Editing Centreville, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Distinguish|Centerville, Illinois (disambiguation){{!}}Centerville, Illinois}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Centreville, Illinois
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| map_caption = Location of Centreville in Clair County, Illinois.
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| subdivision_name2 = [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair]]
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| established_title = Founded
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| area_total_km2 = 10.93
| area_total_sq_mi = 4.22
| area_land_km2 = 10.78
| area_land_sq_mi = 4.16
| area_water_km2 = 0.15
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.06
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| population_total = 5309
| pop_est_as_of = 2019
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| area_code = [[Area code 618|618]]
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| blank_info = 17-12203
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| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2 = Centreville, Illinois
| website = {{URL|http://www.cityofcentreville-il.com/}}
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Centreville''' was a city in [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair County]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]]. The population was 5,309 in 2010, down from 5,951 at the 2000 census. Historically a predominantly Black and working-class community, Centreville has faced persistent environmental challenges stemming from economic disinvestment, redlining, and neglect by local and state governments. On May 6, 2021, the city ceased to exist, being incorporated along with [[Alorton, Illinois|Alorton]] and [[Cahokia, Illinois|Cahokia]] into the new city of [[Cahokia Heights, Illinois|Cahokia Heights]].<ref name="KMOV">{{cite web|url=https://www.kmov.com/news/3-metro-east-cities-officially-merge-to-create-cahokia-heights/article_efe3f3d2-ae56-11eb-90b7-5730b1d3504b.html|publisher=[[KMOV]]|access-date=May 6, 2021|date=May 6, 2021|title=3 Metro East cities officially merge to create Cahokia Heights}}</ref> Before the merger, the city struggled with some of the highest poverty rates in Illinois, compounded by public health threats posed by chronic flooding and raw sewage overflows. The residents and advocates identify these as issues of environmental injustice rooted in racial and economic disparities.

==Geography==
Centreville was located at {{coord|38|35|4|N|90|6|14|W|type:city}} (38.584583, -90.103768).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the 2010 census, Centreville had a total area of {{convert|4.287|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|4.23|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 98.67%) was land and {{convert|0.057|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 1.33%) was water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1712203
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=December 25, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213090746/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1712203
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 1116
|1960= 12769
|1970= 11378
|1980= 9747
|1990= 7489
|2000= 5951
|2010= 5309
|2020= 4232
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Centreville city, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Centreville city, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=160XX00US1712203&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date= }}</ref>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Centreville city, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1712203&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|Pop 2020}}<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Centreville city, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=160XX00US1712203&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2000
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|199
|88
|style='background: #ffffe6; |68
|3.34%
|1.66%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1.61%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|5,658
|5,121
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3,969
|95.08%
|96.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |93.79%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|8
|14
|style='background: #ffffe6; |1
|0.13%
|0.26%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.02%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|0
|8
|style='background: #ffffe6; |8
|0.00%
|0.15%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.19%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3
|0.00%
|0.00%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.07%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|5
|3
|style='background: #ffffe6; |16
|0.08%
|0.06%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.38%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|47
|51
|style='background: #ffffe6; |129
|0.79%
|0.96%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |3.05%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|34
|24
|style='background: #ffffe6; |38
|0.57%
|0.45%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.90%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''5,951'''
|'''5,309'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''4,232'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 5,951 people, 2,125 households, and 1,476 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|1,373.3|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,363 housing units at an average density of {{convert|545.3|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the city was 95.46% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 3.38% [[White (U.S. Census)|white]], 0.13% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.02% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.13% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.87% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.57% of the population.

There were 2,125 households, out of which 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.5% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 35.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.38.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 33.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $23,500, and the median income for a family was $27,310. Males had a median income of $32,024 versus $23,528 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $11,150. About 28.7% of families and 34.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 48.4% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

== Notable people ==
<!-- Note:
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· The article must mention how they are associated with <city name>, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact of their association should have a reliable source cited.
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* Edward Burch, alternative country musician
* [[John Dettmer]], pitcher for the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]]
* [[Byron Gettis]], outfielder for the [[Kansas City Royals]]
* [[Jordan Goodwin]], professional basketball player for the [[Washington Wizards]]
* [[Cedric Harmon]], executive director, speaker, writer, and activist
* [[Reginald Hudlin]], film director

==Education==
Some of the city was served by [[Cahokia Unit School District 187]]. Lalumier K-8 School is located in Centreville.<ref>"[http://www.cahokia187.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Lalumier%20K-8 Lalumier Elementary School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218004607/http://cahokia187.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Lalumier%20K-8 |date=2010-12-18 }}." [[Cahokia Unit School District 187]]. Retrieved on January 24, 2011. "6702 Bond Ave."</ref> Centerville<!--NOT "Centreville"--> K-8 is located in an [[unincorporated area]] near Centreville.<ref>"[http://www.cahokia187.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Centerville%20K-8 Centerville Elementary School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101218004547/http://cahokia187.org/vnews/display.v/SEC/Centerville%20K-8 |date=2010-12-18 }}." [[Cahokia Unit School District 187]]. Retrieved on January 24, 2011. "3429 Camp Jackson."</ref>

Some of the city was served by [[East St. Louis School District 189]]. Brown Elementary School is located in Centreville.<ref>"[http://www.estlps189.net/sp_index.cfm?SchID=21 Brown Elementary School] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110119193246/http://estlps189.net/sp_index.cfm?SchID=21 |date=2011-01-19 }}." East St. Louis School District 189. Retrieved on January 24, 2011. "4901 Market St. East St. Louis, IL 62207."</ref><ref name="Centreville">"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1712203&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Centreville city, Illinois]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on January 24, 2011.</ref>

== Poverty ==
Centreville was the poorest city in the state of Illinois, as well as one of the poorest cities in the nation. The town median household income was $17,441, while the typical home in the area is worth approximately $47,900.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Stebbins |first1=Samuel |title=These are the poorest cities in every state in the US |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2019/05/07/poorest-cities-in-every-state-in-the-us/39431283/ |website=24/7 Wall Street |publisher=USA Today |access-date=February 29, 2020}}</ref> The city was located on a Mississippi River floodplain known as American Bottom, and experiences chronic flooding and raw sewage disposal problems due to the area's inadequate system of drainage ditches, levees and emergency pumps.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Munz |first1=Michele |title=A plea for help: Centreville's sewage and drainage problems pose health, safety risks |url=https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/illinois/a-plea-for-help-centreville-s-sewage-and-drainage-problems/article_3d6d22c7-8c57-5d1a-8af3-a6e6ee6ea2ee.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1 |access-date=February 29, 2020 |work=St. Louis Post-Dispatch |publisher=Lee Enterprises |date=February 23, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Johnson |first1=Walter |title=American Bottom |url=https://bostonreview.net/class-inequality-race/walter-johnson-american-bottom |access-date=February 29, 2020 |work=Boston Review |date=January 23, 2020}}</ref>

A key contributor to Centreville’s entrenched poverty is its history of redlining and racial segregation. In the 20<sup>th</sup> century, Centreville and other towns in the Metro East region were subjected to discriminatory housing policies that limited Black residents’ ability to purchase homes in more prosperous, majority-white neighborhoods. Banks routinely denied loans to Black families, and the federal government excluded these neighborhoods from investments that supported homeownership and community development. These practices created a cycle of disinvestment that left Centreville underdeveloped and vulnerable to economic decline.<ref name=":1">{{Cite journal |last=Manigault-Bryant |first=James |last2=Constantine |first2=José |date=2024-09-30 |title=Black Studies and the Production of Environmental Justice Knowledge |url=https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/env.2024.0040 |journal=Environmental Justice |doi=10.1089/env.2024.0040 |issn=1939-4071}}</ref>

As a result, Centreville developed as a predominately Black, working-class community with limited resources and weak tax bases. Industrial pollution, failing infrastructure, and neglected land use planning further entrenched environmental degradation in the area. The lack of investment in flood control infrastructure and sewage systems can be directly traced to these discriminatory policies. As residents were left to bear the burden of deteriorating services, the city’s ability to address poverty and environmental hazards diminished over time.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Earthjustice |date=2022-06-02 |title=One Year Later and Still Waiting for Change |url=https://earthjustice.org/article/one-year-later-and-still-waiting-for-change |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=Earthjustice |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Catharine |date=2021-02-11 |title='If white people were still here, this wouldn’t happen': the majority-Black town flooded with sewage |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/feb/11/centreville-illinois-flooding-sewage-overflow |access-date=2025-05-08 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

== Environmental Justice ==
Centreville’s environmental problems are rooted in decades of racial and economic disparities, with structural neglect in basic services such as sewage and stormwater management. Today, much of the area suffers from frequent flooding, with raw sewage regularly backing up into homes, yards, and streets. These conditions have created severe public health risks for residents and exemplify environmental injustice in a predominantly Black community, as described by organizations such as Earthjustice and the Natural Resources Defense Council, which have documented the structural racism behind Centreville’s infrastructure failures.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2023-07-07 |title=The Disinvestment in Centreville Continues |url=https://www.nrdc.org/bio/natalia-ospina/disinvestment-centreville-continues |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=www.nrdc.org |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2021-08-21 |title=Residents of this Black community are fighting against decades of sewage pollution |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/raw-sewage-polluted-black-community-now-residents-are-fighting-back-n1277292 |access-date=2025-05-08 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

Floodwaters routinely overwhelm residential areas, especially during heavy rainfall. In many cases, sewage overflows from manholes or seeps into basements and kitchens, leaving hazardous waste and terrible odors behind. This issue has persisted for years, affecting the Centreville residents repeatedly. The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) officials and local city representatives have publicly acknowledged the severity of the infrastructure failures, but progress has been hampered due to funding delays and lack of coordinated planning.<ref name=":0" />

The environmental hazards in Centreville are deeply racialized. Residents themselves have drawn attention to how systemic neglect correlated with the city’s racial demographics. In an interview with The Guardian, residents described how sewage backups made parts of their homes uninhabitable and called out the disparity in response compared to majority-white areas. One woman stated, “My floors buckled. My kitchen sink is rotting out. If white people were still here, this wouldn’t happen.” The long-term neglect of Centreville’s infrastructure reflects how disparities in public investment can disproportionately impact communities of color, contributing to unequal access to essential services.<ref name=":0" />

Academic researchers and local advocates have highlighted how the city’s geography contributes to the problem, arguing that historic disinvestment in flood infrastructure reflects a broader disregard for Black communities. Centreville is located on the Mississippi River floodplain known as the American Bottom, and inadequate maintenance of drainage channels and levees has worsened the impacts of stormwater. A study conducted by Williams College emphasized how channel infilling and poor drainage design make Centreville particularly vulnerable to repeated flooding.<ref name=":1" />

The conditions that Centreville faces are not natural; they are engineered by policy decisions that failed to serve Black communities. Centreville’s infrastructure was neglected during decades when other communities were modernizing, mostly due to limited political representation and economic disparity. Without access to federal or state funding, local officials were unable to implement preventative measures or renew old systems.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

The consequences have been devastating. Residents report living among black mold, collapsing floors, and constant repairs. Exposure to raw sewage and persistent mold has caused respiratory problems, structural damage to homes, and increased mental and physical health burdens for residents. Some have lost the ability to safely use their kitchens and bathrooms due to sewage backups. A federal lawsuit filed by over two dozen residents back in 2021 described conditions where “raw sewage pools in yards” and “backs up in tubs, toilets, and sinks” <ref name=":4" />

Centreville Citizens for Change, a local advocacy group, has led efforts to hold the government accountable and fight for tangible outcomes such as full sewer system repairs, transparency in government planning, and the enforcement of environmental protections. Groups like Earthjustice and the Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council have helped draw national attention to the crisis. Their efforts have involved litigation, community organizing, and lobbying for infrastructure investment.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />

These efforts have had a bit of success. In 2023, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (Illinois EPA) awarded a $9.9 million grant to address parts of Centreville’s sewage system. Unfortunately, local engineers estimate that fixing the full infrastructure will take over a decade and more than $100 million, largely because major drainage canals, particularly the Harding Ditch, have been severely neglected. Harding Ditch plays a central role in Centreville’s drainage system. Its poor maintenance has contributed significantly to flooding and sewage overflows, making its restoration essential to solving the area’s environmental problems.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Belleville News-Democrat |date=November 13, 2023 |title=Raw sewage, lawsuits and millions in federal funding: A timeline of issues in Cahokia Heights |url=https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article281536758.html}}</ref>

Community members are also seeking federal help. At town hall meetings, residents and advocates have appealed to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to assist with dredging Harding Ditch and planning sustainable drainage systems. However, the Corps has limited jurisdiction and funding, making such partnerships difficult to obtain.<ref name=":5" />

A Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) buyout program has been introduced as an option for residents who want to relocate from high-risk areas, but compensation is still a concern. Many homes are so damaged that they have little to no market value, leaving the owners with few options. Due to the extensive water and sewage damage, these properties are no longer safe or insurable, making it difficult for owners to sell or relocate without taking on personal debt. This exemplifies how environmental injustice is compounded by economic vulnerability, leaving affected communities with few viable options.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" />

Despite these challenges, Centreville residents continue to fight for their justice. A study led by José Constantine and James Manigault-Bryant of Williams College has partnered with residents to conduct community-based research on flooding and infrastructure vulnerability. Their support includes mapping flood zones, analyzing policy impacts, and co-developing public resources that amplify resident voices. These initiatives aim to improve infrastructure while also supporting education, community research, and local political advocacy.<ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Portal|Illinois}}
{{St. Clair County, Illinois}}
{{Southern-Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Former municipalities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Former populated places in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places disestablished in 2021]]
[[Category:Cities in St. Clair County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]