Centreville, Illinois

Centreville is located at 38°35′4″N 90°6′14″W (38.584583, -90.103768).[3]

According to the 2010 census, Centreville has a total area of 4.287 square miles (11.10 km²), of which 4.23 square miles (10.96 km²) (or 98.67%) is land and 0.057 square miles (0.15 km²) (or 1.33%) is water.[4]

At the 2000 census there were 5,951 people in 2,125 households, including 1,476 families, in the city. The population density was 1,373.3 people per square mile (530.6/km²). There were 2,363 housing units at an average density of 545.3 per square mile (210.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.46% African American, 3.38% White, 0.13% Native American, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57%.[6]

Of the 2,125 households 34.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 27.5% were married couples living together, 35.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 26.8% of households were one person and 11.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.80 and the average family size was 3.38.

The age distribution was 33.5% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 23.9% from 25 to 44, 20.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.2% 65 or older. The median age was 31 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.2 males.

The median household income was $23,500 and the median family income was $27,310. Males had a median income of $32,024 versus $23,528 for females. The per capita income for the city was $11,150. About 28.7% of families and 34.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 48.4% of those under age 18 and 14.6% of those age 65 or over.

• Edward Burch, alternative country musician
• John Dettmer, pitcher for the Texas Rangers
• Byron Gettis, outfielder for the Kansas City Royals
• Reginald Hudlin, film director

Some of the city is served by Cahokia Unit School District 187. Lalumier K-8 School is located in Centreville.[7] Centerville K-8 is located in an unincorporated area near Centreville.[8]

Some of the city is served by East St. Louis School District 189. Brown Elementary School is located in Centreville.[9][10]

Centreville is the poorest city in the state of Illinois, as well as one of the poorest cities in the nation. The town median household income of $17,441, while the typical home in the area is worth approximately $47,900.[11] The city is located on a Mississippi River floodplain known as American Bottom, and experiences chronic flooding and raw sewage disposal problems due to the area’s inadequate system of drainage ditches, levees and emergency pumps.[12][13]