Elizabeth, Illinois

{{Use American English|date=January 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox settlement | name = Elizabeth | settlement_type = Village | image_skyline = ElizabethIllinois-2.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = Elizabeth, Illinois, as seen from the observation tower west of the village | etymology = Elizabeth Armstrong, an early settler | image_blank_emblem = ElizabethILlogo.png | blank_emblem_type = Logo | blank_emblem_size = 120px | nickname = The Heart of Jo Daviess County<ref>[http://www.elizabeth-il.org/ Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce]</ref> | motto = | image_map = File:Jo Daviess County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Elizabeth Highlighted.svg | mapsize = | map_caption = Location of Elizabeth in Jo Daviess County, Illinois  | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = United States | subdivision_type1 = State | subdivision_name1 = Illinois | subdivision_type2 = County | subdivision_name2 = Jo Daviess | subdivision_type3 = Township | subdivision_name3 = Elizabeth  | established_title = Founded | established_date = | founder = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | governing_body = Village Board | leader_party = | leader_title = Village President | leader_name =  | 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 = 2.38 | area_total_sq_mi = 0.92 | area_land_km2 = 2.38 | area_land_sq_mi = 0.92 | area_water_km2 = 0.00 | area_water_sq_mi = 0.00  | population_as_of = 2020 | population_footnotes = | population_total = 694 | population_density_km2 = 291.26 | population_density_sq_mi = 754.35 | population_demonym =  | timezone1 = CST | utc_offset1 = -6 | timezone1_DST = CDT | utc_offset1_DST = -5 | elevation_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/> | elevation_ft = 817 | coordinates = {{coord|42|19|01|N|90|14|10|W|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = <ref name=gnis/>  | postal_code_type = ZIP code | postal_code = 61028 | area_code = 815 779 | blank_name = FIPS code | blank_info = {{FIPS|17|23165}} | blank1_name = GNIS feature ID | blank1_info = 2398800<ref name=gnis>{{GNIS|2398800}}</ref> | website = {{URL|http://www.villageofelizabethil.com/}} | footnotes = }}

'''Elizabeth''' is a village in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. The population was 694 at the 2020 census.

==History== Prior to European contact, the area where the village stands today was inhabited by the Sauk and Meskwaki peoples. It is believed that white settlers had moved into the area starting in the early 1800s due to the prominence of lead in the earth. These mines that were built in Jo Daviess County are considered to be what triggered the 1832 Black Hawk War and the devastating Bad Axe Massacre. The Apple River Fort was built in response to this conflict and on June 24 a battle ensued.<ref>{{cite web |title=History of the Apple River Fort |url=https://www.appleriverfort.org/history |website=Apple River Fort State Historic Site |publisher=Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Historic Sites |access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref> This is considered the last Native American offensive battle east of the Mississippi River.

During the battle, it is thought that a woman named Elizabeth Armstrong rallied the locals of the fort to continue the fight and assist the soldiers in any way they could. As a result of the bravery of her and the other women in the camp, the community was renamed from simply the Apple River Settlement to Elizabeth.<ref>{{cite web |title=Elizabeth History |url=https://www.villageofelizabethil.com/community/elizabeth-history.html#:~:text=The%20Village%20of%20Elizabeth%20is,attacked%20the%20Apple%20River%20Fort. |website=Elizabeth |publisher=Village of Elizabeth |access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref>

[[File:Elizabeth station.jpg|thumb|left|Elizabeth station seen c. 1900]] Elizabeth was incorporated as a village in 1868.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Elizabeth |url=https://www.villageofelizabethil.com/community/about-elizabeth.html |website=Elizabeth |publisher=Village of Elizabeth |access-date=December 2, 2024}}</ref>

In 1878 the Chicago Great Western Railroad was built through the area which caused an increase in population. Elizabeth station exists to this day and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.

==Geography== According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Elizabeth has a total area of {{convert|0.92|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>

===Climate=== {{Weather box | location = Elizabeth, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1984–present) | single line = Yes | width = auto | collapsed = Y | Jan record high F = 59 | Feb record high F = 72 | Mar record high F = 85 | Apr record high F = 88 | May record high F = 96 | Jun record high F = 101 | Jul record high F = 103 | Aug record high F = 102 | Sep record high F = 97 | Oct record high F = 91 | Nov record high F = 77 | Dec record high F = 71 | year record high F = | Jan avg record high F = 48.7 | Feb avg record high F = 53.7 | Mar avg record high F = 69.4 | Apr avg record high F = 78.4 | May avg record high F = 86.5 | Jun avg record high F = 91.4 | Jul avg record high F = 92.6 | Aug avg record high F = 91.0 | Sep avg record high F = 88.8 | Oct avg record high F = 82.2 | Nov avg record high F = 66.5 | Dec avg record high F = 52.9 | year avg record high F = 94.3 | Jan high F = 28.0 | Feb high F = 32.8 | Mar high F = 45.5 | Apr high F = 58.8 | May high F = 70.2 | Jun high F = 79.8 | Jul high F = 83.3 | Aug high F = 81.4 | Sep high F = 74.6 | Oct high F = 62.1 | Nov high F = 46.6 | Dec high F = 33.6 | year high F = | Jan mean F = 19.2 | Feb mean F = 23.5 | Mar mean F = 35.5 | Apr mean F = 47.3 | May mean F = 58.6 | Jun mean F = 68.8 | Jul mean F = 72.2 | Aug mean F = 70.1 | Sep mean F = 62.3 | Oct mean F = 50.5 | Nov mean F = 37.2 | Dec mean F = 25.3 | year mean F = | Jan low F = 10.4 | Feb low F = 14.3 | Mar low F = 25.4 | Apr low F = 35.8 | May low F = 47.1 | Jun low F = 57.7 | Jul low F = 61.2 | Aug low F = 58.8 | Sep low F = 50.0 | Oct low F = 38.9 | Nov low F = 27.8 | Dec low F = 16.9 | year low F = | Jan avg record low F = -14.6 | Feb avg record low F = -8.3 | Mar avg record low F = 6.0 | Apr avg record low F = 21.1 | May avg record low F = 31.5 | Jun avg record low F = 43.4 | Jul avg record low F = 50.6 | Aug avg record low F = 48.0 | Sep avg record low F = 35.3 | Oct avg record low F = 22.8 | Nov avg record low F = 11.3 | Dec avg record low F = -5.1 | year avg record low F = -18.8 | Jan record low F = −35 | Feb record low F = −35 | Mar record low F = -20 | Apr record low F = 9 | May record low F = 21 | Jun record low F = 33 | Jul record low F = 39 | Aug record low F = 37 | Sep record low F = 19 | Oct record low F = 9 | Nov record low F = -2 | Dec record low F = −29 | year record low F = | precipitation colour = green | Jan precipitation inch = 1.43 | Feb precipitation inch = 1.74 | Mar precipitation inch = 2.33 | Apr precipitation inch = 3.85 | May precipitation inch = 4.29 | Jun precipitation inch = 5.82 | Jul precipitation inch = 4.65 | Aug precipitation inch = 4.02 | Sep precipitation inch = 3.85 | Oct precipitation inch = 3.04 | Nov precipitation inch = 2.44 | Dec precipitation inch = 1.89 | year precipitation inch = | Jan snow inch = 8.4 | Feb snow inch = 8.1 | Mar snow inch = 3.5 | Apr snow inch = 1.1 | May snow inch = 0.0 | Jun snow inch = 0.0 | Jul snow inch = 0.0 | Aug snow inch = 0.0 | Sep snow inch = 0.0 | Oct snow inch = 0.3 | Nov snow inch = 1.9 | Dec snow inch = 6.9 | year snow inch = | unit precipitation days = 0.01 in | Jan precipitation days = 8.6 | Feb precipitation days = 8.0 | Mar precipitation days = 8.6 | Apr precipitation days = 11.0 | May precipitation days = 12.1 | Jun precipitation days = 11.7 | Jul precipitation days = 9.5 | Aug precipitation days = 9.1 | Sep precipitation days = 8.9 | Oct precipitation days = 8.8 | Nov precipitation days = 8.4 | Dec precipitation days = 9.0 | year precipitation days = | unit snow days = 0.1 in | Jan snow days = 5.4 | Feb snow days = 4.1 | Mar snow days = 2.4 | Apr snow days = 0.5 | May snow days = 0.0 | Jun snow days = 0.0 | Jul snow days = 0.0 | Aug snow days = 0.0 | Sep snow days = 0.0 | Oct snow days = 0.1 | Nov snow days = 1.1 | Dec snow days = 4.4 | year snow days = 18.0 | source 1 = NOAA<ref name= nws>{{cite web | url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=dvn | title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = July 11, 2021 | archive-date = June 26, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210626040044/https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=dvn | url-status = dead }}</ref><ref name=NCEI> {{cite web | url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00112745&format=pdf | title = Station: Elizabeth, IL | work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020) | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | access-date = July 11, 2021}}</ref> }}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1880= 507 |1890= 495 |1900= 659 |1910= 703 |1920= 687 |1930= 651 |1940= 694 |1950= 723 |1960= 729 |1970= 707 |1980= 772 |1990= 641 |2000= 682 |2010= 761 |2020= 694 |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 census<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1723165 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> there were 694 people, 510 households, and 215 families residing in the village. The population density was {{Convert|754.35|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 391 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|425.00|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the village was 95.10% White, 0.43% African American, 0.29% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.58% from other races, and 3.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.46% of the population.

There were 510 households, out of which 19.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 28.43% were married couples living together, 7.45% had a female householder with no husband present, and 57.84% were non-families. 50.59% of all households were made up of individuals, and 30.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 1.71.

The village's age distribution consisted of 14.0% under the age of 18, 9.3% from 18 to 24, 28.3% from 25 to 44, 16.7% from 45 to 64, and 31.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $54,028. Males had a median income of $35,476 versus $24,625 for females. The per capita income for the village was $30,137. About 8.8% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.3% of those under age 18 and 20.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Media== Although a settlement of modest size, Elizabeth incorporated in 1868, has a long history of printed media. It was first served by the ''Elizabeth News'', starting at the latest in 1889.<ref>[http://www.library.uiuc.edu/inp/results_full_public.php?oclc=28472141 Illinois Newspaper Project | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]</ref> In 1913 or 1914 the paper changed its name to the ''Elizabeth Weekly News''. The ''Elizabeth Weekly'' continued its publication until 1979.<ref>[http://www.library.uiuc.edu/inp/results_full_public.php?oclc=28472165 Illinois Newspaper Project | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]</ref> A second newspaper, the ''Elizabeth Times'', was published in the village from 1937 through 1955.<ref>[http://www.library.uiuc.edu/inp/results_full_public.php?oclc=22434307 Illinois Newspaper Project | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]</ref>

==Education== River Ridge Community Unit School District 210 operates area public schools, including River Ridge High School.<ref name=History>"[http://riverridge210.org/district_210/school_history.htm.pdf River Ridge Info] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180413080017/http://riverridge210.org/district_210/school_history.htm.pdf |date=April 13, 2018 }}." River Ridge Community Unit School District 210. Retrieved on July 15, 2018.</ref>

==Notable residents== * Leo E. Allen, 14-term U.S. Congressman, was born in Elizabeth. (1898−1973) * Elizabeth Armstrong, namesake of the village (1798−1857) * Andrew Bird, notable multi-instrumentalist has a farm home just outside this village. (1973− ) * John C. McKenzie, former U.S. Congressman lived most of his life in Elizabeth (1860−1941)

== References ==

==External links== *[http://www.elizabeth-il.org Elizabeth Chamber of Commerce] *[http://www.villageofelizabethil.com Village municipal website]

Category:Villages in Jo Daviess County, Illinois Category:Villages in Illinois