Editing Chester, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | name                     = Chester
 | official_name            = 
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 | settlement_type          = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
 | image_skyline            = Randolph County Courthouse, Chester.jpg
 | image_caption            = [[Randolph County Courthouse (Illinois)|Randolph County Courthouse]]
 | image_flag               = 
 | image_seal               = 
 | etymology                = 
 | nickname                 = Home of Popeye
 | motto                    = 
 | anthem                   = 
 | image_map                = Randolph County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Chester Highlighted.svg
 | mapsize                  = 250px
 | map_caption              = Location of Chester in Randolph County, Illinois.
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 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Illinois]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Illinois|County]]
 | subdivision_name2        = [[Randolph County, Illinois|Randolph]]
 | subdivision_type3        = Township
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 | established_title        = Founded
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 | leader_party             = 
 | leader_title             = Mayor
 | leader_name              = Tom Page
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 | 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           = 15.08
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 5.82
 | area_land_km2            = 15.04
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 5.81
 | area_water_km2           = 0.04
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.02
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 | elevation_ft             = 633
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 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_footnotes     = 
 | population_total         = 7640
 | population_rank          = 
 | population_density_km2   = 453.14
 | population_density_sq_mi = 1173.61
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 | timezone1                = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
 | utc_offset1              = -6
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 | postal_code              = 62233
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 | area_code                = [[Area code 618#United States|618]]
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 | blank_info               = 17-13139
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 | blank1_info              = 2393819<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2393819}}</ref>
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 | blank1_info_sec2         = 
 | blank2_name_sec2         = Wikimedia Commons
 | blank2_info_sec2         = Chester, Illinois
 | website                  = {{URL|www.chesterill.com}}
 | footnotes                = 
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}}

'''Chester''' is a city in and the [[county seat]] of [[Randolph County, Illinois]], United States,<ref name="GR6">{{cite web |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150503072804/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 3, 2015 }}</ref> on a bluff above the [[Mississippi River]]. The population was 7,640 at the 2020 census.<ref name="2020 Census" /> It lies {{convert|61|mi|km}} south of [[St. Louis, Missouri]].

==History==
===Founding===
Samuel Smith is said to be the town's founder because he built the first home in Chester, established a [[ferry]] system, and began the construction of a [[Mill (grinding)|mill]] in 1829. The town was named after [[Chester]], England, the city from where his wife Jane Smith was from.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2MwfAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mNgEAAAAIBAJ&pg=1176%2C754300 | title=Place Names Have Colorful History | work=The Southeast Missourian | date=January 11, 1963 | access-date=27 April 2015 | author=Allen, John W. | pages=6}}</ref> The first business in Chester was a [[general store]] that opened in 1830 along with a [[castor oil]] press established by R. B. Servant, who furnished farmers with [[seed]] and growing methods to later buy the beans they produced for [[Expeller pressing|oil extraction]]. This was a flourishing business until the [[petroleum industry]] made it obsolete.
The first wedding in the town of Chester was held on February 4, 1834. Content Walker, the bride and Amzi Andrews, the groom held their wedding in a 16 feet square [[log cabin]].<ref>Gordon, Eileen.''A History Of Chester, Illinois 1829-1979.''Taylor Publishing Company, 1979. Print.</ref>

===Cole Milling Company===
The H.C. Cole Milling Company was founded by Nathan Cole in 1839. It started out as a small [[sawmill]] with a [[corn (disambiguation)|corn]]-grinding attachment which encouraged the townspeople to plant [[Food grain|grains]], and in a short time the first Cole [[flour mill]] was built. The mill still exists in Chester but it is now operated by Ardent Mills. Nathan Cole also brought the first [[electric generator]] to Chester and used the surplus of power from the mill to operate [[street light]]s. This was a modern convenience that was not even available in [[Chicago]] at that point. The generator is now on display at the [[The Henry Ford|Ford Museum]] in [[Dearborn, Michigan]].<ref name="Gordon, Eileen 1979">Gordon, Eileen."A History Of Chester, Illinois 1829-1979." Taylor Publishing Company, 1979. Print.</ref>

===International Shoe Company===
In 1916, Messrs. Bronson, Albert Gilster, Frank Wolff and John Herschbach developed the site for the [[Furniture Brands International#International Shoe Company|International Shoe Company]] in the center of town where the Gilster Mary Lee Corp. is today. In 1922, a second building was built, and the company had more than 1000 employees and was producing thousands of pairs of children's shoes. During World War Two, the factory operated primarily by women produced military/combat boots for the troops in service. In 1953, payroll reached over $2,000,000. The factory was closed by the company in the early 1960s after 45 years of operation.<ref name="Gordon, Eileen 1979"/>

===Prim Hosiery Mill===
In 1925, the Prim Hosiery Mill was a knitting mill that began operations under Joshua Richman with 50 employees. The mill grew to employ more than 275 people and produced over 300,000 pairs of [[stocking]]s a month with annual payroll exceeding $700,000. The knitting mill continued operations through the 1960s. The building still stands as one of the Gilster Mary Lee Corp. factory buildings.<ref name="Gordon, Eileen 1979"/>

===Chester Pool===
Construction began for the Chester Pool in 1939 as part of a [[Works Progress Administration]] (WPA) public works program to create employment during the [[Great Depression]]. It was completed in 1941, although due to the delivery of the filtration system being delayed it did not officially open until May 30, 1942, under the management of William Weber. A total of 250 swimmers visited the [[swimming pool]] in the first week and were charged 15 cents for weekdays and 25 cents for weekends.

Due to leaks and other deterioration issues, as well as high repair costs, the pool has been closed since 2014.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.randolphcountyheraldtribune.com/news/20180418/fate-of-chester-swimming-pool-murky-city-thinking-about-other-uses-for-site|title=Fate of Chester swimming Pool Murky|date=18 April 2018 }}</ref>

==Home of "Popeye"==
Chester is the "Home of Popeye," where a {{convert|6|ft|adj=on}}, {{convert|900|lb|adj=on}} bronze statue of [[Popeye]] the Sailor Man stands in the Elzie C. Segar Memorial Park, which honors Popeye's creator, [[Elzie Segar]]. The park is located next to the [[Chester Bridge]]. Several of Segar's characters were created from his experiences with people of Chester. Chester's big event is its annual Popeye Picnic and parade, held the weekend after Labor Day. Popeye fans travel from all over the United States and the world to partake in the weekend activities. Most of the events and entertainment are free and all are family friendly.

New statues honoring the other Thimble Theater characters are added each year.<ref name="Character Trail">{{cite web |url=http://www.baskervilleproductions.com/popeye-trail |title=Character Trail|access-date=2019-01-05 |work=City of Chester website}}</ref>

===Popeye's Picnic and Parade===
Popeye's Picnic is an event held in Chester the Friday, Saturday and Sunday following [[Labor Day]] in the month of September. Popeye's Picnic consists of rides, food stands, music, and fireworks. The Popeye Parade is held on a Saturday morning. Before the parade there is a walk and run for anyone who wants to participate. Medals and trophies are awarded to the top runners and walkers in each age category. A Popeye T-shirt is included with each entry. Many people from different towns participate in this parade. The parade consists of local school bands, band fronts, such as dance teams and cheerleaders, floats from various businesses, fire departments, veterans representing the United States, politicians marching, clowns passing out stickers and candy, and finally horses trail the parade.
Many people and businesses help sponsor the picnic and donate money and time.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20040823214337/http://www.popeyepicnic.com/ Popeye Picnic]</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.popeyepicnic.com/index.php?id=24 |title=30th Annual Popeye Picnic |access-date=2009-11-15 |work=City of Chester website }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>

==Parks and historic sites==
Part of the [[Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.fws.gov/midwest/MiddleMississippiRiver/index.html|title=Middle Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge|accessdate=10 March 2023}}</ref> is located along the Mississippi River at Chester.

==Bridges==
Chester is connected to [[Perry County, Missouri]] via a river bridge known as the [[Chester Bridge]]. The Chester Bridge was first constructed on August 23, 1942, as a toll bridge. Sections of this bridge were destroyed by a storm in July 1944, but it was reopened in August 1946. Tolls ceased to be collected on January 1, 1989.

==Media==
Chester now has Channel 10 through Cable TV. It broadcasts events, post announcements and upcoming community events, relays emergency notices and much more to the citizens of Chester. Students from the Chester Grade School contribute daily broadcasts from the school.

Chester's newspaper was the ''Herald Tribune'' until it ceased publication in 2022.<ref>{{cite web |title=Randolph County Herald Tribune ends publication |url=https://www.wsiltv.com/news/randolph-county-herald-tribune-ends-publication/article_ebf0e6dc-047b-11ed-8c04-2f5ac0a04fbe.html |website=WSIL |access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref> The local radio station is [[KSGM]].

==Claims to fame==
On April 11, 1842, [[Charles Dickens]], the author of ''[[A Christmas Carol]]'' and ''[[Great Expectations]]'', visited Chester with his wife.<ref name="lesson">{{cite web| url=http://www.chesterill.com/index.php?id=23|title=A Bit of a Chester History Lesson| publisher=City of Chester| access-date=2011-01-05}}</ref> [[Mark Twain]], the author of ''[[The Adventures of Tom Sawyer]]'', a pilot on the Mississippi River between 1857 and the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], supposedly on many of his trips stayed at Chester's Cliff House, a fine river hostelry. Twain also mentioned the blue windows of Chester's Cohen Home, visible from the Mississippi, in his book ''[[Life on the Mississippi]]''.<ref name="lesson"/>

The [[List of United States post office murals#Illinois|Chester post office]] contains a federally commissioned mural, ''Loading the Packet'', painted by [[Fay E. Davis]] through the [[Section of Painting and Sculpture]], later called the [[Section of Fine Arts]], of the [[United States Department of the Treasury|Treasury Department]]. A former postal employee favored the mural so strongly that he said if the building should catch fire, the mural should be saved rather than the mail.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Reeves|first1=Ryan|title=Restoration Project|journal=Illinois Issues|date=December 2002|volume=28|issue=12|pages=26–32|url=https://archive.org/stream/illinoisissues282002sang#page/32/mode/1up/search/Loading+the+Packet|access-date=7 March 2017|publisher=University of Illinois at Springfield|location=Springfield, Illinois|issn=0738-9663}}</ref>

Chester was the filming location of scenes from the 1967 movie ''[[In the Heat of the Night (film)|In the Heat of the Night]]'' and was only mentioned in the 1993 movie ''[[The Fugitive (1993 film)|The Fugitive]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/List?endings=on&&locations=Chester,%20Illinois,%20USA&&heading=18;with+locations+including;Chester,%20Illinois,%20USA |title=Titles with locations including Chester, Illinois, USA |access-date=2008-10-18 |work=IMDB.com }}{{Dead link|date=July 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Geography==
Chester is located at {{Coord|37|54|50|N|89|49|23|W|type:city|display=inline,title}} (37.913947, -89.823140).<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=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

According to the 2010 census, Chester has a total area of {{convert|5.826|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which {{convert|5.81|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 99.73%) is land and {{convert|0.016|sqmi|sqkm|2}} (or 0.27%) is water.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1713139
  |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1
  |access-date=2015-12-26
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213060823/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1713139
  |archive-date=2020-02-13
  |url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1870= 1615
|1880= 2580
|1890= 2708
|1900= 2832
|1910= 2747
|1920= 2904
|1930= 3922
|1940= 5110
|1950= 5389
|1960= 4460
|1970= 5310
|1980= 8401
|1990= 8194
|2000= 8400
|2010= 8586
|2020= 7640
|estyear=2021
|estimate= 7645
|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><ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Chester city, Illinois|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 3, 2012 }}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020 Census">{{cite web|title=2020 Census Data|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1713139|website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 8,400 people, 2,018 households, and 1,283 families residing in the city. The population density was {{convert|879.9|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 2,229 housing units at an average density of {{convert|378.3|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 94.87% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.59% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.15% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.21% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.21% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.93% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 2,018 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.9% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 105.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 102.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $39,079, and the median income for a family was $49,426. Males had a median income of $36,103 versus $22,239 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $22,190. About 5.4% of families and 9.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over.

==Government and infrastructure==
The [[Illinois Department of Corrections]] [[Menard Correctional Center]] is located in Chester.<ref>"[http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/facilities/information.asp?instchoice=men Menard Correctional Center] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608201423/http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/facilities/information.asp?instchoice=men |date=2011-06-08 }}." [[Illinois Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on September 1, 2010.</ref><ref>"[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1713139&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on Chester city, Illinois] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728180712/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/MapItDrawServlet?geo_id=16000US1713139&_bucket_id=50&tree_id=420&context=saff&_lang=en&_sse=on |date=2011-07-28 }}." [[U.S. Census Bureau]]. Retrieved on September 1, 2010.</ref> Prior to the January 11, 2003 commutation of death row sentences, male death row inmates were housed in Menard, [[Tamms Correctional Center|Tamms]], and [[Pontiac Correctional Center|Pontiac]] correctional centers. After that date, only Pontiac continued to host the male death row.<ref>"[http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/news/doc_report/archive/doc_report_online_03_07_03.shtml DOC Report Online] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718225214/http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/news/doc_report/archive/doc_report_online_03_07_03.shtml |date=July 18, 2011 }}." [[Illinois Department of Corrections]]. Retrieved on September 1, 2010.</ref>

==Economy==
Large employers include the [[private label]] food company Gilster-Mary Lee, Corp.,
the maximum security [[Menard Correctional Center]], and the maximum security forensics mental health center, [[Chester Mental Health Center]].

==Education==

===Public===
Chester Community Unit School District No. 139 consists of two schools, [[Chester High School (Chester, Illinois)|Chester High School]] and Chester Grade School.

===Private===
St. John's Lutheran School and St. Mary's Catholic School are Chester's parochial schools.

==Religious affiliations==
There are eleven churches located in Chester. These churches consist of the New Life First Pentecostal Church, First Baptist Church, First Christian Church of Chester, Family Worship Center Assembly of God, First Presbyterian Church, First Apostolic Pentecostal Church, First United Methodist Church, Grace Church Ministries, Peace Lutheran Church ELCA, St. John Lutheran Church LCMS, and St. Mary's Help of Christians Roman Catholic Church.<ref name="Welcome to Chester">{{cite web |url=http://www.chesterill.com/index.php?id=24 |title=Welcome to Chester |access-date=2009-11-15 |work=City of Chester website }}</ref>

== Notable people ==
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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.
· Alphabetical by last name please
· All others will be deleted without further explanation
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* [[Shadrach Bond]], first [[List of Governors of Illinois|Governor of Illinois]]
* [[William Hartzell]], U.S. representative
* [[Elias Kane]], U.S. senator and architect of the [[Constitution of Illinois]]
* [[Nora Lane]], actress
* [[Pierre Menard]], first [[List of Lieutenant Governors of Illinois|Lieutenant Governor of Illinois]]
* [[E. C. Segar|E.C. Segar]], creator of [[Popeye]]
* [[Tom Wham]], game designer

==Notes and references==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Portal|Illinois}}
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.chesterill.com City of Chester official website]
*[http://www.baskervilleproductions.com/popeye-trail Popeye & Friends Character Trail official website]
*''[http://randolphcountyheraldtribune.com/ Randolph County Herald Tribune]''
*''[https://web.archive.org/web/20081207010431/http://www.suntimesnews.com/2/index.html Sun Times News Online]''
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20081025025958/http://www.618football.com/teams/sirr-mississippi/chester-yellowjackets/ 618 Football - Chester Yellow Jackets]

{{Randolph County, Illinois}}
{{Southern-Illinois}}
{{Illinois county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:County seats in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Randolph County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois populated places on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1829]]
[[Category:1829 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]