Belvidere is a city in Boone County, Illinois, United States. The population was 20,820 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Boone County⁶. 2005 population estimates show a large increase, as the population rose to 24,593.

Geography

Belvidere is located at 42°15′17″N, 88°50′39″W (42.254758, -88.844093)¹, and sits at an altitude that is approximately 800 feet above sea level. Located in north central Illinois, Belvidere is approximately 75 miles northwest of the downtown of Chicago, and approximately 12 miles east of Rockford. Belvidere is divided by the Kishwaukee River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 23.6 km² (9.1 mi²). 23.5 km² (9.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.55%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 20,820 people, 7,531 households, and 5,324 families residing in the city. The population density was 886.3/km² (2,295.3/mi²). There were 7,970 housing units at an average density of 339.3/km² (878.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.53% White, 1.15% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 11.57% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 20.07% of the population.

There were 7,531 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

Belvidere Curfews

--- weekdays 11:30 p.m.- 5:30 a.m. --- weekends 12:30 a.m.- 5:00 a.m.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,529, and the median income for a family was $50,601. Males had a median income of $37,116 versus $24,454 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,804. About 7.8% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.

School District

As of January 2007, budget cuts were decided upon because of the failed November referendum. The cuts will not take place the following school year if the April 17 referendum passes. Otherwise, students throughout District #100 will suffer from lack of sports and co-curricular activities. A few months after the November referendum failed, it was announced that Superintendent Donald Schlomann would be moving to district 303, St. Charles.

Update: The April 17th referendum failed, it was voted down 5,362 to 5,101. Cuts will appear to take place in the school district.

2nd Update: The Belvidere school board takes a leap of faith. They vote to dip into their savings to open two high schools next year, with two sets of sports teams.

In a five-one vote, the board chose to open both Belvidere and Belvidere North next year. Both high schools will have their own sports teams and co-curriculars.

On April 18th students walked out of Belvidere High School because of failure of the referendum. This walk-out was interpreted in a multitude of ways from "children stomping their feet" to "well-organized and peaceful student protest".

History

Early Belvidere

The location where Belvidere now sits was first settled in 1835 by a Mr. Whitney, who in tribute named the place Elysian Fields. The name was later changed to Belvidere by a Mr. Peck.

Belvidere was originally built on the north side of the Kishwaukee River. In 1851, a railroad was built south of the river, the business section followed to the south side of the river, where Belvidere's "downtown" is now located.

Belvidere used to have two Hospitals, St. Joseph Hospital and Highland Hospital. Both have since closed with the latest closing being that of St. Joseph's in 1999.

1967 Tornado

Main article: Belvidere Tornado Outbreak

On April 21, 1967 a devastating tornado struck Belvidere. Twenty-four lives were lost in the tornado, many of whom were school children. The F4 tornado struck at the end of the school day of Belvidere High School, while many children including those that attended area grade schools were waiting on school buses outside of the high school. Out of sixteen school buses outside of the high school, twelve were overturned or thrown. The tornado did US$ 22 million in damage, demolished over 100 homes, and injured over 300.

Miss America

In 1969 Belvidere native Judith Anne Ford won the Miss America pageant. Judith Anne Ford graduated from Belvidere High School.

Belvidere auto assembly plant

Businesses in Belvidere

DaimlerChrysler operates Belvidere Assembly an auto assembly plant, originally constructed in the mid-1960s, in Belvidere. The Belvidere plant manufactured the Dodge Neon until the spring of 2006. In the late 1960s and early 1970s, the plant manufactured Chrysler Newports and Plymouth Furys. After a massive restructuring of the Belvidere plant, the plant is now one of the most modern auto assembly plants in the USA. It produces the Dodge Caliber, Jeep Compass and Jeep Patriot. Recent years have seen significant growth in local industry and employment. Businesses that have located facilities in Belvidere include: Belvedere Company(Beauty Salon Equipment), CamCar/Textron Inc. (Fastener Manufacturing), Carpenter Components Of Illinois (Carpentry), DaimlerChrysler Corporation (Automotive Plant), Dean Foods (Food Distribution Facility), Franklin Wire Works (Wire Products Manufacturing), General Mills (Food Distribution Facility), Cassens Transportation Company (Transportation), PACTIV Corporation, (Manufacturing of Paperboard and Trays), Physicians Immediate Care (Urgent Care / Healthcare), and Practice Velocity, (Electronic Medical Records).

Registered Historic Places

• Pettit Memorial Chapel

External links

Coordinates: 42.254758° N 88.844093° W

Municipalities and communities of Boone County, Illinois
County seat: Belvidere
Cities	Belvidere
Villages	Caledonia | Capron | Poplar Grove | Timberlane
Townships	Belvidere | Bonus | Boone | Caledonia | Flora | Leroy | Manchester | Poplar Grove | Spring
Unincorporated communities	Garden Prairie

Donate to Wikimedia