# Lewistown, Illinois

Lewistown is a city and the county seat of Fulton County, Illinois, United States. It was named by its founder, Ossian M. Ross, after his oldest son, Lewis Winans Ross. The population was 2,041 at the 2020 census. Located in central Illinois, it is southwest of Peoria. It is the source of Spoon River Anthology by Edgar Lee Masters, who lived there. Native American burial mounds are nearby at Dickson Mounds off Illinois Route 97.

## History

The city was named for Lewis Winans Ross, the son of its first settler, Ossian M. Ross. The Lewistown post office has been in operation since 1831. It contains a tempera on canvas mural titled Lewistown Milestones', painted by Ida Abelman in 1941, depicting the Lincoln–Douglas debates. Murals were produced from 1934 to 1943 in the United States through the Section of Painting and Sculpture, later called the Section of Fine Arts, of the U.S. Treasury Department.

## Geography

Lewistown is located in central Fulton County. U.S. Route 24 passes through the center of the city, leading northeast 40 miles (64 km) to Peoria and southwest 89 miles (143 km) to Quincy. Illinois Route 97 leads north from Lewistown 48 miles (77 km) to Galesburg. IL 97 leads east out of Lewistown concurrently with US 24, then turns south, leading 12 miles (19 km) to Havana and 60 miles (97 km) to Springfield, the state capital.
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Lewistown has a total area of 2.00 square miles (5.18 km$^2$), all land.

## Tourist attractions

Oak Hill Cemetery is located in Lewistown. This cemetery was made famous by Edgar Lee Masters in his Spoon River Anthology.
The Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge, a 7,000 acres (30 km$^2$) wetland restoration, is located on the Illinois River 6 miles (10 km) east of Lewistown. It is one of the largest floodplain restoration projects in the United States outside the Florida Everglades.
Dickson Mounds Museum, 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Lewistown, is an archaeological museum dedicated to American Indian artifacts. The building itself is built on ancient Native American burial mounds.
The Rasmussen Blacksmith Shop Museum is located on Main Street of Lewistown. It is one of the few blacksmith shops left in the United States. It has been run by the Rasmussen family since 1880.
The Spoon River Valley Scenic Drive is an event sponsored by the city of Lewistown in the fall of each year. Lewistown Music in the Park is held in the city as well, with the festival earning the "Governor's Hometown Award" in 2021.

## Demographics

As of the 2020 census there were 2,041 people, 841 households, and 516 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,020.50 inhabitants per square mile (394.02/km$^2$). There were 1,126 housing units at an average density of 563.00 per square mile (217.38/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the city was 95.25% White, 0.34% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.83% from other races, and 3.33% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.
There were 841 households, out of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.42% were married couples living together, 7.97% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.64% were non-families. 34.72% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.79% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.94 and the average family size was 2.31.
The city's age distribution consisted of 20.4% under the age of 18, 6.1% from 18 to 24, 26.6% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $52,393, and the median income for a family was $73,077. Males had a median income of $50,063 versus $26,156 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,272. About 13.2% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.0% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

## Notable people

* Thomas A. Boyd, congressman from Illinois, 1877–1881
* Tony Butkovich, graduated from Lewistown High School; football fullback for Illinois & Purdue; killed in action in Okinawa
* Reed F. Cutler, Illinois legislator and lawyer, practiced law in Lewistown
* Jack Depler, professional football player and coach; born in Lewistown
* William S. Jewell, Illinois legislator and lawyer
* Lloyd Loar, Gibson sound engineer and master luthier in the early part of the 20th century; graduated from Lewistown High School in 1903
* Edgar Lee Masters, poet, writer, lawyer
* John Wesley Ross, Washington, D.C., attorney and politician; Illinois state representative; born in Lewistown
* Leonard F. Ross, brigadier general in the American Civil War; born in Lewistown
* Lewis Winans Ross, Illinois attorney, merchant, and U.S. congressman from Illinois' 9th district, 1863–1869; namesake of Lewiston
* Ossian M. Ross, major in the War of 1812; founder of Lewistown
* Isaac Newton Walker, a pioneer farmer and merchant
* Lila Acheson Wallace, co-founder of Reader's Digest; attended high school in Lewistown
* Barbara Woodell, actress; born in Lewistown