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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Pana, Illinois

Pana /ˈpnə/ is a small town in Christian County, Illinois, United States. A small portion is in Shelby County. The population was 5,199 at the 2020 census.

History

Tracks and depots of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad and Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad in Pana, 1913

The area around Pana was first organized as Stone Coal Precinct in 1845. The county's precincts became townships in 1856, and Stone Coal Precinct became Pana Township, Christian County, Illinois. In 1857 the village of Pana was incorporated. The name "Pana" is believed to have been derived from the indigenous tribe, the Pawnee. It developed at the intersection of east–west and north–south railroads, and had supplies of fuel and water for the steam engines of the railroad.

This became a center of coal mining in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In April 1899 what is known as the Pana riot broke out after a violent confrontation between black and white miners. Initially a white man was killed (by a policeman, it was later discovered), and white union miners attacked black replacement workers who had been recruited from Alabama. Six additional people were killed: one white (likely also shot by a white man) and five blacks; in addition, six more black miners were wounded. While the immediate violence was quelled, blacks felt tremendous hostility. Rather than return to Alabama and the Jim Crow South, from where they had been recruited, 211 of the nearly 300 African Americans remaining in town moved west to Weir, Kansas, to work at another mine.

It came to be known as the City of Roses, a nickname coined by local newsmen, the Jordan Brothers. Many major florists and growers set up shop here. At one time, there were 109 greenhouses in Pana.

Kitchell Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The Louis Jehle House, added to the National Register in 1995, is also located in Pana.

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Pana has a total area of 4.16 square miles (10.77 km), of which 3.86 square miles (10.00 km) (or 92.60%) is land and 0.31 square miles (0.80 km) (or 7.40%) is water.

Climate

Climate data for Pana, Illinois (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1890–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 74
(23)
76
(24)
88
(31)
92
(33)
101
(38)
106
(41)
115
(46)
108
(42)
105
(41)
95
(35)
84
(29)
74
(23)
115
(46)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 36.6
(2.6)
41.5
(5.3)
52.8
(11.6)
65.6
(18.7)
75.5
(24.2)
84.1
(28.9)
87.3
(30.7)
86.3
(30.2)
80.8
(27.1)
68.2
(20.1)
53.4
(11.9)
41.6
(5.3)
64.5
(18.1)
Daily mean °F (°C) 27.9
(−2.3)
32.0
(0.0)
42.1
(5.6)
53.5
(11.9)
63.9
(17.7)
73.1
(22.8)
76.2
(24.6)
74.5
(23.6)
67.8
(19.9)
55.9
(13.3)
43.3
(6.3)
33.1
(0.6)
53.6
(12.0)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 19.3
(−7.1)
22.6
(−5.2)
31.3
(−0.4)
41.3
(5.2)
52.3
(11.3)
62.0
(16.7)
65.1
(18.4)
62.7
(17.1)
54.8
(12.7)
43.7
(6.5)
33.2
(0.7)
24.6
(−4.1)
42.7
(5.9)
Record low °F (°C) −25
(−32)
−24
(−31)
−6
(−21)
17
(−8)
26
(−3)
35
(2)
45
(7)
41
(5)
26
(−3)
17
(−8)
−3
(−19)
−20
(−29)
−25
(−32)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.78
(71)
2.15
(55)
3.02
(77)
4.80
(122)
4.75
(121)
5.07
(129)
4.01
(102)
3.00
(76)
3.25
(83)
3.53
(90)
3.68
(93)
2.26
(57)
42.30
(1,074)
Average snowfall inches (cm) 5.1
(13)
2.6
(6.6)
2.6
(6.6)
0.5
(1.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.1
(0.25)
0.9
(2.3)
2.7
(6.9)
14.5
(37)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) 8.5 8.1 11.0 11.8 12.8 10.8 9.0 8.3 7.8 9.4 9.6 9.0 116.1
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) 2.7 2.2 1.4 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.5 2.0 9.0
Source: NOAA

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18702,207
18803,00936.3%
18905,07768.7%
19005,5308.9%
19106,0559.5%
19206,1221.1%
19305,835−4.7%
19405,9662.2%
19506,1783.6%
19606,4324.1%
19706,326−1.6%
19806,040−4.5%
19905,796−4.0%
20005,614−3.1%
20105,8474.2%
20205,199−11.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the 2020 census there were 5,199 people, 2,425 households, and 1,320 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,248.56 inhabitants per square mile (482.07/km). There were 2,772 housing units at an average density of 665.71 per square mile (257.03/km). The racial makeup of the town was 95.48% White, 0.38% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.56% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 3.15% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.94% of the population.

There were 2,425 households, out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.27% were married couples living together, 13.77% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.57% were non-families. 37.57% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 2.15.

The town's age distribution consisted of 22.9% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 19.9% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.5 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $47,701, and the median income for a family was $52,935. Males had a median income of $41,116 versus $24,955 for females. The per capita income for the town was $23,692. About 13.3% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.2% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

Arts and culture

Pana Heritage Days

The Pana Heritage Days are an annual festival that takes place during the last weekend in May. Streets are blocked off and are filled with multiple vendors and fair rides. Live band music is generally provided.

Labor Day Parade

The annual Pana Labor Day Parade is attended by up to 15,000 people, the largest such event in all of Illinois. The 2011 parade featured 343 firemen marching to lead the parade in an honor to the firemen, paramedics, and policemen who died in the September 11 attacks. Pana's Labor Day Parade in 2022 was the 88th parade the town has hosted.

Tri-County Fair

The Tri-County Fair is held annually and lasts for six days. The fair begins on the Wednesday before Labor Day and ends on Labor Day. It features many carnival rides, vendors, and games. Average attendance per day is 7,000.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Pana, Illinois
  2. ^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
  3. ^ Young, Chris. "Museum-in-progress to focus on Pana history". The State Journal-Register. Archived from the original on January 22, 2024. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  4. ^ Illinois Central Magazine. Illinois Central Railroad Company. 1922. p. 44.
  5. ^ N. Lenstra (2009). "The African-American mining experience in Illinois from 1800 to 1920" (PDF). University of Illinois IDEALS.
  6. ^ Bureau, US Census. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2022. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  8. ^ "Station: Pana, IL". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 21, 2021.
  9. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  10. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
  11. ^ "Pana Labor Day Parade theme: 'That's Entertainment'". The Breeze-Courier. Retrieved October 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Nin Alexander". Baseball-Reference.Com. Retrieved September 22, 2012.
  13. ^ "Oral History Abstacts - F | Archives and Illinois Regional Archives Depository". library.uis.edu. Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  14. ^ Ramsey, Bruce (2009). Unsanctioned Voice : Garet Garrett, Journalist of the Old Right. Caxton Press. p. 7. ISBN 9780870044854.
  15. ^ "Vincent Sheean". Archived from the original on September 23, 2006. Retrieved October 4, 2006.