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Morris is a city in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 11,928 at the 2000 census, and estimated to be 12,939 in 2005. It is the county seat of Grundy County.
Morris is home to the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, which provides a substantial portion of the electricity supply for the Chicago metropolitan area. Included among the Dresden plant's reactors is the first commercial nuclear reactor, housed in a spherical concrete and steel shell; it has since been decommissioned, and two more modern reactors (of 1970s vintage) now generate its electricity.
Currently, Morris has one of the few prospering and historically intact downtowns in Illinois. Visitors and shoppers come a distance to enjoy the tranquil small town shopping atmosphere. In addition to the downtown, there are outlying businesses such as five motels, a theater, restaurants, a furniture store, two drug stores, boat sales, three grocery stores, hardware stores, banquet hall, and numerous retail stores and gift shops.
Morris enjoys the benefit of being the Grundy County seat and has a large hospital and modern schools. There are many small parks, ball diamonds, tennis courts, two golf courses, and a swimming pool as well as the Gebhard Woods State Park and the William G. Stratton State Park for boat launching on the Illinois River.
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,928 people, 4,831 households, and 3,067 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,734.0 people per square mile (669.4/km²). There were 5,084 housing units at an average density of 739.1/sq mi (285.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.35% White, 0.34% African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 2.45% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.94% of the population.
There were 4,831 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.8% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 31.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% 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 3.03.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.0% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 29.6% from 25 to 44, 20.4% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $44,739, and the median income for a family was $54,987. Males had a median income of $44,071 versus $25,206 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,256. About 5.0% of families and 6.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. |
