East St. Louis, Illinois

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East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from Saint Louis, Missouri. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 31,542.

East St. Louis is one of the more impoverished communities in Illinois. The decline of industrial activity has brought about unemployment in East St. Louis. The city is still de facto segregated with a large African American population.

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Geography

East St. Louis is located at 38°36'56" North, 90°7'40" West (38.615550, -90.127825)1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 37.4 km² (14.4 mi²). 36.4 km² (14.1 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.56% water.

East St. Louis usually experiences cold winters and warm summers. On July 14, 1954 the temperature at East Saint Louis unexpectedly rose to 117°F (48°C), the highest temperature ever recorded in Illinois.

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Demographics

As of the census2 of 2000, there were 31,542 people, 11,178 households, and 7,668 families residing in the city. The population density is 866.2/km² (2,242.9/mi²). There are 12,899 housing units at an average density of 354.2/km² (917.2/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 1.23% White, 97.74% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.19% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.73% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 11,178 households out of which 33.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 21.9% are married couples living together, 40.6% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.4% are non-families. 27.8% of all households are made up of individuals and 10.4% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.80 and the average family size is 3.42.

In the city the population is spread out with 32.8% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 24.6% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 31 years. For every 100 females there are 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 72.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $21,324, and the median income for a family is $24,567. Males have a median income of $27,864 versus $21,850 for females. The per capita income for the city is $11,169. 35.1% of the population and 31.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 48.6% of those under the age of 18 and 25.2% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.

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History

Several destructive tornadoes have hit East St. Louis, the deadliest being the St. Louis-East St. Louis Tornado of 1896 which killed at least 255, injured over 1000, and incurred an estimated $2.9 billion in damages (1997 USD).

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The East St. Louis Riots of 1917

East St. Louis in 1917 had a strong economy boosted by World War I — in response, many African Americans were recruited to work at the Aluminum Ore Company and the American Steel Company. However, resentment on the part of whites planted fear of job security in the population, which eventually manifested itself in rumors of black men and white women fraternizing at a labor meeting on May 28. Immediately, 3000 people had rushed downtown, beating every African American in sight — they destroyed buildings and beat people, but nobody was killed. The National Guard was called in, which prevented further rioting, but rumors continued to circulate about an organized attack from the blacks.

On July 1, a black man shot his white attacker, which was retaliated with a drive-by shooting. When police came to investigate, the African American who had been attacked returned fire, thinking them to be the attackers from before. The next morning, thousands of white spectators who saw the bloodstained automobile marched to the black section of town and started rioting. After cutting the hoses of the fire department, the rioters burned entire sections of the city, shooting the inhabitants as they escaped the flames. Claiming that "Southern niggers deserve[d] a genuine lynching,"1 they hung several blacks. Guardsmen were called in, but several accounts reported that they joined in the rioting rather than stopping it. Everyone joined in including "ten or fifteen young girls about 18 years old, [who] chased a negro woman at the Relay Depot at about 5 o'clock. The girls were brandishing clubs and calling upon the men to kill the woman."2

See also: Saint Louis, Missouri

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Famous people

Tennis legend Jimmy Connors was born in East St. Louis, but grew up in nearby Belleville. Actually, Jimmy Connors lived on Lake Drive, near Frank Holten State Park for years. His parents moved to Belleville AFTER Connors was living on his own and establishing himself as one of the great stars of the tennis world. Connors' father was a toll-taker on the Veterans Bridge now called the Dr. Martin Luther King Memorial Bridge.

Track legend Jackie Joyner-Kersee was born and raised in East St. Louis. Also, current Illinois Senator and Democratic Whip Richard Durbin is a native of East St. Louis. Jazz legend Miles Davis was born in Alton but grew up here. Cardinal Ritter College Prep Alumnus, Montrece Lyons, also resides there. Blues legends Albert King and B.B. King also have ties to the city. NFL Former NFL All-Pro Tight-end Kellen Winslow was born in St. Louis, but raised in East St. Louis.

Poet-laurate Eugene Redmond is a native of East St. Louis.

Josephine Baker After surviving the 1917 race riots in East St. Louis, she ran away at 13 to dance in vaudeville, on Broadway and eventually with the Folies Bergre in Paris where she became one of the best-known entertainers in Europe. During World War II she gathered intelligence for the French Resistance.

Katherine Dunham A dancer, choreographer, anthropologist and author, she introduced U.S. and European audiences to Caribbean- and African-based dance movements.

Lillian Gish One of the great silent screen stars, she was nominated for an Oscar in 1946 for "Duel in the Sun" and received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute in 1984.

Reginald Hudlin Screenwriter and director of "House Party" in 1990, he has since directed "Serving Sara," and "The Ladies Man."

Tina Turner Born Anna Mae Bullock, this Grammy-winning R&B singer, known for her powerful vocals and athletic dancing, met Ike Turner in 1956 at the Club Manhattan in East St. Louis, joined his band and married him.

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External links


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References

  • Heaps, Willard Allison. "Target of Prejudice: The Negro." Riots, U.S.A., 1765–1970. New York: The Seabury Press, 1970. 108–117.
  • Kozol, Jonathan. "Life on the Mississippi." Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools. Crown, 1991. 7–39. ISBN 051758221X
  • "Race Rioters Fire East St. Louis and Shoot or Hang Many Negroes; Dead Estimated at from 20 to 76." New York Times 3 July 1917.
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