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Coordinates: 39°28′39″N 88°21′44″W / 39.47750°N 88.36222°W / 39.47750; -88.36222
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{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Geobox|Settlement
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- *** Heading *** -->
| name = Mattoon
| name = Mattoon, Illinois
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| settlement_type = [[List of cities in Illinois|City]]
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| image_caption = [[Starr Hotel]], built in 1888 and listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]
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| named_for = William Mattoon
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| area_code = [[Area_code_217#United_States|217]]<!-- This can be replaced with [[Area code XXX|XXX]] -->
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<!-- Illinois Locator Map.PNG -->
| map_caption = Location of Mattoon within Illinois
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| map_locator = Illinois2
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| commons = Mattoon, Illinois
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<!-- *** Footnotes *** -->
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}}
'''Mattoon''' is a city in [[Coles County, Illinois|Coles County]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]]. The population was 18,291 as of the 2000 census. It is a principal city of the [[Charleston, Illinois|Charleston]]&ndash;Mattoon [[Charleston-Mattoon micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].


'''Mattoon''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|m|æ|t|.|t|u|n}} {{respell|MAT|toon}})<ref>{{cite web |title=Cities – Illinois Pronunciation Guide |url=https://publish.illinois.edu/pronunciation-guide/villages/cities/ |publisher=[[University of Illinois College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences]] |access-date=2 August 2022}}</ref> is a city in [[Coles County, Illinois]], United States. The population was 16,870 as of the 2020 census. The city is home to [[Lake Land College]] and has close ties with its neighbor, [[Charleston, Illinois|Charleston]]. Both are principal cities of the [[Charleston–Mattoon, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area|Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area]].
Mattoon was the site of the "[[The Mad Gasser of Mattoon|Mad Gasser]]" attacks of the 1940s.


== History ==
==History==
{{Unreferenced section|date=April 2010}}
Early settlers from the South lived in forested areas along the headwaters of the Little Wabash River to the southwest of the present town. They distrusted the prairie, which they saw as the source of fevers.


===Early history===
The history of Mattoon is tied to that of local [[railroad]]s. In 1853, railroad surveyors from the [[Illinois Central Railroad]] and [[Terre Haute and Alton Railroad]] found their railroads would cross in the Mattoon area, and a burst of investment and land [[speculation]] began. The two railroads raced to the meeting point, on the understanding that the first to arrive would not have to pay to maintain the crossing. Local settlers marked out the plots for sale with pegs, and the village was originally known as "Pegtown."
One of the main factors determining the settlement of Mattoon and [[Coles County]] in general was the topography. Coles County straddled a timberline in the southern half and [[prairie]] in the north. The forested areas were primarily fed by two major rivers: the [[Embarras River (Illinois)|Embarras River]] in the east and the Kaskaskia in the west. The prairie, known as the "Grand Prairie", was generally wet and swampy. An early historian described the geography:


"Away from the timber to the north, the face of the country is generally quite level, broken only by long undulations. It is almost entirely prairie land in this part, and was allowed to remain uncultivated until after the opening of the railroads. It was largely used for pasturage during this period, and often presented signs of great animation as the herds of cattle, under the care of their drovers, moved about over its grassy, slightly undulating surface."<ref name="rootsweb.ancestry.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilcoletp/history/history_of/history_of_coles_county.htm|title=RootsWeb.com Home Page|website=www.rootsweb.ancestry.com|access-date=30 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202001631/http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ilcoletp/history/history_of/history_of_coles_county.htm|archive-date=2 February 2017}}</ref>
In 1861, the town was officially named after William B. Mattoon, the chief construction engineer working for the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad. The reason for this honor is unclear; some say he won the naming rights because his rail crew arrived first. Others say he beat other claimants in a card game, or that Pegtown residents hoped the wealthy Mattoon would invest in the town if they named it after him. With its combination of excellent transportation and remarkably fertile [[prairie]] soils, Mattoon expanded rapidly. By the dawn of the 20th century, Mattoon's growing population and rail access brought manufacturing and industry.


Groves could be found scattered throughout the area. Early settlers to the area started homesteads in the timberline, which provided building materials and fuel. Since the vast majority of early settlers came from wooded areas of [[Indiana]], [[Kentucky]], and [[Tennessee]] (by way of the Ohio and Wabash River valleys), the forests also provided a sense of familiarity.
In 1856, The first two babies were born in Mattoon, Charles Cartmell in July and Mollie Puff in September.


In 1826, Kentucky émigré Charles Sawyer became the first white man known to settle in the Mattoon area, just north of the timberline (known as the Wabash Point Timber) along the Little Wabash River. Levi Doty built Sawyer's cabin while the latter returned to Kentucky to retrieve the rest of his family. Within a year, a few families very quickly settled around Sawyer in the area of Paradise Township, including Dr. John Epperson, the county's first physician. Settlers built log cabins using pegs (no iron or nails). "The luxuries of life were generally not seen the first years of the settlement, but appeared as the residents could obtain them."<ref name="rootsweb.ancestry.com"/>
On the night before the [[Lincoln-Douglas debate]] of September 18, 1858, at the Coles County Fairgrounds, both Lincoln and Douglas had slept in nearby Mattoon, [http://www.colescounty.net/history_lincoln.html],[http://www.vanguardnewsnetwork.com/lettersOct-Nov03/10804bradleyusher2.htm].
On June 17, 1861, General [[Ulysses S. Grant]] took his first post of the [[American Civil War]] when he assumed command of the [[21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment| 21st Illinois Infantry]] in Mattoon.


[[Corn]] was planted and remained a staple crop. Gardens of potatoes and other vegetables were maintained. Hogs, which ran wild in the woods, provided pork, while "deer, bears, wild turkeys, and prairie chickens provided an abundant supply of wild meat." Wolves proved troublesome to domesticated animals.<ref name="rootsweb.ancestry.com"/>
In 1865, [[Amish]] settlers began a community to the north near [[Arthur, IL]]. Amish farmstands and horse-drawn buggies are not uncommon sights in the northern part of Mattoon today.


The first school was established in 1827–28 in the [[Paradise Township, Coles County, Illinois|Paradise Township]], taking place in a makeshift cabin and taught by James Waddill. The costs were $2.50-3.00 per student. School was maintained in this location until 1844–45, when the first real schoolhouse was built in what would become Mattoon. That year, the Illinois State Legislature passed its first school laws, making Mattoon a forerunner for early education in the state.
In the 1890s, Mattoon led the successful campaign to have a proposed college in eastern Illinois located in Coles County. The citizens were chagrined when neighboring [[Charleston, IL|Charleston]] was chosen as the home of the future [[Eastern Illinois University]] instead.


As the population grew, demand for a local government increased. On Christmas Day, 1830, Coles County was established. The county was named after [[Edward Coles]], the second governor in Illinois who served from 1822 to 1826.<ref name="Coles County, Illinois">{{cite web|url=http://www.co.coles.il.us/genInfo.html|title=Coles County, Illinois|website=www.co.coles.il.us|access-date=30 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170915003402/http://www.co.coles.il.us/genInfo.html|archive-date=15 September 2017}}</ref> Settlers in the Mattoon area remained poor and humble, but their community remained close knit.
On May 26, 1917, the town was devastated by a tornado which killed 101 people.


In 1836, "Old State Road", which runs along the southern end of town, became one of the first trails to be established in the Mattoon area. Another trail, the Kaskaskia Pass, traveled past what was known as "The Lone Elm Tree", a natural landmark that helped guide visitors and newcomers. The tree was cut down on August 1, 1950, due to disease. A plaque at the corner of 32nd Street and Western Avenue marks the location of this important landmark.
In 1940, the discovery of [[petroleum]] reserves in the countryside immediately surrounding Mattoon led to a small "oil boom" in the 1940s and 1950s, bringing with it economic benefits and increased civic pride. Oil extraction continues to be an important economic activity. In 1966, [[Lake Land College]] was built just south of the city. The [[community college]] offers degrees for immediate employment and pre-university education.


===1850–1900===
Mattoon was home to several minor-league teams in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The last stadium, with a capacity of approximately 2,000 seats, was torn down in the late 1950s, but the city maintains a strong [[Baseball]] tradition. Mattoon still has a thriving junior league and hosted many junior league regionals and World Series.
[[File:Unity Church in Mattoon.jpg|right|thumb|Unity Church, erected in 1872 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places]]
The growth and subsequent history of Mattoon is tied to that of local [[railroad]]s.<ref>[http://mattoonhistory.home.mchsi.com/ Mattoon History Page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110108034120/http://mattoonhistory.home.mchsi.com/ |date=2011-01-08 }} Accessed January 12, 2013</ref> In 1854, railroad surveyors from the [[Illinois Central Railroad]] and [[Terre Haute and Alton Railroad]] found their railroads would cross in the Mattoon area, and a burst of investment and land [[speculation]] began. The two railroads raced to the meeting point, on the understanding that the first to arrive would not have to pay to maintain the crossing. The community that had grown in the area of swamp grass and prairie came to be known as "Pegtown", which referred to the pegs (stakes) used to demarcate lots to be sold at public auction. Among the speculators were Elisha Linder, Ebenezer Noyes, James T. Cunningham, Stephen D. Dole, John L. Allison, and John Cunningham. Land was purchased for $2.50 per acre. On December 12, 1854, County Surveyor John Meadows laid out the town.


The 1850s saw a flurry of activity for the emerging town. In 1855, the first houses were built. Benjamin Turney used 16 yoke of oxen to drag his home from a farm three miles away, while R. H. McFadden built his home near the area of present-day First Street and Prairie Avenue. In May that year, "Pegtown" lots were auctioned. On June 9, 1855, the first train arrived on the Terre Haute Alton Railroad.<ref name="Coles County, Illinois"/> In July, the Pennsylvania House became the first hotel in town, operating at the present-day 1600 block of Broadway Avenue. That month the first post office was established, with James M. True serving as postmaster. In September, Rev. Isaac Hart performed the town's first wedding, marrying Sarah Norvell and R. H. McFadden.
== Recent history and current issues ==
Traditionally a bastion of manufacturing, Mattoon has been challenged by the loss of several major plants in the last two decades. On December 18, 2007, Mattoon was chosen to be the site of the [[U.S. Department of Energy]]'s [[FutureGen]] [[power plant]], which is a clean-coal gasification project that will build a near [[zero emission|zero-emissions]] coal-fueled power plant with the intention of producing hydrogen and electricity while using carbon capture and storage.<ref>[http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/futuregen/ 1]</ref>


The next year, 1856, saw the creation of the first newspaper. The weekly "Independent Gazette" published four page, seven-column editions. In that same year, the first public school was established (at 1307 Champaign Ave.). In 1856, the first two babies were born in Mattoon, Charles Cartmell in July and Mollie Puff in September. By now, the rapidly growing town had more than 100 buildings. Between 1856 and 1857, the first Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Christian, and Presbyterian churches were formed.
In 2009, the America’s Power Factuality Tour stopped at Mattoon, Ill., to report on its role in generating electricity in the United States. <ref name="Factuality Tour">{{cite web|url=http://factualitytour.americaspower.org/mattoon-illinois-future-clean-coal-technology|title=America's Power Factuality Tour 2009|accessdate=2009-08-27}}</ref>


In May 1857, residents voted to incorporate the town, with 65 votes for and 25 votes against. Also in 1857, ordinances passed forbidding drunkenness, working on Sunday, disturbing public or religious meetings, gaming, leaving carcasses on the streets, littering, obstructing sidewalks, and driving fast horses. In 1858, the first public park was created with a land deed from John Allison and James and John Cunningham. The park remains and is today called Allison–Cunningham Park.
After the arrival of the [[Lender's Bagels]] factory in 1986, Mattoon became the self-declared "[[Bagel]] Capital of the World." The town is also home to the world's largest bagel and an annual summer event called "Lenders Bagelfest."


On the night before the fourth [[Lincoln–Douglas debates|Lincoln-Douglas debate]] of September 18, 1858, at the [[Coles County]] Fairgrounds, both [[Abraham Lincoln]] and [[Stephen A. Douglas]] slept in nearby Mattoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colescounty.net/history_lincoln.html|title=colescounty.net|website=www.colescounty.net|access-date=30 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041215120537/http://www.colescounty.net/history_lincoln.html|archive-date=15 December 2004}}</ref> Lincoln slept in the Essex House hotel, a popular hotel in those times. He addressed a small crowd from his hotel room. The Essex House, the third brick building in town, opened on the southwest corner of the railroad intersection with Union Station located on the lower story. The Essex House served as hotel, restaurant, and ticket office for both railroads. Later, [[Ulysses S. Grant]] would also use the hotel. Today, the mural "Civility" (2009), located in Progress Square, commemorates the arrival of the railroad and depicts the Essex House and both Lincoln and Douglas. "The Lone Elm Tree" occupies the center of the mural.
Mattoon is also known as the home to the "original" [[Burger King (Mattoon, Illinois)|Burger King]].


In 1861, the town was officially named after William B. Mattoon, the chief construction engineer working for the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad and partner of the Massachusetts firm "Phelps, Mattoon, and Barnes." The reason for the honor is unclear; some say he won the naming rights because his rail crew arrived first. Others say he beat other claimants in a card game, or that Pegtown residents hoped the wealthy Mattoon would invest in the town if they named it after him. With its combination of excellent transportation and remarkably fertile [[prairie]] soils, Mattoon expanded rapidly. By the dawn of the 20th century, Mattoon's growing population and rail access brought manufacturing and industry.
== Education ==
Mattoon is served by [[Mattoon Community Unit School District 2]], one of three school districts located in the county of Coles. The district itself is composed of four schools and the "Neil Armstrong Program at Hawthorne School," of which serves to educate the Developmentally Disabled Children


On June 17, 1861, General [[Ulysses S. Grant]] took his first post of the [[American Civil War]] when he assumed command of the [[21st Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment|21st Illinois Infantry]] in Mattoon. The flagpole from General Grant's camp was preserved and is on display at the Mattoon Public Library.
[[Lake Land College]] is a [[community college]] in Mattoon.


In 1865, [[Amish]] settlers began a community to the north near [[Arthur, Illinois|Arthur]]. Amish farm stands and horse-drawn buggies are not uncommon sights in the northern part of Mattoon today.
==Transportation==
Transportation is still a vital part of local economic life. Much of the major commercial development in recent years has occurred along [[Interstate 57]], which crosses the eastern edge of Mattoon.


In the 1890s, Mattoon led the successful campaign to have a proposed college in eastern Illinois located in Coles County. The citizens were chagrined when neighboring [[Charleston, Illinois|Charleston]] was chosen as the home of the future [[Eastern Illinois University]] instead.
===Rail transportation===
{{See also|Mattoon (Amtrak station)}}
[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service to Mattoon. Amtrak Train 59, the southbound [[City of New Orleans]], is scheduled to depart Mattoon at 11:13pm daily with service to Effingham, Centralia, [[Carbondale, Illinois|Carbondale]], Fulton, Newbern-Dyersburg, [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], Greenwood, Yazoo City, [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]], Hazlehurst, Brookhaven, McComb, Hammond, and [[New Orleans]]. Amtrak Train 58, the northbound City of New Orleans, is scheduled to depart Mattoon at 5:23am daily with service to [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign-Urbana]], Kankakee, Homewood, and [[Union Station (Chicago)|Chicago]]. Mattoon is also served by Amtrak Train 390/391, the [[Saluki (Amtrak)|Saluki]], daily in the morning, and Amtrak Train 392/393, the [[Illini (Amtrak)|Illini]], daily in the afternoon/evening. Both the Saluki and the Illini operate between Chicago and Carbondale.


===20th century===
The Illinois Central Station in the heart of downtown Mattoon is badly decaying, and local activists have sought funding for years to restore it. 2.5 million [[US dollar|dollars]] were obtained for it via the [[Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users|2005 Transportation Bill]]. Today the station is unmanned; passengers boarding at the Mattoon station must order their tickets by telephone or online.
[[File:Mattoon Illinois tornado damage.jpg|right|thumb|1917 tornado damage in Mattoon]]
On [[Tornado outbreak sequence of May 25–June 1, 1917|May 26, 1917]], the town was devastated by an [[Fujita scale|F4 tornado]] which killed 101 people and injured approximately 638 people. The tornado was Illinois's third-deadliest tornado disaster.<ref>The Mattoon/Charleston Tornado of May 26, 1917, from the National Weather Service [https://www.weather.gov/ilx/26may1917] Retrieved 26 December 2020.</ref>

In 1932, the Kuehne Manufacturing Co. began producing dinette sets at their new plant on the south side of Mattoon. Its early sets were wooden, but by the 1950s Kuehne was making the chromed metal breakfast-room sets so popular during that decade. The company closed in 1965. Today, Kuehne dinette sets are prized by collectors of [[mid-century modern]] furniture.
The 1940 discovery of [[petroleum]] reserves near Mattoon led to a small "oil boom" over the next two decades, bringing with it economic benefits and increased civic pride. Oil extraction continues to be an important economic activity.

Mattoon was the site of the "[[The Mad Gasser of Mattoon|Mad Gasser]]" attacks of the 1940s.

In 1966, [[Lake Land College]] was built just south of the city. The [[community college]] offers degrees for immediate employment and pre-university education.

The [[Burger King (Mattoon, Illinois)|Burger King]] &mdash; unrelated to the Florida-based fast food chain [[Burger King]] &mdash; is a Mattoon restaurant whose owners claim it is the "original" Burger King. In 1968, they sued the national chain Burger King, producing a well-known case in United States trademark law. The federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that federal trademark registration has priority over state law, giving the national Burger King chain rights to the name beyond a 20-mile radius around the original Burger King. Today, the closest Burger King franchise location is 25 miles away in [[Tuscola, Illinois]].

Mattoon was home to several minor-league baseball teams in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The last stadium, with about 2,000 seats, was torn down in the late 1950s. Today, the city has a thriving junior league and has hosted many junior league regionals and World Series.

===21st century===
Traditionally a bastion of manufacturing, Mattoon has lost several major plants in the last two decades. On December 18, 2007, the [[U.S. Department of Energy]] chose the city as the site of its [[FutureGen]] project, a [[zero emission|zero-emissions]] coal-fueled [[power plant]] that was to make hydrogen and electricity while using [[carbon capture and storage]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/futuregen/|title=Office of Clean Coal and Carbon Management - Department of Energy|website=www.fossil.energy.gov|access-date=30 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215171039/http://fossil.energy.gov/programs/powersystems/futuregen/|archive-date=15 February 2013}}</ref> Three years later, the city rejected the proposal after DoE announced its intention to retrofit an existing power plant in Meredosia instead of building a new one in Mattoon.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/11/illinois-town-backs-out-o_n_679344.html|title=2|website=huffingtonpost.com|access-date=30 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307232544/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/11/illinois-town-backs-out-o_n_679344.html|archive-date=7 March 2016}}</ref>

In 2000, Mattoon native Clyde D. Hood was indicted for the [[Omega Trust]] scam, a 1994–95 scam that brought in around $10 million and was one of the largest in U.S. history. Hood and accomplices bought businesses in the Mattoon area, including the Blue Bird Diner, a longtime family favorite in the small town.

The 1986 arrival of the [[Lender's Bagels]] factory led Mattoon to dub itself the "[[Bagel]] Capital of the World." Home to the world's largest bagel, the town holds a weeklong family festival, "Lenders Bagelfest", at the end of July. The main event is a 3-day weekend festival held in Peterson Park near downtown, featuring food and craft vendors, local organizations, rides such as the [[Ferris wheel]] and the [[Tilt-A-Whirl]], and morning community events such as The Big Bagel Breakfast and Bagel Bingo. A beauty pageant crowns winners in various age groups, who ride in the parade held on the Saturday morning of the event. The festival features concerts by local and national musicians. In 2009, [[Zac Brown Band]] headlined the festival; others have included [[Night Ranger]], [[38 Special (band)|38 Special]], [[Jason Aldean]], [[The Marshall Tucker Band]], [[Travis Tritt]], and [[Ronnie Milsap]]. There is also a Christian night featuring contemporary Christian musicians such as [[Building 429]] and [[Remedy Drive]].

[[General Electric]] closed since the need for traditional lighting has decreased.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://will.illinois.edu/news/story/ge-lighting-to-close-mattoon-lamp-plant-by-august-2017|title=GE Lighting To Close Mattoon Lamp Plant By August 2017|date=12 August 2016|website=illinois.edu|access-date=30 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180430004325/https://will.illinois.edu/news/story/ge-lighting-to-close-mattoon-lamp-plant-by-august-2017|archive-date=30 April 2018}}</ref> The plant opened in the 1940s and has remained a staple ever since. On January 15, 2020, LSC Communications announced they would be closing their Mattoon facility. LSC Communications was Mattoon's largest employer.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://jg-tc.com/news/local/structural-changes-in-the-industry-lsc-communications-inc-to-close-mattoon-manufacturing-facility/article_a49a89e9-da35-5831-85fd-6a950c8f27ac.html |title='Structural changes in the industry': LSC Communications Inc. To close Mattoon manufacturing facility |date=January 14, 2020 }}</ref> Affiliates of Phoenix Investors purchased LSC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://phoenixinvestors.com/articles/former-lsc-plant-in-mattoon-has-new-owner/ |title=Former LSC plant in Mattoon has new owner |date=January 8, 2021 }}</ref>


==Geography==
==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 9.3&nbsp;[[square mile]]s (24.1&nbsp;[[km²]]), all of it land. Nearby rivers have been dammed to form Lake Paradise and Lake Mattoon south of the city.
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Mattoon has a total area of {{convert|10.32|sqmi|km2|2}}, of which {{convert|10.31|sqmi|km2|2}} (or 99.96%) is land and {{convert|0.00|sqmi|km2|2}} (or 0.04%) is water.<ref name="gaz2021">{{Cite web |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> Nearby rivers have been dammed to form Lake Paradise and Lake Mattoon south of the city.


The terminal [[moraine]] of the [[Wisconsin Glacier]] is located just to the south of Mattoon. Heading south on I-57 there is an impressive vista from the top of the moraine at the south Mattoon exit. While the moraine is of Wisconsinan age (about 10,000 years before present), the land to the south is of Illinoian age (about 100,000 years before present). The small [[oil field]] to the south of the moraine is also attributed to glacial activity: The weight of the glacier to the north created cracks in the underlying bedrock. Oil collected adjacent to these cracks.
The terminal [[moraine]] of the [[Wisconsin Glacier]] is located just to the south of Mattoon. Heading south on I-57 there is an impressive vista from the top of the moraine at the south Mattoon exit. While the moraine is of Wisconsinan age (about 10,000 years before present), the land to the south is of Illinoian age (about 100,000 years before present). The small [[oil field]] to the south of the moraine is also attributed to glacial activity: The weight of the glacier to the north created cracks in the underlying bedrock. Oil collected adjacent to these cracks.


==Demographics==
==Demographics==
{{US Census population
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 18,291 people, 8,105 households, and 4,676 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 1,964.8 people per square mile (758.6/km²). There were 8,830 housing units at an average density of 948.5/sq&nbsp;mi (366.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.64% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.42% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.18% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.41% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.41% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.93% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.27% of the population.
|1880= 5737
|1890= 6833
|1900= 9622
|1910= 11456
|1920= 13552
|1930= 14631
|1940= 15827
|1950= 17547
|1960= 19088
|1970= 19681
|1980= 19293
|1990= 18441
|2000= 18291
|2010= 18555
|2020= 16870
|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>
}}
Mattoon is a principal city of the [[Charleston, Illinois|Charleston]]&ndash;Mattoon [[Charleston-Mattoon micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].


As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1747553 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref> there were 16,870 people, 7,662 households, and 4,187 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|1,635.01|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 8,685 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|841.73|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 89.25% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.25% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.24% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.66% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 1.03% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 5.56% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 3.05% of the population.
There were 8,105 households out of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.21 and the average family size was 2.87.


In the city the population was spread out with 22.3% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
There were 7,662 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.18% were married couples living together, 15.56% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.35% were non-families. 39.04% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.99% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 2.19.


The city's age distribution consisted of 21.6% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 26% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $31,800, and the median income for a family was $43,780. Males had a median income of $32,339 versus $21,949 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,186. About 7.6% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.5% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.


The median income for a household in the city was $40,576, and the median income for a family was $56,307. Males had a median income of $34,280 versus $28,271 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $24,615. About 14.8% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 33.6% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.
==Notable People==

* [[Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin]], geologist.
==Economy==
* [[Patricia Roberts Harris]], US Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, last US Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare, first US Secretary of Health and Human Services in [[Presidency of Jimmy Carter|Carter administration]] and first [[African American]] woman to serve as a [[Ambassadors of the United States|US Ambassador]], representing US in [[Luxembourg]], and the first African American woman to enter line of succession to the Presidency.
Mattoon is home to several companies. [[Rural King]], which is a large retailer for agricultural supplies, has its headquarters located on the west side of town off of Dewitt Avenue. Other companies who have heavy focus in the area include [[Consolidated Communications]], which is headquartered on Charleston Avenue, as well [[First Mid Bank & Trust]], which has several important corporate facilities in the area. Other manufacturing plants include a [[Bimbo Bakeries USA]] plant, a [[Mars, Incorporated]] pet food plant, and Justrite. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System and [[Carle Foundation Hospital]] provide many jobs in health care for Mattoon and its neighboring towns and communities, such as Charleston. Both hospitals and facilities are located right off the East side of Interstate 57, heading toward Charleston.
* [[Edward Mills Purcell]], physicist, [[Nobel Laureate]], educated in Mattoon's public schools. <ref>[http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1952/purcell-bio.html]</ref>.

* [[Hope Summers]], actress, known for recurring role on ''[[The Andy Griffith Show]]''.
The [[Cross County Mall (Illinois)|Cross County Mall]] is the area's major shopping center. It opened in 1971 and it features [[Rural King]], [[Marshalls]], [[Jo-Ann Stores|Jo-Ann Fabrics]], and [[Dunham's Sports]] as its anchor locations. [[Coles Together]] is a non-profit economic development organization for Coles County based in Mattoon.
* [[Bill Tate]], former head coach of the Wake Forest college football program, Mattoon High School graduate.

* [[Arland D. Williams Jr.]], hero of [[Air Florida Flight 90]], was born in Mattoon, where an elementary school is named for him.
==Education==
Mattoon is served by [[Mattoon Community Unit School District 2]], one of three school districts located in the county of Coles. The district itself is composed of six schools-Franklin Preschool, Williams Elementary, Riddle Elementary, Mattoon Middle School, and [[Mattoon High School]]. A new Regional Innovation Center called LIFT opened in 2022.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://herald-review.com/lift-vocational-training-center-in-mattoon-opens-for-classes/article_9903440a-27e5-11ed-abff-77449e139b67.html|title=LIFT vocational training center in Mattoon opens for classeswebsite=www.herald-review.com| date=August 29, 2022 |access-date=September 4, 2023}}</ref>

Mattoon is also home to two private schools. St. John’s Lutheran School (PreK-8) and Maranatha Christian Academy (K-12).

[[Lake Land College]] is a [[community college]] in Mattoon.

==Transportation==
Transportation is still a vital part of local economic life. Much of the major commercial development in recent years has occurred along [[Interstate 57]], which crosses the eastern edge of Mattoon. [[US Route 45]] also makes its way through the city. The south end forms into Lake Land Boulevard, while the north end begins off of Dewitt Avenue.

===Rail===
{{See also|Mattoon (Amtrak station)}}
[[File:Amtrak Shawnee at Mattoon, February 1976.jpg|right|thumb|[[Amtrak]] ''[[Shawnee (train)|Shawnee]]'' at Mattoon station, 1976]]
[[Amtrak]], the national passenger rail system, provides service to Mattoon. Amtrak Train 59, the southbound ''[[City of New Orleans (train)|City of New Orleans]]'', is scheduled to depart Mattoon at 11:13pm daily with service to Effingham, [[Centralia, Illinois|Centralia]], [[Carbondale, Illinois|Carbondale]], Fulton, Newbern-Dyersburg, [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]], Greenwood, Yazoo City, [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]], Hazlehurst, Brookhaven, McComb, Hammond, and [[New Orleans]]. Amtrak Train 58, the northbound ''City of New Orleans'', is scheduled to depart Mattoon at 5:23am daily with service to [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign-Urbana]], Kankakee, Homewood, and [[Union Station (Chicago)|Chicago]]. Mattoon is also served by Amtrak Train 390/391, the ''[[Saluki (Amtrak)|Saluki]]'', daily in the morning, and Amtrak Train 392/393, the ''[[Illini (Amtrak)|Illini]]'', daily in the afternoon/evening. Both the ''Saluki'' and the ''Illini'' operate between Chicago and Carbondale.

The Illinois Central Station in the heart of downtown Mattoon has recently been totally renovated. It is handicap accessible with an elevator to the lower level train platform. Funding of $2.5 million was obtained for it via the [[Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users|2005 Transportation Bill]]. Today the station is unmanned; passengers boarding at the Mattoon station must order their tickets by telephone or online.

===Public transit===
{{See also|Coles County Zipline}}
Transit service in Mattoon is provided by [[Dial-A-Ride Rural Public Transportation]], which provides deviated fixed-route and [[Demand-responsive transport|demand-response]] services.

== 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 Mattoon, whether born, raised, or residing.
· The fact rof their association should have a reliable source cited.
· Alphabetical by last name please.
· All others will be deleted.
-->*
{{div col}}
* [[Leverett Baldwin]], Illinois state representative
* [[Hayden Birdsong]], Major League Baseball pitcher for the [[San Francisco Giants]]
* [[Thomas Chrowder Chamberlin]], geologist
* [[William Cook (entrepreneur)|William Cook]], founded medical products manufacturer The Cook Group
* [[Merab Eberle]], journalist and playwright
* [[Gadabout Gaddis|Roscoe Vernon "Gadabout" Gaddis]], host of nationally syndicated TV show about [[fly fishing]]<ref>Hobson, Dick. (1966, April 2–8). ''One day, Gadabout Gaddis posted a sign GONE FISHING and that was 56 years ago''. TV GUIDE.</ref>
* [[Patricia Roberts Harris]], U.S. ambassador, politician, 1st Health and Human Services Secretary of the United States
* [[Steven Hatfill]], physician, virologist, and bio-weapons expert
*[[Clyde Hood]], fraudster founder of [[Omega Trust]]
* [[Kyle Hudson]], former Major League Baseball player and former football and baseball player for the [[Fighting Illini]]; born in Mattoon
* [[Joe Knollenberg]], U.S. Congressman (1993–2009)
* [[Will Leitch]], writer
*[[Robert A. McClure]], Major General, Father of U.S. Army Special Warfare. Born Matoon March 4, 1897.
* [[Andy Miller (harness racing)|Andy Miller]], harness racing driver
* [[Jackie Moran]], actor, ''[[The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938 film)|The Adventures of Tom Sawyer]]'', ''[[Buck Rogers (serial)|Buck Rogers]]''; born in Mattoon
* [[Vickie M. Moseley]], Illinois state politician
* [[Julius Penn]], U.S. Army brigadier general in [[World War I]]<ref>{{cite book |last=Andrews |first=Avery Delano |date=1911 |title=1886-1911: In Commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of Graduation of the Class of '86, U.S.M.A. West Point, June, 1911 |url=https://archive.org/details/18861911incommem00usmirich |pages=[https://archive.org/details/18861911incommem00usmirich/page/165 165]–166 |location=Philadelphia, PA |publisher=The Holmes Press |author-link=Avery D. Andrews |ref={{sfnRef|''1886-1911''}}}}</ref>
* [[Duane Purvis]], All-American Football player, Indiana Hall of Fame Purdue
* [[Daniel Lee Siebert]], serial killer
* [[Bryan Stork]], former center for the [[New England Patriots]] and [[Super Bowl XLIX]] champion;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.freep.com/article/20140503/SPORTS01/305030025/Florida-State-center-Bryan-Stork-s-maturity-drive-stand-out-Lions-look-young-backup|title=Detroit Free Press|website=Detroit Free Press|access-date=30 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150203183542/http://archive.freep.com/article/20140503/SPORTS01/305030025/Florida-State-center-Bryan-Stork-s-maturity-drive-stand-out-Lions-look-young-backup|archive-date=3 February 2015}}</ref>
* [[Edward Mills Purcell]], physicist, [[Nobel Laureate]], educated in Mattoon's public schools.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1952/purcell-bio.html|title=E. M. Purcell - Biographical|website=nobelprize.org|access-date=30 April 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170812172517/http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/physics/laureates/1952/purcell-bio.html|archive-date=12 August 2017}}</ref>
* [[Monte Reel]], writer and journalist
* [[Hope Summers]], actress, known for recurring role as Clara Edwards on ''[[The Andy Griffith Show]]''
* [[Bill Tate (American football)|Bill Tate]], [[1952 Rose Bowl]] most valuable player for [[Illinois Fighting Illini football|Illinois]], former head coach at [[Wake Forest Demon Deacons football|Wake Forest]], Mattoon High School graduate
* [[Craig Titley]], writer
* [[Charlie Whitehouse]], pitcher for the [[Indianapolis Hoosiers (Federal League)|Indianapolis Hoosiers]], [[Newark Peppers]] and [[Washington Senators (1901–60)|Washington Senators]]; born in Mattoon
* [[Arland D. Williams, Jr.]], hero of [[Air Florida Flight 90]]. Born in Mattoon, he is the posthumous namesake of a local elementary school.
{{div col end}}


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist|30em}}


==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.colescountyonline.com Coles County Online Community]
*[http://www.mattoon.illinois.gov/ Official website of the city of Mattoon]
*[http://www.mattoon.illinois.gov/ Official website of the city of Mattoon]
*[http://www.eiu.edu/~localite/coles/mattoon/ General history of Mattoon]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050113074556/http://www.eiu.edu/~localite/coles/mattoon/ General history of Mattoon]
*[https://www.gendisasters.com/illinois/14642/mattoon-il-tornado-may-1917 Mattoon, IL Tornado, May 1917] GenDisasters.com
*[http://www.mattoon.k12.il.us/vnews/display.v/ART/43ea7ee535765 Arland D. Williams Jr. Elementary School official website]

*[http://savemattoon.home.mchsi.com/ Save Mattoon]
* [http://www.projectdepot.org/ Railroad depot preservation and restoration website]
*[http://www.mattoon.k12.il.us/ Mattoon Schools]
{{Coles County, Illinois}}
{{Coles County, Illinois}}


{{authority control}}
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[Category:Coles County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Charleston-Mattoon micropolitan area]]


[[de:Mattoon (Illinois)]]
[[Category:Cities in Illinois]]
[[fr:Mattoon (Illinois)]]
[[Category:Cities in Coles County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Charleston–Mattoon, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area]]
[[io:Mattoon, Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1853]]
[[ht:Mattoon, Ilinwa]]
[[nl:Mattoon (Illinois)]]
[[Category:1853 establishments in Illinois]]
[[pt:Mattoon (Illinois)]]
[[simple:Mattoon, Illinois]]
[[vo:Mattoon (Illinois)]]
[[zh:马顿 (伊利诺伊州)]]

Latest revision as of 23:04, 5 September 2024

Mattoon, Illinois
Starr Hotel, built in 1888 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Starr Hotel, built in 1888 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Location of Mattoon in Coles County, Illinois.
Location of Mattoon in Coles County, Illinois.
Mattoon is located in Illinois
Mattoon
Mattoon
Mattoon is located in the United States
Mattoon
Mattoon
Coordinates: 39°28′39″N 88°21′44″W / 39.47750°N 88.36222°W / 39.47750; -88.36222[1]
Country United States
State Illinois
CountyColes
TownshipsMattoon, Lafayette, Paradise
Named forWilliam Mattoon
Government
 • MayorRick Hall
Area
 • Total
10.32 sq mi (26.72 km2)
 • Land10.31 sq mi (26.71 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation719 ft (219 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
16,870
 • Density1,635.64/sq mi (631.55/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)
61938
Area code217
FIPS code17-47553
GNIS ID2395046[1]
Wikimedia CommonsMattoon, Illinois
Websitewww.mattoon.illinois.gov

Mattoon (/ˈmæt.tun/ MAT-toon)[3] is a city in Coles County, Illinois, United States. The population was 16,870 as of the 2020 census. The city is home to Lake Land College and has close ties with its neighbor, Charleston. Both are principal cities of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

[edit]

Early history

[edit]

One of the main factors determining the settlement of Mattoon and Coles County in general was the topography. Coles County straddled a timberline in the southern half and prairie in the north. The forested areas were primarily fed by two major rivers: the Embarras River in the east and the Kaskaskia in the west. The prairie, known as the "Grand Prairie", was generally wet and swampy. An early historian described the geography:

"Away from the timber to the north, the face of the country is generally quite level, broken only by long undulations. It is almost entirely prairie land in this part, and was allowed to remain uncultivated until after the opening of the railroads. It was largely used for pasturage during this period, and often presented signs of great animation as the herds of cattle, under the care of their drovers, moved about over its grassy, slightly undulating surface."[4]

Groves could be found scattered throughout the area. Early settlers to the area started homesteads in the timberline, which provided building materials and fuel. Since the vast majority of early settlers came from wooded areas of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee (by way of the Ohio and Wabash River valleys), the forests also provided a sense of familiarity.

In 1826, Kentucky émigré Charles Sawyer became the first white man known to settle in the Mattoon area, just north of the timberline (known as the Wabash Point Timber) along the Little Wabash River. Levi Doty built Sawyer's cabin while the latter returned to Kentucky to retrieve the rest of his family. Within a year, a few families very quickly settled around Sawyer in the area of Paradise Township, including Dr. John Epperson, the county's first physician. Settlers built log cabins using pegs (no iron or nails). "The luxuries of life were generally not seen the first years of the settlement, but appeared as the residents could obtain them."[4]

Corn was planted and remained a staple crop. Gardens of potatoes and other vegetables were maintained. Hogs, which ran wild in the woods, provided pork, while "deer, bears, wild turkeys, and prairie chickens provided an abundant supply of wild meat." Wolves proved troublesome to domesticated animals.[4]

The first school was established in 1827–28 in the Paradise Township, taking place in a makeshift cabin and taught by James Waddill. The costs were $2.50-3.00 per student. School was maintained in this location until 1844–45, when the first real schoolhouse was built in what would become Mattoon. That year, the Illinois State Legislature passed its first school laws, making Mattoon a forerunner for early education in the state.

As the population grew, demand for a local government increased. On Christmas Day, 1830, Coles County was established. The county was named after Edward Coles, the second governor in Illinois who served from 1822 to 1826.[5] Settlers in the Mattoon area remained poor and humble, but their community remained close knit.

In 1836, "Old State Road", which runs along the southern end of town, became one of the first trails to be established in the Mattoon area. Another trail, the Kaskaskia Pass, traveled past what was known as "The Lone Elm Tree", a natural landmark that helped guide visitors and newcomers. The tree was cut down on August 1, 1950, due to disease. A plaque at the corner of 32nd Street and Western Avenue marks the location of this important landmark.

1850–1900

[edit]
Unity Church, erected in 1872 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places

The growth and subsequent history of Mattoon is tied to that of local railroads.[6] In 1854, railroad surveyors from the Illinois Central Railroad and Terre Haute and Alton Railroad found their railroads would cross in the Mattoon area, and a burst of investment and land speculation began. The two railroads raced to the meeting point, on the understanding that the first to arrive would not have to pay to maintain the crossing. The community that had grown in the area of swamp grass and prairie came to be known as "Pegtown", which referred to the pegs (stakes) used to demarcate lots to be sold at public auction. Among the speculators were Elisha Linder, Ebenezer Noyes, James T. Cunningham, Stephen D. Dole, John L. Allison, and John Cunningham. Land was purchased for $2.50 per acre. On December 12, 1854, County Surveyor John Meadows laid out the town.

The 1850s saw a flurry of activity for the emerging town. In 1855, the first houses were built. Benjamin Turney used 16 yoke of oxen to drag his home from a farm three miles away, while R. H. McFadden built his home near the area of present-day First Street and Prairie Avenue. In May that year, "Pegtown" lots were auctioned. On June 9, 1855, the first train arrived on the Terre Haute Alton Railroad.[5] In July, the Pennsylvania House became the first hotel in town, operating at the present-day 1600 block of Broadway Avenue. That month the first post office was established, with James M. True serving as postmaster. In September, Rev. Isaac Hart performed the town's first wedding, marrying Sarah Norvell and R. H. McFadden.

The next year, 1856, saw the creation of the first newspaper. The weekly "Independent Gazette" published four page, seven-column editions. In that same year, the first public school was established (at 1307 Champaign Ave.). In 1856, the first two babies were born in Mattoon, Charles Cartmell in July and Mollie Puff in September. By now, the rapidly growing town had more than 100 buildings. Between 1856 and 1857, the first Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Christian, and Presbyterian churches were formed.

In May 1857, residents voted to incorporate the town, with 65 votes for and 25 votes against. Also in 1857, ordinances passed forbidding drunkenness, working on Sunday, disturbing public or religious meetings, gaming, leaving carcasses on the streets, littering, obstructing sidewalks, and driving fast horses. In 1858, the first public park was created with a land deed from John Allison and James and John Cunningham. The park remains and is today called Allison–Cunningham Park.

On the night before the fourth Lincoln-Douglas debate of September 18, 1858, at the Coles County Fairgrounds, both Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas slept in nearby Mattoon.[7] Lincoln slept in the Essex House hotel, a popular hotel in those times. He addressed a small crowd from his hotel room. The Essex House, the third brick building in town, opened on the southwest corner of the railroad intersection with Union Station located on the lower story. The Essex House served as hotel, restaurant, and ticket office for both railroads. Later, Ulysses S. Grant would also use the hotel. Today, the mural "Civility" (2009), located in Progress Square, commemorates the arrival of the railroad and depicts the Essex House and both Lincoln and Douglas. "The Lone Elm Tree" occupies the center of the mural.

In 1861, the town was officially named after William B. Mattoon, the chief construction engineer working for the Terre Haute and Alton Railroad and partner of the Massachusetts firm "Phelps, Mattoon, and Barnes." The reason for the honor is unclear; some say he won the naming rights because his rail crew arrived first. Others say he beat other claimants in a card game, or that Pegtown residents hoped the wealthy Mattoon would invest in the town if they named it after him. With its combination of excellent transportation and remarkably fertile prairie soils, Mattoon expanded rapidly. By the dawn of the 20th century, Mattoon's growing population and rail access brought manufacturing and industry.

On June 17, 1861, General Ulysses S. Grant took his first post of the American Civil War when he assumed command of the 21st Illinois Infantry in Mattoon. The flagpole from General Grant's camp was preserved and is on display at the Mattoon Public Library.

In 1865, Amish settlers began a community to the north near Arthur. Amish farm stands and horse-drawn buggies are not uncommon sights in the northern part of Mattoon today.

In the 1890s, Mattoon led the successful campaign to have a proposed college in eastern Illinois located in Coles County. The citizens were chagrined when neighboring Charleston was chosen as the home of the future Eastern Illinois University instead.

20th century

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1917 tornado damage in Mattoon

On May 26, 1917, the town was devastated by an F4 tornado which killed 101 people and injured approximately 638 people. The tornado was Illinois's third-deadliest tornado disaster.[8]

In 1932, the Kuehne Manufacturing Co. began producing dinette sets at their new plant on the south side of Mattoon. Its early sets were wooden, but by the 1950s Kuehne was making the chromed metal breakfast-room sets so popular during that decade. The company closed in 1965. Today, Kuehne dinette sets are prized by collectors of mid-century modern furniture.

The 1940 discovery of petroleum reserves near Mattoon led to a small "oil boom" over the next two decades, bringing with it economic benefits and increased civic pride. Oil extraction continues to be an important economic activity.

Mattoon was the site of the "Mad Gasser" attacks of the 1940s.

In 1966, Lake Land College was built just south of the city. The community college offers degrees for immediate employment and pre-university education.

The Burger King — unrelated to the Florida-based fast food chain Burger King — is a Mattoon restaurant whose owners claim it is the "original" Burger King. In 1968, they sued the national chain Burger King, producing a well-known case in United States trademark law. The federal 7th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that federal trademark registration has priority over state law, giving the national Burger King chain rights to the name beyond a 20-mile radius around the original Burger King. Today, the closest Burger King franchise location is 25 miles away in Tuscola, Illinois.

Mattoon was home to several minor-league baseball teams in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The last stadium, with about 2,000 seats, was torn down in the late 1950s. Today, the city has a thriving junior league and has hosted many junior league regionals and World Series.

21st century

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Traditionally a bastion of manufacturing, Mattoon has lost several major plants in the last two decades. On December 18, 2007, the U.S. Department of Energy chose the city as the site of its FutureGen project, a zero-emissions coal-fueled power plant that was to make hydrogen and electricity while using carbon capture and storage.[9] Three years later, the city rejected the proposal after DoE announced its intention to retrofit an existing power plant in Meredosia instead of building a new one in Mattoon.[10]

In 2000, Mattoon native Clyde D. Hood was indicted for the Omega Trust scam, a 1994–95 scam that brought in around $10 million and was one of the largest in U.S. history. Hood and accomplices bought businesses in the Mattoon area, including the Blue Bird Diner, a longtime family favorite in the small town.

The 1986 arrival of the Lender's Bagels factory led Mattoon to dub itself the "Bagel Capital of the World." Home to the world's largest bagel, the town holds a weeklong family festival, "Lenders Bagelfest", at the end of July. The main event is a 3-day weekend festival held in Peterson Park near downtown, featuring food and craft vendors, local organizations, rides such as the Ferris wheel and the Tilt-A-Whirl, and morning community events such as The Big Bagel Breakfast and Bagel Bingo. A beauty pageant crowns winners in various age groups, who ride in the parade held on the Saturday morning of the event. The festival features concerts by local and national musicians. In 2009, Zac Brown Band headlined the festival; others have included Night Ranger, 38 Special, Jason Aldean, The Marshall Tucker Band, Travis Tritt, and Ronnie Milsap. There is also a Christian night featuring contemporary Christian musicians such as Building 429 and Remedy Drive.

General Electric closed since the need for traditional lighting has decreased.[11] The plant opened in the 1940s and has remained a staple ever since. On January 15, 2020, LSC Communications announced they would be closing their Mattoon facility. LSC Communications was Mattoon's largest employer.[12] Affiliates of Phoenix Investors purchased LSC.[13]

Geography

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According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Mattoon has a total area of 10.32 square miles (26.73 km2), of which 10.31 square miles (26.70 km2) (or 99.96%) is land and 0.00 square miles (0.00 km2) (or 0.04%) is water.[14] Nearby rivers have been dammed to form Lake Paradise and Lake Mattoon south of the city.

The terminal moraine of the Wisconsin Glacier is located just to the south of Mattoon. Heading south on I-57 there is an impressive vista from the top of the moraine at the south Mattoon exit. While the moraine is of Wisconsinan age (about 10,000 years before present), the land to the south is of Illinoian age (about 100,000 years before present). The small oil field to the south of the moraine is also attributed to glacial activity: The weight of the glacier to the north created cracks in the underlying bedrock. Oil collected adjacent to these cracks.

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18805,737
18906,83319.1%
19009,62240.8%
191011,45619.1%
192013,55218.3%
193014,6318.0%
194015,8278.2%
195017,54710.9%
196019,0888.8%
197019,6813.1%
198019,293−2.0%
199018,441−4.4%
200018,291−0.8%
201018,5551.4%
202016,870−9.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]

Mattoon is a principal city of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the 2020 census[16] there were 16,870 people, 7,662 households, and 4,187 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,635.01 inhabitants per square mile (631.28/km2). There were 8,685 housing units at an average density of 841.73 per square mile (324.99/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 89.25% White, 3.25% African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 1.03% from other races, and 5.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.05% of the population.

There were 7,662 households, out of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.18% were married couples living together, 15.56% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.35% were non-families. 39.04% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.99% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.88 and the average family size was 2.19.

The city's age distribution consisted of 21.6% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 26% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,576, and the median income for a family was $56,307. Males had a median income of $34,280 versus $28,271 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,615. About 14.8% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.6% of those under age 18 and 12.6% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

[edit]

Mattoon is home to several companies. Rural King, which is a large retailer for agricultural supplies, has its headquarters located on the west side of town off of Dewitt Avenue. Other companies who have heavy focus in the area include Consolidated Communications, which is headquartered on Charleston Avenue, as well First Mid Bank & Trust, which has several important corporate facilities in the area. Other manufacturing plants include a Bimbo Bakeries USA plant, a Mars, Incorporated pet food plant, and Justrite. Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System and Carle Foundation Hospital provide many jobs in health care for Mattoon and its neighboring towns and communities, such as Charleston. Both hospitals and facilities are located right off the East side of Interstate 57, heading toward Charleston.

The Cross County Mall is the area's major shopping center. It opened in 1971 and it features Rural King, Marshalls, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and Dunham's Sports as its anchor locations. Coles Together is a non-profit economic development organization for Coles County based in Mattoon.

Education

[edit]

Mattoon is served by Mattoon Community Unit School District 2, one of three school districts located in the county of Coles. The district itself is composed of six schools-Franklin Preschool, Williams Elementary, Riddle Elementary, Mattoon Middle School, and Mattoon High School. A new Regional Innovation Center called LIFT opened in 2022.[17]

Mattoon is also home to two private schools. St. John’s Lutheran School (PreK-8) and Maranatha Christian Academy (K-12).

Lake Land College is a community college in Mattoon.

Transportation

[edit]

Transportation is still a vital part of local economic life. Much of the major commercial development in recent years has occurred along Interstate 57, which crosses the eastern edge of Mattoon. US Route 45 also makes its way through the city. The south end forms into Lake Land Boulevard, while the north end begins off of Dewitt Avenue.

Rail

[edit]
Amtrak Shawnee at Mattoon station, 1976

Amtrak, the national passenger rail system, provides service to Mattoon. Amtrak Train 59, the southbound City of New Orleans, is scheduled to depart Mattoon at 11:13pm daily with service to Effingham, Centralia, Carbondale, Fulton, Newbern-Dyersburg, Memphis, Greenwood, Yazoo City, Jackson, Hazlehurst, Brookhaven, McComb, Hammond, and New Orleans. Amtrak Train 58, the northbound City of New Orleans, is scheduled to depart Mattoon at 5:23am daily with service to Champaign-Urbana, Kankakee, Homewood, and Chicago. Mattoon is also served by Amtrak Train 390/391, the Saluki, daily in the morning, and Amtrak Train 392/393, the Illini, daily in the afternoon/evening. Both the Saluki and the Illini operate between Chicago and Carbondale.

The Illinois Central Station in the heart of downtown Mattoon has recently been totally renovated. It is handicap accessible with an elevator to the lower level train platform. Funding of $2.5 million was obtained for it via the 2005 Transportation Bill. Today the station is unmanned; passengers boarding at the Mattoon station must order their tickets by telephone or online.

Public transit

[edit]

Transit service in Mattoon is provided by Dial-A-Ride Rural Public Transportation, which provides deviated fixed-route and demand-response services.

Notable people

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ a b c U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mattoon, Illinois
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  3. ^ "Cities – Illinois Pronunciation Guide". University of Illinois College of Agriculture, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences. Retrieved August 2, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "RootsWeb.com Home Page". www.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Coles County, Illinois". www.co.coles.il.us. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  6. ^ Mattoon History Page Archived 2011-01-08 at the Wayback Machine Accessed January 12, 2013
  7. ^ "colescounty.net". www.colescounty.net. Archived from the original on December 15, 2004. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  8. ^ The Mattoon/Charleston Tornado of May 26, 1917, from the National Weather Service [1] Retrieved 26 December 2020.
  9. ^ "Office of Clean Coal and Carbon Management - Department of Energy". www.fossil.energy.gov. Archived from the original on February 15, 2013. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  10. ^ "2". huffingtonpost.com. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  11. ^ "GE Lighting To Close Mattoon Lamp Plant By August 2017". illinois.edu. August 12, 2016. Archived from the original on April 30, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  12. ^ "'Structural changes in the industry': LSC Communications Inc. To close Mattoon manufacturing facility". January 14, 2020.
  13. ^ "Former LSC plant in Mattoon has new owner". January 8, 2021.
  14. ^ "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
  15. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  16. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  17. ^ "LIFT vocational training center in Mattoon opens for classeswebsite=www.herald-review.com". August 29, 2022. Retrieved September 4, 2023.
  18. ^ Hobson, Dick. (1966, April 2–8). One day, Gadabout Gaddis posted a sign GONE FISHING and that was 56 years ago. TV GUIDE.
  19. ^ Andrews, Avery Delano (1911). 1886-1911: In Commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of Graduation of the Class of '86, U.S.M.A. West Point, June, 1911. Philadelphia, PA: The Holmes Press. pp. 165–166.
  20. ^ "Detroit Free Press". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on February 3, 2015. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  21. ^ "E. M. Purcell - Biographical". nobelprize.org. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
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