Murphysboro is a city in and the county seat of Jackson County, Illinois, United States.
The population was 7,970 at the 2010 census. The city is part of the Metro Lakeland area.
The mayor of Murphysboro is Will Stephens. The government consists of the mayor and 10
city aldermen.
== Geography == Murphysboro is located at 37°46′2″N 89°20′14″W
(37.767245, -89.337346).According to the 2010 census, Murphysboro has a total area of 5.235
square miles (13.56 km2), of which 5.15 square miles (13.34 km2) (or 98.38%) is land and
0.085 square miles (0.22 km2) (or 1.62%) is water.Murphysboro is located 5 miles (8.0
km) southeast of Kinkaid Lake. Although Murphysboro is only 10 miles east of the Mississippi River,
the nearest access point to the river is in Grand Tower, a roughly 30 minute drive southwest.
As part of the humid subtropical climate (Köppen climate classification Cfa), Murphysboro can
grow a small number of cold hardy palm trees that can live year-round, and can be found
sparingly around the municipality.
== History == Established in September 1843, Murphysboro
is the second county seat of Jackson County. Its birth is tied to the disastrous fire that
destroyed the courthouse in the first county seat, Brownsville. The fire proved to be the
catalyst to move the county seat to a more central location. The name was decided for
the new town when William C. Murphy's name was drawn from a hat containing the names
of the three commissioners who chose the new location, a 20-acre (81,000 m2) tract of land
donated by Dr. John Logan and Elizabeth Logan. The son of the site's donors, Major General
John A. Logan, later became a volunteer general in the Civil War. General Logan is also remembered
for a distinguished political career, serving as Illinois’ US Senator from 1871-1877 and
1880-1886, as well as for running for Vice President in 1884. At the time of his death
he was considered a presidential hopeful. Logan's greatest legacy, however, is his creation
of Memorial Day as a national holiday. The economy of Murphysboro was based on coal
for many of its growing years. It was also important in industry and transportation.On
March 18, 1925, at around 2:30 pm, 234 people were killed when the Tri-State Tornado hit
Murphysboro. This number exceeds the death toll of any single community in a tornado
event in U.S. history. Murphysboro was essentially destroyed. Another F5 affected the area on
December 18, 1957, the latest tornado of that strength recorded during a year.
The Murphysboro Women's Club established the town's public library in 1925. The first library
was the former home of Sarah "Sallie" Oliver Logan, opening in 1938. This library was replaced
with the current location, Sallie Logan Public Library, in 1975.On May 8, 2009 a derecho
windstorm destroyed houses, brought down power lines, and left the town without electricity
for a week. One man was killed by a falling tree limb. The surrounding woodlands and recreational
trails were heavily impacted. This event is colloquially remembered as the "May 8th storm"
or simply "May 8th." In 2017, the total solar eclipse of August
21, 2017 had its point of longest duration (2 minutes, 41.7 seconds) near Murphysboro,
at a point about 8 kilometers to the southeast (89.4030 degrees west longitude, 37.69335
degrees north latitude) in Giant City State Park.
== Demographics ==
As of the census of 2000, there were 13,295 people, 3,704 households, and 2,129 families
residing in the city. The population density was 2,751.3 people per square mile (1,062.8/km²).
There were 4,183 housing units at an average density of 865.6 per square mile (334.4/km²).
The racial makeup of the city was 79.82% White, 15.80% African American, 0.39% Native American,
1.03% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.10% from other races, and 1.77% from two or more
races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.72% of the population.
There were 3,704 households out of which 26.4% had children under the age of 18 living with
them, 39.8% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband
present, and 42.5% were non-families. 37.1% of all households were made up of individuals
and 17.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household
size was 2.20 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the city, the population was spread out with 14.7% under the age of 18, 40.6% from
18 to 24, 18.5% from 25 to 44, 13.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% who were 65 years of age
or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100 females, there were 104.7 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $25,551, and the median income for a family
was $34,987. Males had a median income of $28,216 versus $20,011 for females. The per
capita income for the city was $13,527. About 15.8% of families and 21.3% of the population
were below the poverty line, including 31.4% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age
65 or over.
== Revitalization efforts == In recent years, business and tourism organizations
have been at the front of renewing interest in the town as a center of historical and
cultural tourism. Murphysboro's General John A. Logan Museum,
the Murphysboro Tourism Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, and Friends of Murphysboro have
been working together to restore interest in the maintenance of architectural treasures
such as the Band Shell in Riverside Park, an example of the type of large-scale project
of the Works Progress Administration; the Robert W. Hamilton House, a nearly intact
example of 19th-century Carpenter Gothic architecture; and the Liberty Theater, once a $1-movie house
now converted into a center for regional film festivals, nostalgia nights, and concerts.
The Logan Museum Neighborhood has been the site of a project designed to convert some
of the neighborhood's homes into exhibit and gallery spaces. The Neighborhood currently
consists of the Sheyley House, the Hughes House, the Horsfield Printshop, and the Bullar
House. The Bullar House contains the museum's main offices and exhibit spaces. The Sheyley
House is the headquarters of the Murphysboro Tourism Commission and host to an exhibit
detailing the town's history. The Hughes House is dedicated gallery space available to local
artists. The Horsfield Printshop is the only building of the four not open to the general
public. It houses a seamstress shop that produces replica clothing for local schools and the
General John A. Logan Museum.
== Festivals == Murphysboro is home of the Apple Festival,
always the second weekend after Labor Day. Murphysboro also hosts the Murphysboro Riverside
Blues Festival each year in September at the Historic Riverside park band shell.
Murphysboro hosts the Big Muddy Brewfest every October. It draws 100+ breweries and 2000+
visitors each fall.
== Notable people == John A. Logan (1826-1886), politician and
soldier, Civil War corps commander, U.S. senator, unsuccessful Republican candidate for vice
president, 1884. Joseph B. Gill (1862-1942), politician and
journalist, editor of the Murphysboro Independent, 1886-1893; lieutenant governor of Illinois,
1893-1897. Rudolph Zerses Gill (1866-1951) Architect
of public and municipal buildings were designed in the Romanesque Revival style, Classical
Revival and Modern styles throughout Illinois, Missouri, and Tennessee.
Gilbert H. Poor (1866- ?), homesteader, author, newspaper publisher, machinist, and politician.
Socialist member of the Wisconsin General Assembly.
Otis F. Glenn (1879-1959), attorney and politician, twice Jackson County State's Attorney, 1906-1908,
1916-20, Illinois State Senate, 1920-24; U.S. Senate, 1928-33.
Willard W. Waller (1899-1945), sociologist specializing in the sociology of the family,
the sociology of education, and the sociology of the military.
Monte E Shomaker, Sr (1905-1990) [1], president of the Brown Shoe Company, 1962-1969.
Robert H. Mohlenbrock (born 1931) botanist, university professor, author, co-founder of
Illinois Native Plant Society. Don Ohl (born 1936), professional basketball
player Gary M. Geiger (1937-1996), major league baseball
player Jeff Keener (born 1959), major league baseball
player Michael J. Bost (born 1960), politician, member
of the U.S. House of Representatives L. Bruce Richmond, politician and businessman
R. G. Crisenberry (1882–1965), Illinois state legislator, educator, and businessman
== In popular culture ==
Murphysboro is the setting for Tammy, a 2014 comedy film starring Melissa McCarthy