# Watseka, Illinois

Watseka is a city in and the county seat of Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. It is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) west of the Illinois-Indiana state line on U.S. Route 24.
The population of Watseka was 4,679 as of the 2020 Census.

## History

Incorporated in 1865, the name "Watseka" derives from the Potawatomi name "Watch-e-kee", "Daughter of the Evening Star", the wife of early eastern Illinois settler Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard.
The Old Iroquois County Courthouse was constructed in 1866, with two additions built in 1881 and 1927. In the early 1960s, an Iroquois County resident, Mrs. Katherine Clifton, bequeathed to the county in her will a large sum of money and a site upon which to build a new courthouse. It is the only courthouse in the United States built entirely with private funds.
The old courthouse was advertised for sale and fell into disuse. In 1967, during the Centennial Celebration of Watseka, the Iroquois County Historical Society was organized, and circulated petitions throughout the county not to sell the Old Courthouse. The petitions were approved by the County Board of Supervisors, and the Old Courthouse re-opened as a museum that same year. In 1975, the Old Courthouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

## Geography

Watseka is located near the center of Iroquois County, at the intersection of U.S. Route 24 and Illinois Route 1. The Iroquois River winds along the north side of the town and is joined by Sugar Creek on the west side of town. The south half of the town is in Belmont Township; the north half is in Middleport Township.
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Watseka has a total area of 2.94 square miles (7.61 km$^2$), all land.

### Climate

Climate data for Watseka, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present) :
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 68 (20) | 73 (23) | 86 (30) | 91 (33) | 99 (37) | 104 (40) | 107 (42) | 105 (41) | 104 (40) | 95 (35) | 81 (27) | 71 (22) | 107 (42) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 32.7 (0.4) | 37.4 (3.0) | 49.6 (9.8) | 62.3 (16.8) | 73.5 (23.1) | 82.1 (27.8) | 84.8 (29.3) | 83.2 (28.4) | 78.7 (25.9) | 65.9 (18.8) | 50.7 (10.4) | 38.0 (3.3) | 61.6 (16.4) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 24.1 (−4.4) | 27.9 (−2.3) | 39.1 (3.9) | 50.3 (10.2) | 61.8 (16.6) | 70.9 (21.6) | 73.7 (23.2) | 71.6 (22.0) | 65.4 (18.6) | 53.6 (12.0) | 40.8 (4.9) | 29.7 (−1.3) | 50.7 (10.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 15.5 (−9.2) | 18.4 (−7.6) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 38.3 (3.5) | 50.2 (10.1) | 59.8 (15.4) | 62.7 (17.1) | 60.0 (15.6) | 52.2 (11.2) | 41.3 (5.2) | 30.9 (−0.6) | 21.4 (−5.9) | 39.9 (4.4) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −28 (−33) | −27 (−33) | −13 (−25) | 3 (−16) | 26 (−3) | 35 (2) | 42 (6) | 38 (3) | 20 (−7) | 11 (−12) | −9 (−23) | −26 (−32) | −28 (−33) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.07 (53) | 1.98 (50) | 2.42 (61) | 3.65 (93) | 4.41 (112) | 5.02 (128) | 4.20 (107) | 3.50 (89) | 3.19 (81) | 3.24 (82) | 2.65 (67) | 2.10 (53) | 38.43 (976) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 5.4 (14) | 4.7 (12) | 1.6 (4.1) | 0.3 (0.76) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.7 (1.8) | 4.4 (11) | 17.1 (43) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 10.2 | 8.3 | 9.7 | 12.0 | 12.4 | 11.1 | 9.4 | 9.4 | 8.6 | 9.8 | 9.7 | 10.2 | 120.8 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 4.4 | 3.2 | 1.5 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.8 | 2.9 | 13.0 |
| Source: NOAA ||||||||||||||

## Demographics

As of the 2020 census there were 4,679 people, 2,384 households, and 1,284 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,589.33 inhabitants per square mile (613.64/km$^2$). There were 2,444 housing units at an average density of 830.16 per square mile (320.53/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 86.73% White, 1.65% African American, 0.38% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.44% from other races, and 8.12% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 7.91% of the population.
There were 2,384 households, out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.39% were married couples living together, 17.53% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.14% were non-families. 36.33% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.83% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.01.
The city's age distribution consisted of 17.2% under the age of 18, 11.5% from 18 to 24, 18.5% from 25 to 44, 29.5% from 45 to 64, and 23.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 49.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 75.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $38,162, and the median income for a family was $58,641. Males had a median income of $30,449 versus $25,827 for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,915. About 6.7% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.9% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Notable people

* Fern Andra (1893–1974; birth name Vernal Andrews), circus performer, actress, early film director
* Henry Bacon (1866–1924), architect of Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and other notable public buildings
* Fred Bechly (1924–2004), electrical engineer and inventor in the field of color television broadcasting
* Edward Bechly (1874–1945), editor, publisher, and proprietor of Iroquois County Times-Democrat
* Craig Calhoun (1952–), economist and educator, Director of London School of Economics and Political Science (2012–2016); President of Berggruen Institute (2016–)
* Sam Campbell (1895–1962), popular author and nature enthusiast
* P.C. Cast, young adult author (House of Night series)
* Frank M. Crangle (1861–1934), Illinois state representative and lawyer
* Rex Everhart (1920–2000), musical theatre and voice actor (Beauty and The Beast)
* Mike L. Fry, original Happy the Hobo on the nationally syndicated children's television series Happy's Place
* A.E. Henning, City Council member of Los Angeles (1929–1933)
* Curtis Painter (born 1985), NFL quarterback 2009–2014; played collegiate football at Purdue University; formerly a starter for Indianapolis Colts
* Harold Reetz (born 1948), agronomist and former President of the Foundation for Agronomic Research.
* Sam Rice, Hall of Fame baseball outfielder, 1924 World Series champion
* Vaughn R. Walker (born 1944), chief judge of United States District Court for the Northern District of California, noted for presiding over Perry v. Schwarzenegger
* Mary Margaret Whipple (born 1940), former Virginia state senator
* Gordie Windhorn (born 1933), former Major League Baseball player