Mill Shoals is a village in Wayne and White counties in the U.S. State of Illinois. The population was 235 at the 2000 census, down to 176 at the 2020 census. In Fall 2022, Drew Lane Consultants LLC conducted a village-wide survey that totaled population at 157. The Village of Mill Shoals is located 4 hours and 14 minutes driving directly south of the City of Chicago (with no traffic), 58 minutes driving directly northwest of Evansville, Indiana, 2 hours and 9 minutes driving directly west of Louisville, Kentucky, and 1 hour and 42 minutes directly east of St. Louis, Missouri. The Village is home to a U.S. Post Office, community center, private grain elevator, and two churches. Residents are active members of the 4-H, FFA, and Ruritans.
History
The first Euro-American settlers, primarily of Scotch-Irish descent, came to White County, Illinois between 1807 and 1809. The first settlements were near the Little Wabash River and Big Prairie, one of the numerous prairies in the county. Many came through the land office at Shawneetown, which was a port for flatboats which traveled the Ohio River. The second half of the 19th century saw the establishment of the towns of Norris City, Springerton including Mill Shoals. Once the home of a thriving barrel-making industry which depleted the nearby virgin forests Mill Shoals had primarily been an agriculture village until 1939 when oil was discovered in the area. In the early 1970s the oil industry declined steeply and thus returned Mill Shoals to its agricultural roots.
The town retains the authentic WPA Post office mural.
upright|alt=Village of Mill Shoals, Illinois, Fairfield Rural Fire Department Branch|thumb|Village of Mill Shoals, Illinois, Fairfield Rural Fire Department Branch
A Portrait of the Village of Mill Shoals in 1978
From the Institute of Cultural Affairs 1978 Human Development Project Report
Mill Shoals is located in Illinois, two-thirds of the way from St. Louis, Missouri, to Evansville, Indiana, at the juncture of Interstate 64 and U.S. Highway 45.
Local Geography
Source:
At the 2020 census, there were 176 people, a median household income of $51,731, 4.3% of the population held a bachelor's degree or Higher, 51% were employed, 97 total housing units, 3.5% without healthcare coverage, 70 families residing in the village, and 35 as the median age, 39 as the median age in Illinois.
2020 Census Ancestry
2.9% of the Village residents have Italian Ancestry compared to the 5.3% of the state of Illinois. Ancestry of the Village of Mill Shoals is 9.8% English, 38.2% German, 20.8% Irish, 2.9% Italian, 1.2% Norwegian, 11.6% Polish, 0% Scottish, 0% Subs-saharan Africa, and 0% French. there were 235 people, 111 households, and 72 families residing in the village. The population density was . There were 133 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the village was 99.57% White, and 0.43% from two or more races.
There were 111 households, out of which 24.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 5.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.67.
In the village, the population was spread out, with 20.0% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 18.7% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $27,292, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $34,375 versus $20,000 for females. The per capita income for the village was $14,355. About 5.7% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under the age of eighteen and 11.4% of those 65 or over.
Economy
Agriculture plays a significant role in the economy of Mill Shoals, Illinois, and the surrounding area. The town is located in a region that is known for its fertile soil, making it an ideal location for farming. The primary crops grown in the area include corn, soybeans, and wheat. In addition to crop production, the area is also home to several livestock farms, including beef and dairy cattle, pigs, and poultry. These farms not only provide food for the local community but also contribute to the economy through job creation and the sale of agricultural products. Overall, agriculture is a vital part of Mill Shoals' economy and way of life.
Infrastructure
<blockquote>Public facilities include a post office, the elementary school, a combination town hall and fire station. and a new town recreation park under construction. The 176 housing units in Mill Shoals are mainly small, single family dwellings, nearly one fourth of which are mobile homes. Fifty-five per cent of the housing was judged sound in a 1976 survey. At that time, about five per cent of the units were vacant, several of which could be restored for community projects.
The city water is piped into a majority of the homes, while others have pressurized cisterns.
Sewage is processed in septic tanks, many of which are sub-standard. Drainage for the considerable overflow is through open ditches, prohibiting normal laundry activity within the community and occasioning a serious health hazard.
Gas heating and electricity are found in most homes, but telephones are more scarce.
Four of the five churches serving the area are located in Mill Shoals.