Hoopeston, Illinois

Image:McFerren Park in Hoopeston Illinois.png

Hoopeston was laid out in 1871. It was named for Thomas Hoopes, one of the men who offered land for the crossing of two railroads: the Lafayette, Bloomington and Western Railroad and the Chicago, Danville and Vincennes Railroad.{{cite book

| last = Jones

| first = Lottie E.

| title = History of Vermilion County, Illinois (volume 1)

| publisher = Pioneer Publishing Company

| year = 1911

| location = Chicago, Illinois

| pages = 224}}{{cite book

| last = Stapp

| first = Katherine

|author2=W. I. Bowman

| title = History Under Our Feet: The Story of Vermilion County, Illinois

| publisher = Interstate Printers and Publishers, Inc.

| year = 1968

| location = Danville, Illinois

| pages = 42–44}} The two railroads separated the town into four sections. The latter railroad still exists and is now operated jointly by CSX Transportation and Union Pacific Railroad.{{cite web

|title=Illinois Railroad Map

|publisher=Illinois Department of Transportation

|date=January 2006

|url=http://www.dot.il.gov/officialrailmap.pdf

|access-date=2007-09-23

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070822105705/http://www.dot.il.gov/officialrailmap.pdf

|archive-date=2007-08-22

}}

In 1890, Greer College was established in Hoopeston, funded by a gift of $40,000 and {{convert|500|acre|km2}} of land from John Greer.

Business and manufacturing in Hoopeston have historically been related to agriculture. In 1875, S. S. McCall established the Illinois Canning Company to can locally grown vegetables, and this was so successful that in 1878 the Hoopeston Canning Company was established, which later became part of Stokely-Van Camp, Inc. In addition, Silgan Can (formerly American Can) had a factory which manufactured the tin cans themselves, and an FMC plant manufactured agricultural machinery. There was also an engine company there until at least 1915, the Hoopeston Gas Engine Company, which catered to agriculture and home use. Hoopeston was also the location of one of several prisoner of war camps housing German soldiers during World War II (see German Prisoner of War Camp, Hoopeston, Illinois); many POWs picked crops for the canneries.

In honor of its agricultural roots, including the growing of sweet corn, Hoopeston holds a Sweet Corn Festival each September, starting the Thursday before Labor Day and ending on Labor Day. In association with the festival, the Miss National Sweetheart is held during the same week. Runners-up from the Miss America state pageants are eligible to compete for the title of Miss National Sweetheart.

Hoopeston is now surrounded by many wind turbines that have been organized into computerized wind farms.{{cite web |url=https://www.thewindpower.net/windfarm_en_18676_hoopeston.php |title=Hoopeston (USA) |author= |date= |work=The Wind Power |access-date=November 6, 2022 |quote=}}

Hoopeston is located at the intersection of Illinois Route 1 and Illinois Route 9, about one mile from the north edge of Vermilion County. According to the 2010 census, Hoopeston has a total area of {{convert|3.69|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, all land.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1736061

|title=G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1

|access-date=2015-12-27

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213053238/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US1736061

|archive-date=2020-02-13

|url-status=dead

}}

{{Weather box

|location = Hoopeston, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1887–present)

|single line = Y

|width = auto

| Jan record high F = 69

| Feb record high F = 73

| Mar record high F = 86

| Apr record high F = 93

| May record high F = 101

| Jun record high F = 107

| Jul record high F = 111

| Aug record high F = 106

| Sep record high F = 103

| Oct record high F = 94

| Nov record high F = 81

| Dec record high F = 72

| year record high F = 111

| Jan high F = 33.5

| Feb high F = 38.3

| Mar high F = 50.4

| Apr high F = 63.9

| May high F = 74.3

| Jun high F = 82.7

| Jul high F = 84.8

| Aug high F = 83.4

| Sep high F = 78.6

| Oct high F = 65.6

| Nov high F = 50.4

| Dec high F = 38.1

| year high F = 62.0

| Jan mean F = 25.9

| Feb mean F = 30.0

| Mar mean F = 40.7

| Apr mean F = 52.6

| May mean F = 63.4

| Jun mean F = 72.2

| Jul mean F = 74.7

| Aug mean F = 72.9

| Sep mean F = 66.9

| Oct mean F = 55.0

| Nov mean F = 41.8

| Dec mean F = 31.0

| year mean F = 52.3

| Jan low F = 18.3

| Feb low F = 21.7

| Mar low F = 30.9

| Apr low F = 41.3

| May low F = 52.5

| Jun low F = 61.7

| Jul low F = 64.5

| Aug low F = 62.5

| Sep low F = 55.2

| Oct low F = 44.4

| Nov low F = 33.2

| Dec low F = 23.9

| year low F = 42.5

| Jan record low F = −24

| Feb record low F = −25

| Mar record low F = −10

| Apr record low F = 4

| May record low F = 25

| Jun record low F = 34

| Jul record low F = 43

| Aug record low F = 36

| Sep record low F = 25

| Oct record low F = 9

| Nov record low F = -10

| Dec record low F = −22

| year record low F = -25

| precipitation colour = green

| Jan precipitation inch = 2.12

| Feb precipitation inch = 1.96

| Mar precipitation inch = 2.82

| Apr precipitation inch = 3.95

| May precipitation inch = 4.78

| Jun precipitation inch = 4.89

| Jul precipitation inch = 4.59

| Aug precipitation inch = 3.96

| Sep precipitation inch = 3.36

| Oct precipitation inch = 3.43

| Nov precipitation inch = 2.91

| Dec precipitation inch = 2.12

| year precipitation inch = 40.89

| Jan snow inch = 6.5

| Feb snow inch = 5.2

| Mar snow inch = 2.2

| Apr snow inch = 0.4

| May snow inch = 0.0

| Jun snow inch = 0.0

| Jul snow inch = 0.0

| Aug snow inch = 0.0

| Sep snow inch = 0.0

| Oct snow inch = 0.1

| Nov snow inch = 0.6

| Dec snow inch = 5.3

| year snow inch = 20.3

| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

| Jan precipitation days = 8.8

| Feb precipitation days = 8.1

| Mar precipitation days = 8.6

| Apr precipitation days = 11.0

| May precipitation days = 11.4

| Jun precipitation days = 10.4

| Jul precipitation days = 9.1

| Aug precipitation days = 8.0

| Sep precipitation days = 7.5

| Oct precipitation days = 8.7

| Nov precipitation days = 8.5

| Dec precipitation days = 7.8

| year precipitation days = 107.9

| unit snow days = 0.1 in

| Jan snow days = 4.1

| Feb snow days = 3.5

| Mar snow days = 1.5

| Apr snow days = 0.4

| May snow days = 0.0

| Jun snow days = 0.0

| Jul snow days = 0.0

| Aug snow days = 0.0

| Sep snow days = 0.0

| Oct snow days = 0.0

| Nov snow days = 0.9

| Dec snow days = 2.6

| year snow days = 13.0

|source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=ilx

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = July 21, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00114198&format=pdf

| title = Station: Hoopeston, IL

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = July 21, 2021}}

}}

{{US Census population

|align=left

|1880= 1272

|1890= 1911

|1900= 3823

|1910= 4698

|1920= 5451

|1930= 5613

|1940= 5381

|1950= 5992

|1960= 6606

|1970= 6461

|1980= 6411

|1990= 5871

|2000= 5965

|2010= 5351

|2020= 4915

|align-fn=center

|footnote=[https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html U.S. Decennial Census]

}}

Hoopeston is part of the Danville, Illinois, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2018-03-24|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2010, there were 5,351 people residing in the city. The population density was 1,451.7 people per square mile. There were 2,529 housing units. The racial makeup of the city was 91.79% White, 0.82% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 5.60% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 8.38% of the population.

There were 2,369 households, out of which 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.5% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.8% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.6 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $31,947, and the median income for a family was $39,368. Males had a median income of $31,656 versus $20,474 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,055. About 12.3% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.6% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

• Hoopeston Area High School
• Hoopeston Area Middle School serves 8th, 7th, and 6th-grade students
• John Greer Grade School (originally known as John Greer College) serves 5th, 4th and 3rd-grade students.
• Maple Grade School serves kindergarten through 2nd-grade students.

Honeywell School, formerly serving 3rd and 4th-grade students, was closed at the end of the 2015–2016 school year due to funding cuts and declining enrollment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.commercial-news.com/news/local_news/hoopeston-s-honeywell-to-close-doors-for-good/article_4f45e98a-2113-5d28-8da6-3b3058b1c2d7.html|title = Hoopeston's Honeywell to close doors for good}}

The school teams are named the "Cornjerkers", a term describing farm workers who picked corn prior to the use of mechanized corn picker implements.

Hoopeston Area High School is the alma mater of former Ohio State University head men's basketball coach Thad Matta.

Hoopeston is served by the Hoopeston Carnegie Public Library.{{cite web | url=http://hooplib.org | title=Homepage | publisher=Hoopeston Public Library District | access-date=24 June 2014}}

The Miss National Sweetheart beauty pageant was created in 1941. Its contestants are runners-up from the Miss America state pageants who have been invited to Hoopeston for the competition.{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16754286/newspress/ |title=Illinois town takes the title for corniest festival |last=Guebert|first=Alan|date=6 September 2000|work=Fort Myers News-Press}} The event, which has no official ties to the Miss America Organization, is sponsored by the Hoopeston Jaycees and is held on Labor Day weekend in conjunction with the town's annual Sweetcorn Festival.{{cite news|title=Hoopeston festival a rich, and corny, tradition|newspaper=The News-Gazette|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/living/2007-09-03/hoopeston-festival-rich-and-corny-tradition.html?quicktabs_1=0|date=2007-09-03|first=Pam|last=Dempsey}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/16754110/the_newsmessenger/ |title=Pretty Losers Vie for National Sweetheart Title|date=25 August 1967|work=The News-Messenger}} Most contestants were the first runners-up in their state pageants, but second and other runners-up are invited if the first runner-up chooses not to attend.{{cite news|title=Still Dreaming of Miss America Crown?|publisher=The Island Packet|url=https://news.google.co.nz/newspapers?id=AW8iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vKwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1423,519997&dq=national-sweetheart+hoopeston&hl=en|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130222231811/http://news.google.co.nz/newspapers?id=AW8iAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vKwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1423,519997&dq=national-sweetheart+hoopeston&hl=en|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 22, 2013}} The winner of the title receives a $1,200 scholarship and a pendant shaped like an ear of corn.

Winning this title does not guarantee that a contestant will win a Miss America state title, but since 1980, five Miss National Sweetheart winners have gone on to win both their state and the Miss America title. Since 1970 there have been nine Miss America titleholders who have competed in the National Sweetheart pageant.{{Cite news|url=http://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/2016-09-01/national-sweetheart-pageant-soldiers-28-contestants.html|title=National Sweetheart Pageant soldiers on with 28 contestants|last=Crane|first=Tracy|date=1 September 2006|work=News-Gazette}}

In 2016, the Miss America organization officially disassociated itself with the Miss National Sweetheart Organization. Pursuant to their decision, Miss America state pageant contestants are prohibited from competing for Miss National Sweetheart.{{cite web|first= Nicolas |last= Huba |url= http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/missamerica/miss-america-hopefuls-can-t-do-national-sweetheart-pageant-report/article_525d5eb2-de7e-11e5-8007-d356ca23b416.html |publisher= Press of Atlantic City |title=Miss America hopefuls can't do National Sweetheart pageant, report says |date=February 28, 2016}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category|Hoopeston, Illinois}}

{{Portal|Illinois}}

• [http://www.cityofhoopeston.com City of Hoopeston]
• [http://www.hoopeston.k12.il.us Hoopeston school district]

{{Vermilion County, Illinois}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Cities in Illinois

Category:Cities in Vermilion County, Illinois

Category:Populated places established in 1871

Category:1871 establishments in Illinois