McLeansboro is a city in Hamilton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,945 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Hamilton County. The town was named for William B. McLean, who donated the land for its founding. Additionally, sports greats Jerry Sloan (former basketball player for the Chicago Bulls and current head coach of the Utah Jazz), Carl Mauck (former center for the Houston Oilers and NFL coach).
McLeansboro is located at [show location on an interactive map] 38°5′35″N, 88°32′10″W (38.093115, -88.536213).
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (5.9 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 2,945 people, 1,265 households, and 747 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,286.3 people per square mile (496.5/km²). There were 1,444 housing units at an average density of 630.7/sq mi (243.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.10% White, 0.78% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.17% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.37% of the population.
There were 1,265 households out of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.6% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.9% were non-families. 38.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 23.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 25.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 81.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,183, and the median income for a family was $35,296. Males had a median income of $35,114 versus $18,125 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,354. About 11.9% of families and 19.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 34.7% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
In the 1860's the United States was torn apart by the Civil War. Union troops were stationed at Fort McHenry to help keep Baltimore out of the hands of those who would have Maryland join the southern cause. The fort's guns were turned toward the city. Fort McHenry was used as a prison where political prisoners suspected of being Confederate sympathizers were held, often without trial. Many Confederate soldiers were imprisoned at the fort as well.
In 1917 during the first World War, General Hospital No. 2 was established at Fort McHenry by the War Department. It was the largest military hospital in the country with over 100 temporary buildings to accommodate wounded American soldiers returning from the war in Europe.
When the war ended, the need for the hospital slowly diminished and in 1925 the temporary buildings were torn down. Fort McHenry became a national park which today is administered by the National Park Service as the country's only National Monument and Historic Shrine. Exhibits around the fort will help you visualize life at Fort McHenry during the various stages of its history.
