West City
Village
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Franklin
Coordinates	37°59′40″N 88°56′30″W / 37.99444, -88.94167
Area	1.6 sq mi (4 km²)
- land	1.6 sq mi (4 km²)
Population	716 (2000)
Density	443.7 /sq mi (171 /km²)
Timezone	CST (UTC-6)
- summer (DST)	CDT (UTC-5)
Postal code	62812
Area code	618
Location of West City within Illinois
Wikimedia Commons: West City, Illinois

West City is a village in Franklin County, Illinois, adjacent to the county seat of Benton, Illinois. The population was 716 at the 2000 census.

History

In the late 1800's, West City was a small settlement adjoining Benton on the west. In the early 1900's many immigrants from Poland, Lithuania and England settled in the West City area to work in the many coal mines.

March 29, 1911, 33 citizens led by John Mulkey and represented by their Attorney Robert Hickman, presented a petition to Judge Thomas J. Layman, of the Franklin County Court, to incorporate West City, Illinois as a Village. At that time there were 350 inhabitants. An election was held April 15, 1911 and six Trustees where elected. They were: 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.

When Congress passed the Volstead (Prohibition) Act in 1919, West City became notorious for bootlegging and gambling. The Birger and Shelton gangs vied for control of the wide-open village. In April 1923, Joe Adams, a bigly man (280-300 lbs.) and roadhouse operator, was elected Mayor of the Village of West City Leslie Reed was elected City Clerk John Lairsey served as Treasurer and R. E. Neunlist was Village Attorney. The six elected Trustees were as follows: Bruce Panchard, C. C. Gant, George Clinton, H. E. Stewart, W.R. Rogers, and R. N. Long. Mayor Adams aligned himself with the Shelton's and became the bitter enemy of Charlie Birger. On December 12, 1926, two of Birger's hired young assassins knocked on Mayor Adams door and informed his wife they had a message for him. When the Mayor came to the door, they gunned him down in front of his wife Beulah and young daughter Arian. Sheriff Jim Pritchard gathered evidence and arrested Charlie Birger for the murder of Mayor Joe Adams. He was tried in Benton, Franklin County, and found guilty and hanged by the neck on April 19, 1927, at 9:48 a.m. A replica of the gallows and hangman's noose were built by Carpenter Birchard Wampler and his late son Birchard Neil Wampler in the early 1990's. They remain standing today next to the old Franklin County Jail turned Museum in Benton.

After the sensational downfall of the Birger gang and the repeal of the Volstead Act, the Village of West City earned much of their income from legitimate taverns and nightclubs. During the 40's and 50's this proved to be a very lucrative business.

In spite of, or because of the notorious reputation West City endured during the 20's, there were Churches established by the God-fearing West City 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 Baptist is no longer in existence.

At one time there were three schools in West City limits; Old Jordon, Washington School and New Jordon located on South Central Street across the street from the present West City Village Hall. The folks of West City wanted their children educated. On December 21, 1951, West City and all of Franklin County mourned 119 coal miners, who were tragically killed in an underground explosion at C.W. & F. Orient #2 coal mine in West Frankfort. Every village, town and city in Franklin County was affected by this tragedy. The loss was devastating.

In 1963, Interstate 57 split the Village of West City down the middle from North to South. Preliminary work of buying homes and clearing sites began in West City for the eventual construction of Interstate 57 to run from Chicago on the North to Cairo on the South. Actual construction began in 1964. Completion of I-57 from Chicago to Cairo took a period of approximate 10 years (1964-1974).

The 70's were a progressive and growing time for the Village of West City. 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. Our violent, controversial and colorful past was now behind us. West City was now on the move and on the map.

In 1978 a new Village Hall was built and West City expanded their Police Department, Street & Water Department and Volunteer Fire Department.

The 80's and 90's have been a time of peace and prosperity for West City, with a large part of our income being funneled back into the Village. We have come a long way from dirt roads and outhouses. We have overcome our adverse past.

West City is proudly headed for the coming years with Rend Lake Plaza still growing 50 active shops, restaurants, motels, gas stations, and industrial businesses, etc. We boast our own water and sewer systems, and a great network of asphalt streets. We are proud of who we are and what we have accomplished.

Geography

West City is located at 37°59′40″N, 88°56′30″W (37.994564, -88.941639)^[1].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2000, there were 716 people, 305 households, and 193 families residing in the village. The population density was 443.7 people per square mile (171.7/km²). There were 330 housing units at an average density of 204.5/sq mi (79.1/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.21% White, 0.56% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.14% Asian, and 1.82% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.42% of the population.

There were 305 households out of which 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 13.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the village the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 24.3% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.8 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $21,250, and the median income for a family was $28,155. Males had a median income of $21,000 versus $18,333 for females. The per capita income for the village was $12,328. About 18.5% of families and 22.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.9% of those under age 18 and 13.5% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.

External links

• West City, Illinois is at coordinates 37°59′40″N 88°56′30″W / 37.994564, -88.941639 (West City, Illinois)Coordinates: 37°59′40″N 88°56′30″W / 37.994564, -88.941639 (West City, Illinois)
• Village Website

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Franklin County, Illinois County seat: Benton City Benton | Christopher | Orient | Sesser | West Frankfort | Zeigler Villages Buckner | Ewing | Freeman Spur | Hanaford | Macedonia | North City | Royalton | Thompsonville | Valier | West City Townships Barren | Benton | Browning | Cave | Denning | Eastern | Ewing | Frankfort | Goode | Northern | Six Mile | Tyrone