Collinsville, Illinois

Collinsville is a city located mainly in Madison County, and partially in St. Clair County, both in Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 26,016. Collinsville is approximately 12 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is considered part of that city's Metro-East area. Famously, it is the home of the world's largest ketchup bottle, a former water tower, and is the world's horseradish capital.

Geography
Collinsville is located at 38.67444°N, -89.99528°W (38.674398, -89.995402). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 13.6 square miles (35.2 km²), of which, 13.6 square miles (35.2 km²) of it is land and 0.07% is water. Collinsville is approximately 12 miles due east of Saint Louis, MO.

Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,707 people, 10,458 households, and 6,672 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,817.4 people per square mile (701.9/km²). There were 11,025 housing units at an average density of 811.0 per square mile (313.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.48% White, 5.85% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.59% from other races, and 1.19% Hispanic (according to the two-question "short form" of the 22nd federal census, 2000).

There were 10,458 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.3 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,353, and the median income for a family was $54,956. Males had a median income of $39,379 versus $27,409 for females. The per capita income for the city was $22,048. About 5.6% of families and 7.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.

Identifying traits
Collinsville is the self-proclaimed "Horseradish Capital of the World", and sponsors an annual Horseradish Fest. The area is said to produce 85% of the world's horseradish, of such high quality that Germany and China (key users of the herb) import it for gourmet use. Known for having a large ethnic Italian population, Collinsville hosts an annual Italian Fest in the Fall.

The 90W longitude line passes through Collinsville.

Collinsville is also home of "the world's largest catsup bottle", a 170 ft water tower in the shape of a ketchup bottle.

The Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site is located within the city limits of Collinsville. The largest Pre-Columbian settlement north of Mexico, this was one of the first eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites designated within the United States. At its peak about 1200 CE, it had a population of 20,000-30,000, more than any city in the present-day United States until after 1800. It includes Monks Mound, the largest prehistoric earthwork in the Americas, and more than 70 surviving smaller mounds. Monks Mound is larger at its base than the Great Pyramid of Giza. The complex also includes a reconstructed Woodhenge, used for complex astronomical sightings. There is a museum and visitors' center.

During World War I, a Collinsville mob lynched a German-American citizen, the only such murder in the country. On April 5, 1918, a mob of men numbering in the hundreds took Robert Prager from his home and paraded him through the streets barefoot and wrapped in an American flag, forcing him to sing patriotic songs. The Collinsville police interceded and took him into protective custody. A group formed outside of the city jail, however, and, threatening to burn it down, were permitted entry. Two men found Prager hiding in the basement. They took him outside and the mob marched him to the outskirts of town, where they lynched him. His final request was to be buried in the American flag. Eleven men stood trial for the murder, but all were acquitted.

Collinsville High School, whose teams are stylized as the Kahoks (named for a fictional Native American tribe), have won several Illinois State Championships, in 1961, 1965 (basketball), 1980 (baseball), 1981, 1986, 1991, 1992 (soccer), and 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011 (Dance Team).

Notable people

 * Art Fletcher, former professional MLB player was born in Collinsville.
 * Tom Jager, Olympic gold-medal swimmer.
 * Tony Malinosky, baseball player
 * Terry Moore, center fielder for the St. Louis Cardinals teams.
 * George Musso, pro Football Hall of Famer for the Chicago Bears.
 * Antoinette and Alexandra Picatto, sister actresses born in Collinsville.
 * Robert Prager, a German immigrant residing in Illinois was lynched in Collinsville during World War I.
 * Joe Reiniger, was a soccer player in the Major Indoor Soccer League (MISL), currently plays soccer for the St. Louis Illusion.
 * John Shimkus, Republican Congressman.
 * Kevin Stallings, head coach of the Vanderbilt Men's Basketball team.
 * Michael Stipe, lead singer of rock band R.E.M., spent his high school years in Collinsville, and graduated from Collinsville High School in 1978.