Comprehensive Plan - Carbondale, IL

Adopted June 22, 2010validates many of those discussed by residents. See attached summaries entitledDemographic Comparison of College Communities in Illinois and Readiness forEconomic Development.1.2 Where is Carbondale’s populationheading?Over the past 100+ years, The City of Carbondale’s population has multiplied byeight, while Jackson County’s population has nearly doubled, as shown in Table1.1, Historical Population. In 1900, the City of Carbondale accounted for 10percent of the County. Between 1910 and 1950, Carbondale experienced strongpopulation growth due to the emergence of the City as a rail hub for the IllinoisCentral Railroad. However, the explosive population growth that occurred postWorld War II launched Carbondale towards its present size and status. Between1950 and 1970, SIU student enrollment flourished, as did sources of employment inthe area. The decades of aggressive growth on the part of the University representedan unusually high rate of population increase. The implications of this rapid risein population growth are still seen today in the City’s land use and transportationpatterns of the community.Comprehensive PlanTable 1.1Historical PopulationYearCarbondalePercentChangeCity Shareof CountyPopulationJacksonCountyPercentChange1900 3,318 __ 9.8% 33,871 __1910 5,411 63.1% 15.8% 34,173 0.9%1920 6,267 15.8% 16.9% 37,091 8.5%1930 7,528 20.1% 21.1% 35,650 -3.9%1940 8,550 13.6% 22.5% 37,920 6.4%1950 10,021 17.2% 26.3% 38,124 0.5%1960 14,670 46.4% 34.8% 42,151 10.6%1970 22,816 55.5% 41.5% 55,008 30.5%1980 26,414 15.8% 42.8% 61,649 12.1%1990 27,033 2.3% 44.3% 61,067 -0.9%2000 25,597 -5.3% 42.9% 59,612 -2.4%2007 26,367 3.0% 45.2% 58,233 -2.3%SOURCE: U.S. CENSUS BUREAU, SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY, AND ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OFCOMMERCE AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY (DCEO)1.3Community Overview