Moving to Charleston, Illinois

Population: 21,039. Estimated population in July 2024: 20,189 (-4.0% change)
Males: 9,781 (46.5%), Females: 11,258 (53.5%)

Coles County

Zip code: 61920

Demographics

Median resident age: 22.7 years
Median household income: $24,140
Median house value: $80,100

Population by Race

Races in Charleston:

  • White Non-Hispanic (91.5%)
  • Black (4.2%)
  • Hispanic (1.8%)
  • Two or more races (1.1%)
  • American Indian (0.5%)

Ancestries: German (27.9%), Irish (17.2%), English (11.1%), United States (7.0%), Italian (4.9%), Polish (4.1%).

Elevation: 686 feet

Land area: 8.0 square miles

Map of Charleston, IL

Population by Education

For population 25 years and over in Charleston

  • High school or higher: 83.9%
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher: 33.1%
  • Graduate or professional degree: 17.3%
  • Unemployed: 7.5%
  • Mean travel time to work: 14.4 minutes

For population 15 years and over in Charleston city

  • Never married: 55.2%
  • Now married: 31.9%
  • Separated: 0.9%
  • Widowed: 4.9%
  • Divorced: 7.0%

2.2% Foreign born (1.0% Asia, 0.7% Europe, 0.4% Latin America).

Population change in the 1990s: +427 (+2.1%).

Hospitals

Hospitals/medical centers near Charleston:

  • SARAH BUSH LINCOLN HEALTH CENTER (about 14 miles; MATTOON, IL)
  • PARIS COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 35 miles; PARIS, IL)
  • ST ANTHONYS MEMORIAL HOSPITAL (about 37 miles; EFFINGHAM, IL)

Airports

Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to Charleston:

  • COLES COUNTY MEMORIAL (about 7 miles; MATTOON/CHARLESTON, IL; Abbreviation: MTO)
  • UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-WILLARD (about 38 miles; CHAMPAIGN/URBANA, IL; Abbreviation: CMI)
  • DECATUR (about 53 miles; DECATUR, IL; Abbreviation: DEC)

Other public-use airports nearest to Charleston:

  • CASEY MUNI (about 18 miles; CASEY, IL; Abbreviation: 1H8)
  • TUSCOLA (about 21 miles; TUSCOLA, IL; Abbreviation: K96)
  • EFFINGHAM COUNTY MEMORIAL (about 38 miles; EFFINGHAM, IL; Abbreviation: 1H2)

Amtrak station near Charleston:

  • 14 miles: MATTOON (1718 BROADWAY). Services: enclosed waiting area, public restrooms, public payphones, free short-term parking, free long-term parking, call for taxi service.

Colleges and Universities

College/University in Charleston:

  • EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY (Full-time enrollment: 9,582; Location: 600 LINCOLN AVE; Public; Website: www.eiu.edu; Offers Master’s degree)

Other colleges/universities with over 2000 students near Charleston:

  • LAKE LAND COLLEGE (about 14 miles; MATTOON, IL; Full-time enrollment: 3,666)
  • PARKLAND COLLEGE (about 44 miles; CHAMPAIGN, IL; Full-time enrollment: 5,186)
  • UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN (about 44 miles; Champaign, IL; Full-time enrollment: 36,284)
  • INDIANA STATE UNIVERSITY (about 54 miles; TERRE HAUTE, IN; Full-time enrollment: 9,597)
  • IVY TECH STATE COLLEGE-WABASH VALLEY (about 55 miles; TERRE HAUTE, IN; Full-time enrollment: 2,099)
  • MILLIKIN UNIVERSITY (about 63 miles; DECATUR, IL; Full-time enrollment: 2,274)
  • VINCENNES UNIVERSITY (about 73 miles; VINCENNES, IN; Full-time enrollment: 6,201)

Schools

Public high school in Charleston:

  • CHARLESTON HIGH SCHOOL (Students: 911; Location: 1603 LINCOLN; Grades: 09 – 12)

Private high school in Charleston:

  • CALVARY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Students: 36; Location: 7700 N COUNTY RD 1200 EAST; Grades: KG – 12)

Public primary/middle schools in Charleston:

  • JEFFERSON ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 688; Location: 801 JEFFERSON AVE; Grades: PK – 06)
  • CARL SANDBURG ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 554; Location: 1924 REYNOLDS DR; Grades: PK – 03)
  • CHARLESTON MIDDLE SCHOOL (Students: 455; Location: 920 SMITH DR; Grades: 07 – 08)
  • MARK TWAIN ELEM SCHOOL (Students: 169; Location: 1021 13TH ST; Grades: KG – KG)
  • MATTOON BRIDGES (Students: 18; Location: 730 7TH ST; Grades: 07 – 11)
  • EASTERN IL EFE/DUAL CREDIT (Location: 730 7TH STREET; Grades: 00 – 00)
  • CHARLESTON BRIDGES (Location: 730 7TH STREET STE A; Grades: 00 – 00)

Libraries

Library in Charleston:

  • CHARLESTON CARNEGIE P.L. (Operating income: $417,467; Location: 712 SIXTH ST; 52,039 books; 3,990 audio materials; 1,480 video materials; 202 serial subscriptions)