Newton, Illinois
Newton is a city of 2,932 people in Jasper County, Illinois, founded in 1835.
Why visit Newton
Townapedia lists 3 parks and trails, 1 place to eat, 1 place to stay and 1 attraction in and around town.
Highlights include Embarras River Bridge.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in Newton
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Newton
Newton is a city in and the county seat of Jasper County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,777 at the 2020 census. Newton is home to a large coal-fired power plant operated by Illinois Power Generating Co and is close to Newton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area and Sam Parr State Fish and Wildlife Area.
From the Wikipedia article Newton, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do1
Embarras River Bridge
Bridge · National Register of Historic Places
Bridge in United States of America
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes1
Where to stay1
History
Newton is the largest, oldest and only city (although there are several villages) in Jasper County. Because of its favorable location within the county, it was named county seat in 1835.
Jasper County was formed in 1831 and approved on December 19, 1834. The county was named after Revolutionary War hero Sergeant Jasper. He and his close friend, Sergeant Newton, were patriots that saved American prisoners of war from certain death at the hands of British soldiers. Thus, the county and town became their namesakes.
A post office was established in Newton in March 1883. The post office was not established in a building, but rather in a man's hat. A rider brought the mail from Vincennes, Indiana, made a stop in Newton once a week and then continued delivering mail on his route north of Newton.
By 1841 the town had increased to five families. Lawrence Hollenbock and Samuel Garwood built a saw- and gristmill, and Benjamin Harris opened the first grocery store in Newton. In 1855, Newton had Miller's Hotel and a small inn known as the American House that is now Yesterday's Pub and Dining.
By 1865, the population of Newton had grown to 300; a decade later the population had reached 400. In 1874 Joe Litzelman's Hack Express began traveling daily to and from Olney on what is now Route 130.
From the History section of Newton, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship4
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries7
Map of Newton
20 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 22°F | 3.2 in | 5.3 in |
| Feb | 42°F | 25°F | 2.6 in | 3.9 in |
| Mar | 53°F | 34°F | 3.7 in | 2.1 in |
| Apr | 65°F | 44°F | 5.0 in | 0.2 in |
| May | 74°F | 55°F | 4.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 64°F | 5.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 67°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 85°F | 65°F | 3.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 80°F | 57°F | 3.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 68°F | 46°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 53°F | 35°F | 3.9 in | 0.7 in |
| Dec | 42°F | 27°F | 3.1 in | 3.8 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Newton (1 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Jasper County has had 7 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for biologicals.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2013-11-26: Severe Storms, Straight-Line Winds, And Tornadoes (Tornado)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2008-06-24: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2005-09-07: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation (Hurricane)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Olney-Noble Airport (OLY) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 19 miles away.
- Greenup 18 mi north, about 29 min by car
- Effingham 23 mi northwest, about 37 min by car
- Casey 24 mi northeast, about 39 min by car
- Flora 28 mi southwest, about 45 min by car
- Neoga 28 mi northwest, about 45 min by car
- Bridgeport 29 mi southeast, about 47 min by car
- Lawrenceville 31 mi southeast, about 50 min by car
- Altamont 32 mi west, about 51 min by car
- Charleston 34 mi north, about 55 min by car
- Mattoon 36 mi north, about 57 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Jasper County Courthouse in Newton, Nyttend, Public domain
- Old Embarras River Bridge at Newton, Nyttend, Public domain
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