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The village's age distribution consisted of 29.1% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 112.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
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and gambling. The Birger and
Shelton Brothers gangs vied for control of illegal activities in the area. In April 1923, 34-year-old Joseph A. Adams, a huge man of nearly 300 pounds (140 kg) and a roadhouse operator, was elected mayor of West City. Leslie Reed was elected City Clerk. John Lairsey
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and his men. On
December 12, 1926, two of Birger's men knocked on Adams' door and told his wife they had a message for him. When Adams came to the door, they shot him in front of his wife Beulah and young daughter Arian. Sheriff Jim Pritchard gathered evidence and arrested Birger for the murder of
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There were 250 households, out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.60% were married couples living together, 19.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.20% were non-families. 37.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.40% had
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Despite West City's notorious reputation during the 1920s, churches were established by the residents. Prospect, later called First
Baptist, was the only organized church in the corporate limits of West City until 1921. Later Trinity Baptist and Harmony Freewill Baptist were established. Trinity
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On March 29, 1911, 33 citizens led by John Mulkey and represented by attorney Robert
Hickman presented a petition to Judge Thomas J. Layman of the Franklin County Court to incorporate West City as a village. At that time there were 350 inhabitants. An election was held on April 15, 1911, and six
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there were 656 people, 250 households, and 137 families residing in the village. The population density was 403.69 inhabitants per square mile (155.87/km). There were 326 housing units at an average density of 200.62 per square mile (77.46/km). The racial makeup of the village was 87.96%
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trustees were elected: Ed McIntire, J. J. Sanders, L. I. Tombly, Ben
Fletcher, Marshall Moore, and Jack Adams. On June 1, 1911, Judge Layman declared West City to be duly and legally organized under the general laws of the State of Illinois as the Village of West City.
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After the sensational downfall of the Birger gang and the repeal of the
Volstead Act in 1933, West City earned much of its income from legitimate taverns and nightclubs. During the 1940s and '50s this proved to be a very lucrative business.
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According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, West City has a total area of 1.63 square miles (4.22 km), of which 1.61 square miles (4.17 km) (or 98.95%) is land and 0.02 square miles (0.05 km) (or 1.05%) is water.
41:
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With the advent of I-57, Rend Lake Plaza was initiated in 1978. Wal-Mart and Big John's
Supermarket were completed and in operation 1979. Many restaurants and various businesses soon followed, along with two big-city stoplights.
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At one time there were three schools in West City limits: Old Jordon, Washington School and New Jordon School, located on South
Central Street across from the present West City Village Hall.
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in
Illinois. A replica of the gallows was built in the 1990s by Birchard Wampler and his late son Birchard Neil Wampler. It stands today next to the old Franklin County Jail (now a museum).
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Birger was tried in Benton and found guilty of ordering the killing, a charge he steadfastly denied. Birger was hanged in Benton on April 19, 1928, at 9:48 a.m., in the last public
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On
December 21, 1951, West City and all of Franklin County mourned 119 coal miners, who were killed in an underground explosion at C.W. & F. Orient #2 coal mine in West Frankfort.
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The median income for a household in the village was $ 37,813, and the median income for a family was $ 50,313. Males had a median income of $ 44,625 versus $ 28,750 for females. The
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split the village of West City down the middle from north to south. Preliminary work of buying homes and clearing the right of way began for the construction of Interstate 57 from
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served as Treasurer and R. E. Neunlist was Village Attorney. The six elected trustees were Bruce Panchard, C. C. Gant, George Clinton, H. E. Stewart, W.R. Rogers, and R. N. Long.
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In 1978 a new Village Hall was built and West City expanded their police department, street and water department and the volunteer fire department.
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In the late 19th century, West City was a small settlement adjoining Benton on the west. In the early 20th century many immigrants from
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someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.35 and the average family size was 2.46.
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passes through the center of West City, with access from Exit 71. I-57 leads north 23 miles (37 km) to
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for the village was $ 20,148. About 24.8% of families and 29.9% of the population were below the
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U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: West City, Illinois
450:(37.994564, -88.941639). It is bordered to the east and north by the city of
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establishing national prohibition in 1919, West City became notorious for
1312:‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
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Location of West City in Franklin County, Illinois.
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324:. The population was 656 at the 2020 census.
8:
1051:Map of Illinois highlighting Franklin County
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838:"US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990"
712:of any race were 3.35% of the population.
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58:Location of Illinois in the United States
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1362:Populated places in Southern Illinois
1352:Villages in Franklin County, Illinois
935:Village of West City official website
359:Mayor Adams aligned himself with the
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1367:Populated places established in 1911
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363:, thus becoming the bitter enemy of
1372:Polish-American culture in Illinois
462:and south 20 miles (32 km) to
383:Baptist is no longer in existence.
159:0.02 sq mi (0.04 km)
151:1.61 sq mi (4.16 km)
143:1.63 sq mi (4.21 km)
970:Municipalities and communities of
910:"Census of Population and Housing"
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18:Village in Illinois, United States
14:
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1377:1911 establishments in Illinois
1:
751:. United States Census Bureau
188:407.96/sq mi (157.52/km)
454:, the Franklin County seat.
842:United States Census Bureau
749:"2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files"
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973:Franklin County, Illinois
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347:When Congress passed the
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419:West City is located at
167:440 ft (130 m)
813:"West City, IL History"
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788:"Explore Census Data"
669:U.S. Decennial Census
479:Historical population
438:37.99444°N 88.94167°W
361:Shelton Brothers Gang
211: • Summer (
83:37.99444°N 88.94167°W
1357:Villages in Illinois
1330:United States portal
185: • Density
863:Bureau, US Census.
844:. February 12, 2011
817:genealogytrails.com
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443:37.99444; -88.94167
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279:West City, Illinois
88:37.99444; -88.94167
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25:West City, Illinois
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894:has generic name (
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316:, adjacent to the
291:.villageofwestcity
177: • Total
156: • Water
140: • Total
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865:"Gazetteer Files"
725:per capita income
720:were 96.4 males.
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368:Mayor Joe Adams.
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64:Coordinates:
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1288:Valier Patch
1243:Deering City
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1078:Freeman Spur
992:
914:. Retrieved
912:. Census.gov
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729:poverty line
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474:Demographics
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460:Mount Vernon
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349:Volstead Act
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1299:Whittington
1220:communities
1018:Christopher
988:County seat
892:|last=
702:other races
677:2020 census
441: /
353:bootlegging
318:county seat
232:ZIP Code(s)
86: /
1346:Categories
1283:Steel City
1206:Mulkeytown
1095:North City
869:Census.gov
735:References
675:As of the
429:88°56′30″W
426:37°59′40″N
268:feature ID
172:Population
74:88°56′30″W
71:37°59′40″N
1308:Footnotes
1278:Rend City
1273:Plumfield
1168:Frankfort
1125:Townships
1115:West City
1089:Macedonia
848:April 23,
755:March 15,
415:Geography
392:In 1963,
338:Lithuania
302:West City
256:FIPS code
244:Area code
194:Time zone
164:Elevation
1293:West End
1268:Pershing
1238:Cleburne
1183:Six Mile
1178:Northern
1143:Browning
1100:Royalton
1084:Hanaford
1060:Villages
884:cite web
874:June 29,
822:June 15,
797:June 28,
706:Hispanic
696:, 0.00%
692:, 1.07%
688:, 0.76%
684:, 1.22%
314:Illinois
260:17-80073
129:Browning
125:Township
119:Franklin
110:Illinois
1263:Parrish
1158:Eastern
1153:Denning
1068:Buckner
1038:Zeigler
916:June 4,
398:Chicago
373:hanging
328:History
306:village
284:Website
99:Country
33:Village
1253:Kegley
1248:Frisco
1188:Tyrone
1138:Benton
1133:Barren
1110:Valier
1028:Sesser
1023:Orient
1013:Benton
1005:Cities
995:Benton
710:Latino
619:−15.7%
589:−21.7%
574:−24.7%
529:107.8%
484:Census
464:Marion
452:Benton
334:Poland
322:Benton
271:420808
115:County
1258:Meyer
1216:Other
1173:Goode
1163:Ewing
1073:Ewing
694:Asian
682:White
664:−0.8%
649:−7.7%
634:−4.1%
604:39.1%
554:1,081
544:−6.8%
539:1,017
524:1,091
402:Cairo
304:is a
237:62812
220:UTC-5
199:UTC-6
107:State
1228:Akin
1148:Cave
918:2015
896:help
876:2022
850:2011
824:2022
799:2022
757:2022
655:2020
640:2010
625:2000
610:1990
595:1980
580:1970
565:1960
559:6.3%
550:1950
535:1940
520:1930
505:1920
493:Note
488:Pop.
293:.com
266:GNIS
135:Area
1198:CDP
708:or
659:656
644:661
629:716
614:747
599:886
584:637
569:814
509:525
400:to
320:of
308:in
289:www
249:618
224:CDT
213:DST
203:CST
180:656
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