Editing Elsah, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Elsah
| official_name = 
| native_name = 
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| other_name = 
| settlement_type = [[List of towns and villages in Illinois|Village]]
| image_skyline = Mill and Selma, Elsah.jpg
| imagesize = 250px
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = Green Tree Inn of Elsah at Mill and Selma Streets, Elsah
| image_flag = 
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| etymology = 
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| image_map = File:Jersey County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Elsah Highlighted.svg
| mapsize = 250px
| map_alt = 
| map_caption = Location of Elsah in Jersey County, Illinois.
| image_map1 = Map_of_Illinois_highlighting_Jersey_County.svg
| mapsize1 = 150px
| map_alt1 = 
| map_caption1 = Location of Jersey County within Illinois
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| coordinates = {{coord|38|57|13|N|90|21|17|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint = 
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| grid_name = 
| grid_position = 
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Illinois
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = [[Jersey County, Illinois|Jersey]]
| subdivision_type3 = Township
| subdivision_name3 = [[Elsah Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Elsah]]
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| government_footnotes = 
| government_type = [[Mayor-Council government|Mayor-Council]]
| governing_body = 
| leader_party = 
| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Michael Pitchford
| leader_title1 = Mayor
| leader_name1 = 
| total_type = 
| 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 = 2.83
| area_total_sq_mi = 1.09
| area_land_km2 = 2.83
| area_land_sq_mi = 1.09
| area_water_km2 = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.00
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| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft = 495
| elevation_point = 
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total = 519
| pop_est_as_of = 
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| population_rank = 
| population_density_km2 = 183.47
| population_density_sq_mi = 475.27
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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
| timezone2 = 
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|postal_code_type                = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 62028<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zipdatamaps.com/62028|title=Elsah IL ZIP Code|publisher=zipdatamaps.com|year=2023|access-date=May 12, 2023}}</ref>
| postal2_code_type = 
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| area_code = [[Area code 618|618]]
| geocode = 
| iso_code = 
| blank_name = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info = 17-23776
| blank1_name = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info = 2398818<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2398818}}</ref>
| blank2_name = 
| blank2_info = 
| blank_name_sec2 = 
| blank_info_sec2 = 
| blank1_name_sec2 = 
| blank1_info_sec2 = 
| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2 = 
| website = http://www.elsah.org/
| footnotes = 
}}

'''Elsah''' is a village in [[Jersey County, Illinois]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the village had a total population of 519.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?q=Elsah%20village,%20Illinois&g=1600000US1723776|title=ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES|website=data.census.gov|access-date=2020-04-02}}</ref> Michael Pitchford is the village's current acting mayor.

It is the home of [[Principia College]].

Elsah is a part of the [[Metro-East]] region and the [[St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==Geography==
Elsah is located at {{Coord|38|57|13|N|90|21|17|W|type:city}} (38.953720, -90.354732).<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 2021 census gazetteer files, Elsah has a total area of {{convert|1.09|sqmi|km2|2}}, all land.<ref name="gaz2021">{{Cite web |author=US 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 ==
[[James Semple]], a local lawyer, prominent politician and [[United States Senator]] from [[Illinois]], founded Elsah in 1853 and offered free lots to anyone who built houses with stone from his quarry. It is believed that he named the village of Elsah after Ailsa Craig, the last outcropping his family saw as they departed [[Scotland]] for the [[United States]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/elsahhistory51unse|title=Elsah History|date=September 11, 1987|publisher=Historic Elsah Foundation|via=Internet Archive}}</ref>  By 1861, the village had grown to its current size, as geographic and economic limitations prevented further expansion.

Although Elsah has been described as the "New England of the Midwest," the village is not a [[New England]] prototype derived from 18th century colonial styles. Rather, the architecture found in Elsah demonstrates 19th century styles and fashions including [[Greek Revival]], [[Gothic Revival]], [[Mansard]], [[Italianate]], [[Saltbox]], and [[Gambrel]]. Elsah prospered as the main shipping point for the agricultural goods produced by the farmers of [[Jersey County]]. The village's importance diminished with the coming of the railroad, later being revitalized when [[Principia College]] was established in the 1930s.<ref name="ESHAug07">[http://www.greatriverroad.com/Cities/Elsah/elsahCover.htm Elsah description & history], retrieved August 24, 2007</ref>

Eliestoun House was completed in 1890 by [[Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr.]] The house is on the grounds of Principia College and named after "'Elliestoun Tower' on Castle Semple Loch" which is part of the [[Lands of Elliston]] in [[Scotland]]. Henry Turner and his wife Ada Ames had the house built. Ada is a descendant of James Semple.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Hosmer Jr. |first1=Charles |date=Spring 2003 |title=ELIESTOUN of the Turners |url=https://archive.org/stream/elsahhistory85unse/elsahhistory85unse_djvu.txt |journal=Elsah History |volume=Spring 2003 |issue=85 |access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.friendsofeliestoun.org/history-of-eliestoun/|title=History of Eliestoun |access-date=February 8, 2022}}</ref>[[File:Eliestoun building.jpg|alt=Eliestoun|thumb|Eliestoun House was designed by [[Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr.]] It was completed in 1890 and is on the [[Principia College]] campus. Photographed in 2014.]]

Elsah remained mainly a quiet village until the opening of the [[Great River Road]] ([[Illinois Route 100]]) in 1964. Elsah is a community whose homes are privately owned. In 1973, the entire village was placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].

The [[Great Flood of 1993]] caused significant damage to many of the village's structures.

The historic commercial district on LaSalle Street, which extends three blocks inward from the river, consists mainly of stone buildings; all but one of its pre-1861 buildings, including all four of the village's historic taverns, still stand. The other two districts are both located on Mill Street and are primarily residential; the larger one is three blocks long and has an assortment of stone and brick houses, while the smaller section has a single block of [[Greek Revival]] homes.

Today, Elsah's proximity to [[bald eagle]] watching locations make it a popular destination during the fall and winter seasons. Elsah's location on the [[Sam Vadalabene Bike Trail]] also makes it a popular stop for bicyclists enjoying the Great River Road in any season.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 250
|1890= 271
|1900= 220
|1910= 267
|1920= 167
|1930= 137
|1940= 175
|1950= 520
|1960= 507
|1970= 928
|1980= 990
|1990= 851
|2000= 635
|2010= 673
|2020= 519
|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html Decennial US Census]
}}As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1723776 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> there were 519 people, 64 households, and 39 families residing in the village. The population density was {{Convert|475.27|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 93 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|85.16|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the village was 78.81% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 10.79% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.00% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 2.70% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.58% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.00% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 7.13% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 5.59% of the population.

There were 64 households, out of which 10.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.94% were married couples living together, none had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.06% were non-families. 39.06% of all households were made up of individuals, and 23.44% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 1.83.

The village's age distribution consisted of 1.0% under the age of 18, 79.9% from 18 to 24, 6.6% from 25 to 44, 5.7% from 45 to 64, and 6.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 20.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 119.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 117.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $97,500, and the median income for a family was $123,125. Males had a median income of $5,104 versus $4,141 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the village was $13,499. About 0.0% of families and 6.3% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 0.0% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.

== Education ==
[[File:Principia College (2152575562).jpg|thumb|upright|Principia College Chapel]]
The school district is [[Southwestern Community Unit School District 9]]<!--UNI 31500-->.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17083_jersey/DC20SD_C17083.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Jersey County, IL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-09-09}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17083_jersey/DC20SD_C17083_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>

Elsah includes [[Principia College]], a four-year liberal-arts private college for [[Christian Scientists]]. The campus area, known as the [[Principia College Historic District]], was declared a [[National Historic Landmark]] in 1993, and was placed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] that same year.

== Geography ==
The [[Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Route|Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway]] passes through Elsah.
The Elsah area was also one of the two finalists for the site of the Air Force Academy in 1954.

==Notable people==
{{For|people who attended Principia College|Principia College#Notable alumni}}
*[[Robert Duvall]], Academy Award-winning actor, is an alumnus of [[Principia College]] in Elsah
*[[Herbert G. Giberson]], Illinois state senator and businessman
*[[James Semple]], United States Senator from Illinois, diplomat of [[Republic of New Granada|New Granada]], and founder of Elsah

== See also ==
*[[Elsah Historic District]]
*[[Principia Astronomical Observatory]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.elsah.org/ Village of Elsah] website
*[http://www.friendsofeliestoun.org/ Friends of Eliestoun] website

{{Jersey County, Illinois}}
{{Metro-East}}

{{authority control}}

{{Riverbend|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Metro East]]
[[Category:Villages in Jersey County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois populated places on the Mississippi River]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1853]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Villages in Illinois]]