Editing Old Shawneetown, Illinois

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Old Shawneetown, Illinois
| official_name      = 
| native_name        = 
| native_name_lang   = 
| other_name         = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of towns and villages in Illinois|Village]]
| image_skyline      = Shawneetown_court_house.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_alt          = 
| image_caption      = Old Shawneetown Court House in 1937
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = 
| etymology          = 
| nickname           = 
| motto              = 
| anthem             = 
| image_map          = File:Gallatin County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Old Shawneetown Highlighted.svg
| mapsize            = 
| map_alt            = 
| map_caption        = Location of Old Shawneetown in Gallatin County, Illinois.
| image_map1         = Illinois in United States (US48).svg
| mapsize1           = 
| map_alt1           = 
| map_caption1       = Location of Illinois in the United States
| pushpin_map        = 
| pushpin_label_position = 
| pushpin_label      = 
| pushpin_map_alt    = 
| pushpin_mapsize    = 
| pushpin_relief     = 
| pushpin_map_caption = 
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|41|54|N|88|8|13|W|display=inline,title}}
| coor_pinpoint      = 
| coordinates_footnotes = 
| grid_name          = 
| grid_position      = 
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Illinois]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Illinois|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Gallatin County, Illinois|Gallatin]]
| subdivision_type3  = [[List of townships in Illinois|Township]]
| subdivision_name3  = [[Shawnee Township, Gallatin County, Illinois|Shawnee]]
| subdivision_type4  = 
| subdivision_name4  = 
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 
| established_title1 = 
| established_date1  = 
| established_title2 = 
| established_date2  = 
| established_title3 = 
| established_date3  = 
| established_title4 = 
| established_date4  = 
| established_title5 = 
| established_date5  = 
| established_title6 = 
| established_date6  = 
| established_title7 = 
| established_date7  = 
| extinct_title      = 
| extinct_date       = 
| founder            = 
| named_for          = 
| seat_type          = 
| seat               = 
| seat1_type         = 
| seat1              = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| governing_body     = 
| leader_party       = 
| leader_title       = Mayor
| leader_name        = 
| leader_title1      = Village president
| 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     = 1.32
| area_total_sq_mi   = 0.51
| area_land_km2      = 1.32
| area_land_sq_mi    = 0.51
| area_water_km2     = 0.00
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.00
| area_water_percent = 
| area_metro_footnotes = 
| area_metro_km2     = 
| area_metro_sq_mi   = 
| area_rank          = 
| elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>
| elevation_ft       = 348
| elevation_point    = 
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 113
| pop_est_as_of      = 
| pop_est_footnotes  = 
| population_est     = 
| population_rank    = 
| population_density_km2 = 85.51
| population_density_sq_mi = 221.57
| population_metro_footnotes = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_density = 
| population_density_rank = 
| population_blank1_title = 
| population_blank1  = 
| population_density_blank1_km2 = 
| population_density_blank1_sq_mi = 
| population_blank2_title = 
| population_blank2  = 
| population_density_blank2_km2 = 
| population_density_blank2_sq_mi = 
| population_demonym = 
| population_note    = 
| demographics_type1 = 
| demographics1_footnotes = 
| demographics1_title1 = 
| demographics1_info1 = 
| demographics_type2 = 
| demographics2_footnotes = 
| demographics2_title1 = 
| demographics2_info1 = 
| timezone1          = [[North American Central Time Zone|CST]]
| utc_offset1        = -6
| timezone1_DST      = [[North American Central Time Zone|CDT]]
| utc_offset1_DST    = -5
| timezone2          = 
| utc_offset2        = 
| timezone2_DST      = 
| utc_offset2_DST    = 
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code|ZIP Code(s)]]
| postal_code        = 62984
| postal2_code_type  = 
| postal2_code       = 
| area_code_type     = 
| area_code          = [[Area code 618|618]]
| geocode            = 
| iso_code           = 
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standards|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 17-55756
| blank1_name        = 
| blank1_info        = 
| blank2_name        = 
| blank2_info        = 
| blank_name_sec2    = 
| blank_info_sec2    = 
| blank1_name_sec2   = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] ID
| blank1_info_sec2   = 2399569<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2399569}}</ref>
| blank2_name_sec2   = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2   = Old Shawneetown, Illinois
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Old Shawneetown''' is a [[village]] in [[Shawnee Township, Gallatin County, Illinois|Shawnee Township]], [[Gallatin County, Illinois|Gallatin County]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the village had a population of 113,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1755756 |access-date=June 28, 2022 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> down from 193 at the 2010 census.<ref name="census-g001">{{cite web |title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1 |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1755756 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213084048/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1755756 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=December 25, 2015 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Located along the [[Ohio River]], Shawneetown served as an important United States government administrative center for the [[Northwest Territory]]. The village was devastated by the [[Ohio River flood of 1937]]. The village's population was moved several miles inland to [[Shawneetown, Illinois|New Shawneetown]].
[[File:1937 flood Shawneetown Illinois refugees.jpg|thumb|1937 flood Shawneetown Illinois refugees]]

==History==
At least one record suggests that a village was established here by the [[Pekowi|Pekowi Shawnee]] led by [[Peter Chartier]] about 1758.<ref name = "Wisconsin">[https://books.google.com/books?id=IWYOAAAAIAAJ Thwaites, Reuben Gold. ''The French Regime in Wisconsin and the Northwest,'' Vol I 1634-1760. State Historical Society of Wisconsin, 1908]</ref>{{rp|216–217}} In early November 1803, [[Lewis and Clark]] are believed to have stopped at Old Shawneetown on their way to [[Fort Massac]], just down the Ohio River.<ref>[http://lewisandclarkjournals.unl.edu/read/?_xmlsrc=1803-11-11.xml&_xslsrc=LCstyles.xsl ''The Journals of Lewis and Clark'', Nov. 11, 1803.]</ref>

After the [[American Revolution]], Shawneetown served as an important United States government administrative center for the [[Northwest Territory]]. Shawneetown and [[Washington, D.C.]], share the distinction of being the only towns chartered by the United States government.

Old Shawneetown is the site of the first [[bank]] chartered in Illinois, in 1816.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Q_lOAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WEwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5320%2C4181963 | title=Tidbits | work=Ludington Daily News | date=August 4, 2001 | access-date=October 15, 2015 | pages=33}}</ref> Originally in a log cabin, it was replaced in 1822 with a brick structure (only the second one in the town) now known as the [[John Marshall House Museum|John Marshall House]].<ref>Christiana Holmes Tillson; Milo Milton Quaife, ed. 1919, Reprint 1995. ''A Woman's Story of Pioneer Illinois''. Carbondale, Ill.: Southern Illinois University Press. 49-65.</ref>

Local legend states that the Shawneetown Bank refused to buy the first bonds issued by the city of [[Chicago]] on the grounds that no city located that far from a navigable river could survive.

Another historic bank building, the Bank of Illinois, was constructed in 1839–41 to house the offices of the Bank of Illinois at Shawneetown. It later housed numerous other financial institutions before it was closed in the 1930s. This fine example of [[Greek Revival architecture]] survives as the [[Shawneetown Bank State Historic Site]].

Residents long remembered the visit by [[Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette]] of France to the city on May 8, 1825, as a high point for the early community's social history.<ref>1887. ''History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson Counties, Illinois''. Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Company. 96-97.</ref>

After the [[Great Flood of 1937]], many residents moved to the current location of [[Shawneetown, Illinois|Shawneetown]]. The old courthouse was torn down and a new [[Gallatin County Courthouse (Illinois)|Gallatin County Courthouse]] was constructed in 1939.{{sfn|Weiser|2009|p=53}}

==Geography==
Old Shawneetown is located in southeastern Gallatin County at {{coord|37|41|54|N|88|8|13|W|type:city}} (37.698197, -88.136857),<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> on the northwest bank of the [[Ohio River]]. [[Illinois Route 13]] passes through the village. To the east it crosses the [[Shawneetown Bridge]] over the Ohio, becoming [[Kentucky Route 56]] and leading {{convert|13|mi}} to [[Morganfield, Kentucky]]. To the west, IL 13 leads {{Convert|3|mi|0}} to [[Shawneetown, Illinois|Shawneetown]], the Gallatin County seat, and {{convert|23|mi}} to [[Harrisburg, Illinois|Harrisburg]].

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Old Shawneetown has a total area of {{convert|0.51|sqmi|km2|2}}, all land.<ref name="gaz20213">{{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=June 29, 2022 |website=Census.gov}}</ref>

In 2019, Old Shawneetown was featured on [[PBS NewsHour]] in a segment on communities subjected to repeated flooding.<ref name="pbsnews-20190528">{{cite web
  |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-radical-approach-these-communities-have-taken-to-flood-mitigation
  |title=The radical approach these communities have taken to flooding
  |author=Cat Wise
  |date=May 28, 2019
  |access-date=May 29, 2019
  |publisher=[[PBS NewsHour]]}}</ref>  Because of the town's historically flood-prone location, it is prohibitively difficult to insure, and some researchers have recommended a total relocation of the remaining residents as a preventative policy.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1830= 446
|1840= 1900
|1850= 1764
|1860= 1115
|1870= 1309
|1880= 1851
|1890= 1570
|1900= 1698
|1910= 1863
|1920= 1368
|1930= 1440
|1940= 1357
|1950= 578
|1960= 433
|1970= 342
|1980= 396
|1990= 356
|2000= 278
|2010= 193
|2020= 113
|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 113 people, 40 households, and 21 families residing in the village. The population density was {{Convert|221.57|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 65 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|127.45|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the village was 92.92% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.77% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.31% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.77% of the population.

There were 40 households, out of which 32.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 17.50% were married couples living together, 15.00% had a female householder with no husband present.

Below the poverty line was 75% of those under the age of 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

== Notable people ==
<!-- Note:
· Only people who already have a Wikipedia article may appear here. This establishes notability.
· The article must mention how they are associated with <city name>, whether born, raised, or residing.
· Alphabetical by last name please
· All others will be deleted without further explanation
-->

* [[Claudia Cassidy]], music and drama critic for the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
* [[Peter Chartier]], Shawnee Indian chief
* [[Sarah Marshall Hayden]], first female novelist in Illinois
* [[Robert G. Ingersoll]], orator
* [[Michael Kelly Lawler]], Union Army officer
* [[John Alexander McClernand]], Union Army general and U.S. congressman
* [[John McLean (Illinois politician)|John McLean]], U.S. senator and congressman
* [[William W. Wilshire]], U.S. congressman
* [[Bluford Wilson]], Union Army officer
* [[James Harrison Wilson]], Union Army general

==See also==
*[[Illinois Salines]]
*[[List of cities and towns along the Ohio River]]

==References==
<references />

==Further reading==
* 1887. ''History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson Counties, Illinois''. Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co.
* Musgrave, Jon, ed. 2002. [http://www.illinoishistory.com/books ''Handbook of Old Gallatin County and Southeastern Illinois'']. Marion, Ill.: [http://www.illinoishistory.com/ IllinoisHistory.com]. 464 pages.
* Musgrave, Jon. 2004, Rev. ed. 2005. [http://www.illinoishistory.com/books ''Slaves, Salt, Sex & Mr. Crenshaw: The Real Story of the Old Slave House and America's Reverse Underground R.R.'']. Marion, Ill.: [http://www.illinoishistory.com/ IllinoisHistory.com]. 608 pages.
* Waggoner, Horace Q., interviewer. 1978. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110609051003/http://www.uis.edu/archives/memoirs/LAWLERL.pdf Lucille Lawler Memoir]" Shawneetown Bank Project. Sangamon State University. Springfield, Ill.
* {{cite book|last=Weiser |first=Dennis |title=Illinois courthouses: an illustrated history |year=2009 |publisher=Donning Co. |location=[[Virginia Beach, Virginia|Virginia Beach, Va.]] |isbn=978-1578646012 }}

{{Gallatin County, Illinois}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Villages in Gallatin County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois populated places on the Ohio River]]
[[Category:Villages in Illinois]]