Editing Clinton, Illinois

{{Distinguish|Clinton County, Illinois}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Clinton
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = 
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| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
| image_skyline      = Clinton city hall in Illinois.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Clinton city hall
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| etymology          = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = "On the rise since 1835"
| anthem             = 
| image_map          = File:De Witt County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Clinton Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Clinton in De Witt County, Illinois.
| image_map1         = Illinois in United States (US48).svg
| mapsize1           = 
| map_alt1           = 
| map_caption1       = Location of Illinois in the United States
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| coordinates        = {{coord|40|9|8|N|88|57|33|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
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| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = United States
| subdivision_type1  = State
| subdivision_name1  = Illinois
| subdivision_type2  = County
| subdivision_name2  = [[DeWitt County, Illinois|DeWitt]]
| subdivision_type3  = Township
| subdivision_name3  = [[Clintonia Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Clintonia]], [[Texas Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Texas]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 
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| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = Vacant
| leader_title1      = Mayor
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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     = 9.18
| area_total_sq_mi   = 3.54
| area_land_km2      = 9.18
| area_land_sq_mi    = 3.54
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 
| area_metro_footnotes = 
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| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 
| elevation_ft       = 726
| elevation_point    = 
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| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 7004
| pop_est_as_of      = 
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| population_density_km2 = 762.95
| population_density_sq_mi = 1976.30
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| timezone1          = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1        = -6
| timezone1_DST      = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = -5
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| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code|ZIP Code(s)]]
| postal_code        = 61727
| 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         = 17-15001
| blank1_name        = 
| blank1_info        = 
| blank2_name        = 
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| blank_name_sec2    = 
| blank_info_sec2    = 
| blank1_name_sec2   = 
| blank1_info_sec2   = 
| blank2_name_sec2   = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2   = Clinton, Illinois
| website            = {{URL|http://www.clintonillinois.com/}}
| footnotes          = 
}}

'''Clinton''' is the largest city and the [[county seat]] in [[DeWitt County, Illinois]], United States. The population was 6,898 at the 2023 census.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/clintoncityillinois |access-date=2025-04-01 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref><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/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref>

The city and the county are named for [[DeWitt Clinton]], governor of [[New York (state)|New York]], 1817–1823. [[Clinton Nuclear Generating Station]] is located six miles away on [[Clinton Lake (Illinois)|Clinton Lake]].

==Geography==
[[File:20150714 AIR, Clinton (Illinois), N931LR IMG 6371 by sebaso.jpg|thumb|Clinton, Illinois (2015)]]

Clinton is centrally located in the heart of Illinois, at {{coord|40|9|8|N|88|57|33|W|type:city}} (40.152240, -88.959214),<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> accessible from Routes 51, 54, and 10.

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Clinton has a total area of {{convert|3.54|sqmi|km2|2}}, all land.<ref name="gaz2021">{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>

==History==
The city was founded in 1835 by [[Jesse W. Fell]] of [[Bloomington, Illinois]], a land speculator and [[lawyer]], and James Allen, a representative in the [[Illinois State Legislature]]. The two men were on their way from [[Decatur, Illinois]] back to Bloomington after a business trip and stopped to rest their horses on the open prairie halfway between the two cities. It occurred to them that this was an ideal location for a settlement, as there was nothing else nearby. They named the town in honor of [[DeWitt Clinton]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Illinois Central Magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3WI3AQAAMAAJ&pg=PT49|year=1922|publisher=Illinois Central Railroad Company|page=44}}</ref>

Clinton is on the 8th Judicial Circuit, on which [[Abraham Lincoln]] traveled, along with Judge [[David Davis (Supreme Court justice)|David Davis]], for twenty years. Lincoln acted as [[lawyer]] because lawyers were scarce in the area at the time.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

One of the two registered historical locations in [[DeWitt County, Illinois|DeWitt County]], the [[C.H. Moore House]], is located in Clinton. The house was purchased and improved by lawyer Clifton H. Moore in the 1880s, and is now the DeWitt County [[Museum]]. Moore's private [[library]] of more than 7,000 volumes was left to the city upon his death in 1901. These books would make up the first collection of the [[Vespasian Warner]] [[Public Library]], founded by and named for Moore's son-in-law.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

In 1858, [[Abraham Lincoln]] gave a speech in Clinton to which the following quotation has  been attributed:<ref>[https://archive.org/details/lincolnlegendsmy0000stee/page/89 <!-- quote="You can fool all of the people some of the time" Lincoln. -->   Lincoln Legends: Myths, Hoaxes, and Confabulations associated with our greatest President.] [[Edward Steers, Jr.]]</ref>
{{cquote|You can fool all of the people some of the time and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.|10px|10px}}
on Sept. 18, according to [[Carl Sandburg]]. However, there is no official transcript of the speech. Lincoln's collected papers has a version of the speech taken from a contemporary copy in the ''Bloomington Pantagraph'' which doesn't contain it. It has also been attributed to a speech by Lincoln in Bloomington, IL two years earlier, and there is controversy over whether or not Lincoln ever said it at all.{{Citation needed|date=June 2009}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 367
|1860= 1362
|1870= 1800
|1880= 2709
|1890= 2598
|1900= 4452
|1910= 5165
|1920= 5898
|1930= 5920
|1940= 6331
|1950= 5945
|1960= 7355
|1970= 7581
|1980= 8014
|1990= 7437
|2000= 7485
|2010= 7225
|2020= 7004
|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>
}}As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref name=":0" /> there were 7,004 people, 3,102 households, and 1,676 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|1,976.30|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 3,384 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|954.85|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.49% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.06% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.19% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.30% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.16% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.60% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 4.21% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.15% of the population.

There were 3,102 households, out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.78% were married couples living together, 13.25% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.97% were non-families. 42.94% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.67% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.97 and the average family size was 2.18.

The city's age distribution consisted of 24.3% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25% from 25 to 44, 23.2% from 45 to 64, and 19.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $46,741, and the median income for a family was $63,125. Males had a median income of $40,918 versus $26,554 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $27,368. About 9.2% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 25.2% of those under age 18 and 6.4% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
The major employers in Clinton include the Clinton Nuclear Power Plant, Warner Hospital & Health Services and HNC Products Inc., and Liberty Village of Clinton.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

==Attractions==
{{primary sources|section|date=June 2009}}

===Recreation and entertainment===
*The annual '''Apple and Pork Festival''' draws ten times or more of the population to the city to visit, partake, and purchase items typifying the town.<ref name="clinton-visit-page">{{cite web|url=http://www.clintonillinois.com/?page=visitors|title=City of Clinton Visitors Page|access-date=2009-06-17|archive-date=2009-05-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090521103944/http://www.clintonillinois.com/?page=visitors|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*'''Terror on Washington Street''' is an annual haunted house run by Clinton's Chamber of Commerce.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clintonhauntedhouse.com/|title=Clinton Haunted House Site|access-date=2009-06-17}}</ref>
*'''May Days''' is an annual festival that has carnival rides as well as live music and various other entertainment events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clintonilchamber.com/events.htm|title=Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau Events and Attractions|access-date=2015-06-09}}</ref>

===Nature and wildlife===
*[[Clinton Lake (Illinois)]] and [[Weldon Springs State Recreation Area]] are nearby state parks.
*There are seven small parks within the town which include facilities such as lighted tennis courts, basketball courts, baseball and softball fields, as well as other playground equipment.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.clintonillinois.com/?page=parks|title=City of Clinton Parks Page|access-date=2009-06-17|archive-date=2011-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708165011/http://www.clintonillinois.com/?page=parks|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Other attractions===
*The [[C. H. Moore House]] is the center of the Dewitt County Museum.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chmoorehomestead.org/index.html|title=CH Moore Homestead Site|access-date=2009-06-17|archive-date=2009-09-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090926170814/http://www.chmoorehomestead.org/index.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*'''Mr. Lincoln's Square''' is one of the locations [[Abraham Lincoln]] delivered a campaign address.<ref>{{cite web|title=SEPTEMBER 2, 1858: ABRAHAM LINCOLN SPEAKS IN CLINTON, IL|url=http://www.moore-warner.com/september-2-1858-abraham-lincoln-speaks-in-clinton-il/|access-date=27 May 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Abraham Lincoln Quotes|url=http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/8055-if-you-once-forfeit-the-confidence-of-your-fellow-citizens|quote=but you can't fool all of the people all of the time}}</ref>
*Dewitt County Fairgrounds

== 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.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others will be deleted.
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{{div col}}
* [[Al Atkinson (baseball)|Al Atkinson]], pitcher with the [[Chicago Browns]], [[Baltimore Monumentals]] and [[Philadelphia Athletics]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Al Atkinson|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/atkinal01.shtml|publisher=[[Baseball-Reference.com]]|access-date=April 1, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Keith Brendley]], business leader and expert in [[active protection system]]s
* [[Charlie Irwin]], third baseman with the [[Chicago Colts]], [[Cincinnati Reds]] and [[Brooklyn Superbas]]
* [[Mike Overy]], relief pitcher for the [[Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim|California Angels]]; born in Clinton
* [[Doc Marshall (catcher)|Doc Marshall]], catcher with the 1908 [[Chicago Cubs]] and physician; lived and died in Clinton 
* [[William Querfeld]], Illinois state representative, farmer, grain dealer, and farm implement dealer<ref>'Illinois Blue Book 1941-1942,' Biographical Sketch of William Querfeld, pg. 206</ref>
* [[Gene Vance]], a member of the 1942–43 [[University of Illinois]] basketball team known as the [[1942–43 Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball team|Whiz Kids]]
* [[Vespasian Warner]], member of Congress, and later United States Commissioner of Pensions
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Clinton, Illinois}}
*[http://www.clintonillinois.com Official Site]
* [http://www.dewittcountyill.com/main.html DeWitt County]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090323070555/http://www.cusd15.k12.il.us/ Clinton Unit School District #15]
* [http://www.clintonilchamber.com Clinton Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070528232319/http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/PARKS/R3/Clinton.htm Clinton Lake]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090517014247/http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R3/WELDONRA.HTM Weldon Springs]

{{DeWitt County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois county seats}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Cities in DeWitt County, Illinois]]
[[Category:County seats in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1835]]