LaSalle, Illinois

LaSalle is a city in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States, located at the intersection of Interstates 39 and 80. It is part of the Ottawa–Streator Micropolitan Statistical Area. Originally platted in 1837 over one square mile, the city has grown to 12 sqmi. City boundaries extend from the Illinois River and Illinois and Michigan Canal to a mile north of Interstate 80 and from the city of Peru on the west to the village of North Utica on the east. Starved Rock State Park is located approximately 5 mi to the east. The population was 9,796 at the 2000 census.

Geography
La Salle is located at 41.34111°N, -89.09083°W (41.341056, −89.090834).

Centrally located along the Illinois and Michigan Canal at the crossroads of I-39 and I-80, LaSalle is just six miles (10 km) from Starved Rock Park.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 6.4 square miles (16.7 km²), of which 6.3 square miles (16.4 km²) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) (1.40%) is water.

LaSalle is divided into two residental areas: A west end and a East end.

Northern La Salle
Anywhere north of 15th Street is considered Northern LaSalle.

Northwestern End
The Northwestern End features Northwest Elementary School. It is also the site of where the LaSalle Chargers of the Illinois Valley Youth Football League play home games. A Flying J and Denny's are located at Illinois Route 351 and North 30th Road.

Northeastern End
Saint Mary's Park is located at Crosat and Grant. Saint Vincent and Saint Hyacinth's cemetery's are located near the end of city limits.

Southwestern End
Some of LaSalle's most thriving businesses are located here. These include a KFC, Marty's Barber Shop, La Salle Public Library, Monari's 101, King Tire, and Lawn And Garden Center, located at the former site of the Peru-LaSalle Station. Uptown Grill is located at 1st and Gooding. Illinois and Michigan Canal Lock 16 and The Volunteer operate here.

Southeastern End
This part of La Salle includes the 8th Street Business District, which contains a drug store, a mexican restaurant, a casual dining center, and a bakery and toy train store.

History
LaSalle was named in honor of the early French explorer, Robert de LaSalle. In presettlement times the Illinois River was navigable upstream only to LaSalle; beyond LaSalle were a series of portages, in which boats had to be carried around rapids. During the 1830s, the Illinois and Michigan Canal was built to connect the Illinois River with Lake Michigan. LaSalle was the southwestern terminus of the Canal; Chicago the northeastern. At first LaSalle was the larger of the two cities, but it was soon dwarfed by its partner on the Lake.

The Illinois Central Railroad originally crossed the Illinois river over a mile long bridge through the eastern side of town on its way from Cairo to Galena.

Although the original town of LaSalle was platted in the 1830s, the city was not incorporated until 1852. Six years after incorporation, two men – Frederich W. Matthiessen and Edward C. Hegeler – established the Matthiessen and Hegeler Zinc Company in LaSalle. This company would remain one of the largest employers in the city until its closure in the 1960s. Edward Hegeler built the world famous Hegeler Carus Mansion near his company's site. His daughter, Mary, married Paul Carus – Editor of Open Court Publishing.

In 1915 Edward Hegeler Carus, a grandson of Edward Hegeler founded Carus Chemical Company another of LaSalle's large industries.

Coal mines fueled LaSalle's development, and the town was the site of a furious firefight during the Bituminous Coal Miners' Strike of 1894.

Economy
LaSalle is home to the Carus Chemical Company, Illinois Cement Company, Air Products, and the JC Whitney distribution center and Retail Store, Machelle's Backstreet, along with many other local industries and businesses.

Demographics
As of the census of 2010, there were 9,609 people, 4,161 households, and 2,471 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,543.6 people per square mile (595.6/km²). There were 4,510 housing units at an average density of 710.7 per square mile (274.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 93.73% White, 1.28% African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.07% from other races, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.22% of the population.

There were 4,161 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.0% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.6% were non-families. 35.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.4% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 98.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,491, and the median income for a family was $44,638. Males had a median income of $37,095 versus $21,334 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,099. About 12.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Revival
The arrival of the Volunteer (canal boat) on 06-07-2008 is expected to draw over 70,000 visitors a year and pump $5 million into the local economy in the next 3 years.

Notable people

 * James T. Aubrey, Jr., television and film executive
 * Paul Carus Ph.D., (1852‑1919), German-American editor and publisher of Open Court Publishing Company and The Monist.
 * Mike Goff, offensive guard for the Kansas City Chiefs. attended LaSalle-Peru High School.
 * Thomas L. Kilbride, Illinois Supreme Court Justice.
 * Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki (1870–1966), world-famous Buddhism and Zen author who was instrumental in spreading interest in Zen to the West.
 * Hal Cherne, (1907–1983), offensive lineman for the Boston Redskins.
 * Heinie Berger, (1882-1954), pitcher for the Cleveland Naps.
 * John Fitzpatrick, (1904-1990), Major League Baseball coach for the Los Angeles Angels.
 * Deacon Van Buren (1870-1957) outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies. Born in La Salle County, but some say it was the actual city of LaSalle.
 * Philip Godfrey Reinhard, federal judge
 * Alexander Campbell, LaSalle mayor and Illinois politician
 * Albert C. Martin, Sr., architect and engineer