Elsah

History

James Semple, a local lawyer, prominent politician and United States Senator from Illinois, founded Elsah in 1853 and offered free lots to anyone who built houses with stone from his quarry. It is believed that he named the village of Elsah after Ailsa Craig, the last outcropping his family saw as they departed Scotland for the United States. By 1861, the village had grown to its current size, as geographic and economic limitations prevented further expansion. Although Elsah has been described as the "New England of the Midwest," the village is not a New England prototype derived from 18th century colonial styles. Rather, the architecture found in Elsah demonstrates 19th century styles and fashions including Greek Revival, Gothic Revival, Mansard, Italianate, Saltbox, and Gambrel. Elsah prospered as the main shipping point for the agricultural goods produced by the farmers of Jersey County. The village's importance diminished with the coming of the railroad, later being revitalized when Principia College was established in the 1930s. Eliestoun House was completed in 1890 by Alexander Wadsworth Longfellow Jr. The house is on the grounds of Principia College and named after "'Elliestoun Tower' on Castle Semple Loch" which is part of the Lands of Elliston in Scotland. Henry Turner and his wife Ada Ames had the house built. Ada is a descendant of James Semple. Elsah remained mainly a quiet village until the opening of the Great River Road (Illinois Route 100) in 1964. Elsah is a community whose homes are privately owned. In 1973, the entire village was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Great Flood of 1993 caused significant damage to many of the village's structures. The historic commercial district on LaSalle Street, which extends three blocks…

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Elsah has a total area of , all land. The Meeting of the Great Rivers Scenic Byway passes through Elsah. The Elsah area was also one of the two finalists for the site of the Air Force Academy in 1954.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  11,763
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  11,711
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  10,951
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  9,207
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  9,097
• Mallard

  Anas platyrhynchos Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  9,069
• American Goldfinch

  Spinus tristis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  8,840
• Song Sparrow

  Melospiza melodia (A.Wilson, 1810) · Aves
  8,834

Largest nearby schools

• Grafton Elem School
  Elementary · Grafton · 174 students · 24.9:1 ratio
• Il Youth Center - Pere Marquette
  High · Grafton · 7 students · 1:1 ratio
• Journeys School
  High · Jerseyville

Most recent

• M 2.57 — 2024-09-19
  1 km S of Old Monroe, Missouri
• M 2.81 — 2024-03-28
  1 km NNE of Germantown, Illinois
• M 2.84 — 2022-04-29
  1 km SSW of Peerless Park, Missouri
• M 3.12 — 2017-07-01
  9 km SSE of Mulberry Grove, Illinois
• M 2.65 — 2015-09-05
  5 km SE of High Ridge, Missouri
• M 2.5 — 2010-08-11
  7 km NNW of Bloomsdale, Missouri