Lena Illinois IL Warrant Search

Lena, Illinois Lena is a village in Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,887 at the 2000 census. History The town of Lena is located in parts of Sections 32 and 33, on the Illinois Central Railroad, twelve miles (19 km) west of Freeport, and is, next to that city, the largest town in the county. In 1853, the survey of the present railroad corporation had located its route and the grading of the light of way was begun. As soon as the building of this highway of commerce had been settled, Samuel F. Dodds, who owned 80 acres (320,000 m2) of land on the present site of the town, acting on behalf of the railroad company, purchased an additional tract of 80 acres (320,000 m2), and laid out the town. The survey was made by B. Dornblazer, the original town being in the form of a parallelogram, comprehending twenty-six blocks and a total of 304 lots. Subsequently, I. C. Allen, S. J. Kimball, Underwood & Albee, C. Roush, N. C. Pickard, A. Weaver and A. C. Allen, made additions to the original town, increasing its dimensions to a large extent. When the town was laid out, Samuel F. Dodds owned a stone residence then and now occupying Lot No. 1, on Lena street, while Dr. F. Voightheld title to a log house standing a short distance east of where the depot was subsequently erected. It remained intact until the advance of improvements compelled its demolition. These two houses embraced the list of buildings at that time — there were no others of any description. During that summer, lots sold rapidly, commanding prices varying from $50 to $150 each, William Allen and S. H. McEathron, being among the first to purchase and make improvements. Allen put up a store at once, but McEathron delayed the erection of a building, devoted to similar purposes, until the fall. Both were of frame, but only one survives the lapse of a quarter of a century. On New Year's Day, 1854, the track was laid, and cars began to run between Freeport and Warren. This had the effect of increasing the number of arrivals and stimulating enterprise. The additions to the population were largely made up of English and Irish, many of whom became permanent residents, together with representatives from the Eastern States, who engaged in business, and have since been identified with the growth and prosperity of the town. In this year, there were about a dozen families in Lena, and the following comprise the business directory: Dry goods and groceries — S. H. McEathron, William Allen, J. E. Ambrose. Lumber yard — J. N. Clifford. Blacksmith — William Young. Grain dealer — N. Perrin. Postmaster and railroad agent — Samuel F. Dodds. Physicians — Drs. N. C Pickard and F. Voight. here were three church organizations in the village, viz. : Presbyterian, Rev. R. Colston, Pastor ; Methodist, Rev. A. Wolf, Pastor ; Baptist, Rev. J. E. Ambrose, Pastor. There were no church edifices in the village or town- ship at that time, and the several congregations occupied the schoolhouse alternately. The public school was in charge of Miss S. D. Hyde. Dr. J. R. Chambers, the only other physician in the township, was located at Louisa. From this date until 1860, the increase in population was quite rapid. The panic of 1857 produced no pronounced effect disastrous to the growth of the town, which progressed in business and importance in a manner that was gratifying to those who had first projected its survey. During the summer of 1855, Reber & Cheney and S. F. Dodds began the three-story brick building at the corner of Railroad and Schuyler streets. It was completed about the fall of 1856, at a cost of about $4,000, and is still used for business purposes. Fires As growth continued after the Civil War the town had its first newspaper established, the Lena Star in 1867, with Samuel Dodds as its editor. The same year, the Star reported Lena's first recorded fire. In response, the newspaper called for a town water pump as a way to avoid another fire. 1868 saw several fires, two minor ones at the rail depot, which stunned the village because of what the loss of the depot would mean for the fledgling village, and two fires within a week at the blacksmith shop. New Star editor J.M. Shannon called for a town pump multiple times in 1867.Lena's first water well was established on May 15, 1868. The 44-foot-deep (13 m) well was equipped with a small pump. By 1870 Lena's population had reached 1,295 people and its social and business community continued its growth as well. The Lena Fire Department was one result of the growth, it was established in 1869 and officially met for the first time in 1870. Despite the presence of the fire department and well, fires continued to plague Lena. During the early 1870s structure fires consumed a warehouse, a stable, a rural school and several Lena houses. News of the 1871 Great Chicago Fire did not help the already fire-panicked residents of Lena. In 1874 fire nearly destroyed the old Illinois Central depot and freight houses. Geography Lena is located at 42°22′43″N 89°49′35″W / 42.37861°N 89.82639°W / 42.37861; -89.82639 (42.378595, -89.826308).According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.5 km²), all of it land. Demographics As of the census of 2000, there were 2,887 people, 1,164 households, and 807 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,350.0 people per square mile (520.9/km²). There were 1,257 housing units at an average density of 587.8/sq mi (226.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.58% White, 0.21% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.14% of the population.There were 1,164 households out of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.4% were married couples living together, 7.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.95.In the village the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 88.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.5 males.The median income for a household in the village was $39,947, and the median income for a family was $49,375. Males had a median income of $40,202 versus $23,063 for females. The per capita income for the village was $18,613. About 2.2% of families and 4.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.3% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over. Education Lena is home to the Lena-Winslow Consolidated School District #202. Within the District are facilities in Lena (kindergarten, elementary, junior high, and high schools). Lena-Winslow High School is noted for its excellence in sports, music, theater, and competitive speech. The high school is also home to LWTV, one of the state's few community-access television stations that operates under the auspicies of a school facility. Notable residents Notable current and former residents of Lena include:Charles N. Fowler(1852-1932), represented5th congressional districtin theUnited States House of Representativesfrom 1895 to 1911. Joe Lobdell, free-agent offensive lineman formerly with theKansas City ChiefsandIndianapolis Coltspractice squads