621 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|1,638.17|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 1,101 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|729.62|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.03% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 0.65% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.36% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.24% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.08% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 1.05% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.58% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.16% of the population.
There were
The median income for a household in the city was $
==
[[Coles County Zipline|Dial-A-Ride Public Transportation]] provides [[dial-a-ride]] bus transit service to the city. The nearest passenger rail service is at [[Illinois Terminal]] in [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]], where [[Amtrak]] operates to Chicago, Carbondale, New Orleans, and other destinations.
== See also ==
* [[:Category:People from Douglas County, Illinois|People from Douglas County, Illinois]] for notable people from the area
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*https://villagrove.org/
{{Douglas County, Illinois}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Cities in Douglas County, Illinois]]
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