Herrin

Herrin
City
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Williamson
Coordinates	37°48′9″N 89°1′41″W / 37.8025°N 89.02806°W / 37.8025; -89.02806
Area	8.4 sq mi (22 km2)
- land	8.4 sq mi (22 km2)
Population	11,835 (2000)
Density	1,377.5 /sq mi (532 /km2)
Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code	62948
Area code	618
Location of Herrin within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: Herrin, Illinois

Herrin is a city in Williamson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,835 at the 2006 census. It is home to Country Music star David Lee Murphy. It was also the hometown of baseball's legendary Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman. It is also the home town of San Diego State University men's basketball coach Steve Fisher.

Geography

Herrin is located at 37°48′9″N 89°1′41″W / 37.8025°N 89.02806°W / 37.8025; -89.02806 (37.802412, -89.028093)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 8.4 square miles (21.7 km²), of which, 8.2 square miles (21.2 km²) of it is land and 0.2 square miles (0.4 km²) of it (2.03%) is water.

Herrin is just south, or to the hind end, of Chittyville, which has occasioned many puns among the local population.

History

In the early 1800s, Herrin was on the Lusk's Ferry Road, an important, early road that connected Fort Kaskaskia with Lusk's Ferry on the Ohio River. The original survey maps of Illinois show the old road running from Royalton into Herrin close to the line of modern Illinois Route 148, running due south through the middle of town. The town was established on April 17, 1900. Herrin was the site of the 1922 Herrin massacre, during which two union miners and 19 strike-breakers were killed.

Herrin also had a recreational park, White City Park. It had a salt water swimming pool, rides and a theater. It also had the big bands play at the time, The Dorsey Brothers and Frank Sinatra played bocce ball and performed there. White City Park opened on Memorial Day in 1924 with 5000 in attendance. President Harry S Truman came to Herrin in September 1948. Three future presidents came to Herrin, Richard Nixon, John Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. But Kennedy and Nixon came to the Herrin-Marion airport in 1960. Gerald Ford came to the Herrin-Marion airport in the 70's.

At one time Herrin had 10 hotels, many clothing stores, grocery stores as well as department stores.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 11,298 people, 4,831 households, and 3,014 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,377.5 people per square mile (532.0/km²). There were 5,202 housing units at an average density of 634.2/sq mi (244.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.72% White, 0.92% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.67% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.95% of the population.

There were 4,831 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.2% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 33.1% 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 2.26 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 22.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $28,532, and the median income for a family was $39,108. Males had a median income of $31,545 versus $22,321 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,782. About 13.6% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Events And Festivals

Herrin hosts the annual Herrinfesta Italiana, a Memorial Day weekend celebration of the town's Italian heritage. The five-day event often draws over 60,000 people for live music, authentic Italian food, a carnival, Bocce Ball tournament, and "Bigga Nose" and pasta-eating contests, as well as many other activities. Past artists and bands include Survivor (band), Dixie Chicks, Night Ranger, Josh Gracin, Blue Öyster Cult, and Collective Soul. It has been scrutinized by many Herrin residents. There is an Ad hoc committee reviewing what needs to be changed, and if anything will be changed.

Life

Herrin High School's boys' track team has won back-to-back state championships under Chad Lakatos. Lakatos also won the National Federation of Track Coaches Association Track coach of the year for 2008. He was the SICA Boys Track coach of the year for 07 and 08 as well as the IHSA Boys Track coach of the year for 07 and 08. He now coaches at Edwardsville High School. The boys' football team has gone to the semifinals. The boys' basketball team won the Illinois state championship in 1957 under Earl Lee. Went undefeated in conference in the 72-73 season under Jeff Ferguson, and got 2nd in state in 2001-02 season under Mike Mooneyham. For football, a former Du Quoin, Illinois high school quarterback standout, Jason Karnes is now head coach. Former Herrin Tiger basketball player Irv Lukens is the head basketball coach. Former boys basketball player/coach is now the girls coach. The Herrin High School Athletic Director is Mike Mooneyham. The voice of the Tigers is Mike Murphy, color commentary is Scott Hudson. They also host a sports talk show on Saturday mornings on News Radio WJPF 1340 AM Herrin , WCIL AM Carbondale, and on ESPN Radio 103.5 FM WXLT Christopher. It airs at 8:02:30 a.m.

Former resident establishes benchmark records

Donald Attig, of Pontiac, Illinois, lived in Herrin in the early seventies. It was in Herrin that he fabricated moulds to produce a housing system which he had invented and developed in upstate Pontiac. The prototype, which was a breakthrough in manufactured housing, became a permanent exhibit on the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds, located in Du Quoin. Many famous people stayed in the house, including Bob Hope. Now in his seventies, Attig established numerous records in both the Endurance Challenge and Adventure Challenge categories in the years 2007, 2008, 2009. Information about these can be found at www.donattig.wordpress.com Additional information can be accessed by clicking on his name above, which will activate an internal Winkipedia link. Three of his children, William Joseph, John Paul, and Caleb Thomas currently live in Southern Illinois. John Paul was born aboard a 3 mast sailing ship and may be the only current resident of Southern Illinois to have been born on a sailing ship.

References

External links

• Herrin, Illinois is at coordinates 37°48′09″N 89°01′41″W / 37.802412°N 89.028093°W / 37.802412; -89.028093 (Herrin, Illinois)Coordinates: 37°48′09″N 89°01′41″W / 37.802412°N 89.028093°W / 37.802412; -89.028093 (Herrin, Illinois)
• Herrinfesta Italiana
• Herrin, Illinois official site
• Herrin High School
• Herrin Football

v • d • e Municipalities and communities of Williamson County, Illinois County seat: Marion Cities Carterville | Creal Springs | Herrin | Hurst | Johnston City | Marion‡ Villages Bush | Cambria | Colp | Crainville | Energy | Freeman Spur‡ | Pittsburg | Spillertown | Stonefort‡ | Whiteash Precincts Blairsville | Carterville | Corinth | Crab Orchard | Creal Springs | East Marion | Grassy | Herrin | Lake Creek | Southern | Stonefort | West Marion Unincorporated communities Attila | Blairsville | Chittyville | Dewmaine | Egyptian Hills | Egyptian Shores | Ferges | Fergestown | Hafer | Lake Crest | New Camp | Old Camp | Paineville | Shakerag Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties