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Metropolis, IL


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Metropolis, Illinois

Introduction to Metropolis, Illinois

Located in Massac county, Metropolis, Illinois, is 86 miles SW of Evansville, Indiana (center to center) and 127 miles NW of Nashville, Tennessee. As of the year 2000 census, 6,482 people live in Metropolis.

Metropolis History

The city of Metropolis holds a seat on Massac county, which was formed in 1843 by the Illinois Legislature. The French were the first white settlers to arrive in Massac county in the late 1750s; they built the Fort De L'Ascension during their war with the Native Americans. Soon after, the French settlers rebuilt the fort and renamed it Massaic, after the French Minister of Marine. The fort was again destroyed by the Chickasaw tribes, and rebuilt under the supervision of General George Washington in 1794. It served as a military post for the next 20 years and in 1908 it was officially declared as Illinois' first state park. The present-day territory of Metropolis, situated about a mile west of the fort, was formed in 1839. Before the American Civil War, a proposal was laid to establish a western District of Columbia including the present-day territories of Metropolis and Kentucky. In response, the city was named Metropolis by its founders who envisaged it as a 'City of the West'.

Metropolis and nearby Attractions

  • Fort Massac State Park
  • Super Museum
  • Metropolis Country Club
  • Cache River State Natural Area
  • Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site

Things To Do In Metropolis

Declared as the hometown of the comic book hero 'Superman' by Illinois State Legislature, the city hosts an annual Superman Celebration in June as well as holds The Super Museum and the Superman statue. The riverboat casino, known as the Harrah's Metropolis Casino, is also very popular. The closest golf course to the area is the Metropolis Country Club. The Wickliffe Mounds State Historic Site, which is a village built by Native Americans around 1100 AD, is also nearby.

Metropolis Transportation

Barkley Regional Airport is the closest airport to the city.

Metropolis Higher Education

Higher education is available at John A Logan College, Murray State University, and Southern Illinois University-Carbondale Campus.

High Points

Metropolis strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Illinois):

CategoryTrophy
Short Commute Times
(vs. State)		Top 8%Metropolis Short Commute Times
Affordability of Rents
(vs. Peers)		Top 9%Metropolis Affordability of Rents

Comparative Profile of Metropolis, IL

Comparing Metropolis to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Illinois (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Female Share of the Population1010
Senior Citizens1010
Age of the Population1010
Racial Diversity57
Children Under 5 Years Old33
Well-Paid Single Men22
Male Share of the Population11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Portion of People Married31
Average Household Size11

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Above Poverty32
People in Middle Class or Better21
Median Family Income21
College Educated Adults13

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Short Commute Times910
Walking and Biking to Work89
Public Transportation Use35
Working at Home22

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
People Living Alone1010
Affordability of Rents109
Affordability of Property Taxes99
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals48
Seasonal and Vacation Housing46
Housing Recently Built35

Detailed pages on related topics: Metropolis travel • Metropolis mortgage and property.

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Additional Details

Metropolis Hotels & TravelMetropolis Hotels & Travel
Metropolis hotels, landmarks, tourism, transportation.
Metropolis MortgageMetropolis Mortgage
Metropolis property, mortgage, and real estate.

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