The Sustainable Business Center is located in Galesburg, a city of Knox County in West Central Illinois. Galesburg has a rich history and we are incredibly proud to a part of this community. Founded by George Washington Gale, Galesburg was home to the first anti-slavery society in Illinois and was a stop on the Underground Railroad. Galesburg's history and its community continue to be a source of inspiration as we work to better our environment.
Population Demographics
|
Galesburg |
Illinois |
Population, 2013 estimate |
31,665 |
12,882,135 |
Population, percent change, April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2013 |
-1.6% |
0.4% |
Population, 2010 |
32,195 |
12,830,632 |
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2010 |
19.7% |
24.4% |
Female persons, percent, 2010 |
49.5% |
51.0% |
White persons, percent, 2010 (a) |
81.1% |
71.5% |
Black persons, percent, 2010 (a) |
11.5% |
14.5% |
Asian persons, percent, 2010 (a) |
0.9% |
4.6% |
Persons of Hispanic or Latino origin, percent, 2000 (b) |
6.9% |
15.8% |
Living in same house 1 year & over, percent, 2009-2013 |
86.0% |
86.8% |
Foreign born persons, percent, 2009-2013 |
3.5% |
13.8% |
Language other than English spoken at home, pct age 5+, 2009-2013 |
7.3% |
22.3% |
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2009-2013 |
82.4% |
87.3% |
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2009-2013 |
15.9% |
31.4% |
Mean travel time to work (minutes), workers age 16+, 2009-2013 |
15.9 |
28.0 |
Housing units, 2010 |
14,280 |
5,296,715 |
Homeownership rate, 2009-2013 |
60.0% |
67.5% |
Persons per household, 2009-2013 |
2.15 |
2.63 |
Median household income, 2009-2013 |
$32,720 |
$56,797 |
Per capita money income in the past 12 months (2013 dollars), 2009-2013 |
$19,622 |
$29,666 |
For a complete list, visit the US. Census bureau website.

Infrastructure
Interstate 74, two US highways, the Amtrak, multiple bus services, and a municipal airport serve Galesburg. BNSF Railway Company, the second-largest freight railroad network in North America, has mainlines carrying 150 to 200 trains through the city per day, in seven directions. Galesburg is home to two institutions of higher education, Knox College and Carl Sandburg College, in addition to public and private primary schools. There are three major commercial districts with large-name retailers and unique, locally owned businesses. Galesburg is also home to 25 public parks (731 acres of land), 7 public swimming pools, 5 museums, 4 community theatres, 4 indoor sports centers, 3 public golf courses and 2 hospitals. The cost of doing business in Galesburg is lower than state or national averages in several categories.Businesses Demographics
Galesburg |
Illinois | |
Wholesale trade sales, 2007 ($1000) |
363,987 |
257,760,713 |
Retail sales, 2007 ($1000) |
618,269 |
165,450,520 |
Retail sales per capita, 2002 |
$19,764 |
$12,947 |
Accommodation and foodservices sales, 2007 ($1000) |
60,203 |
25,469,026 |
Total number of firms, 2007 |
2,130 |
1,123,817 |
Black-owned firms, percent, 2007 |
S |
9.5% |
American Indian and Alaska Native owned firms, percent, 2007 |
F |
0.5% |
Asian-owned firms, percent, 2007 |
F |
5.3% |
Hispanic-owned firms, percent, 2007 |
F |
5.0% |
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander owned firms, percent, 2007 |
F |
0.1% |
Women-owned firms, percent, 2007 |
33.0% |
30.5% |
*F=fewer than 100 firms; S=Suppressed - does not meet publication standards |

Why West Central Illinois?
From the bountiful cornfields to the endless blue skies, it's hard not to be swept up in the beauty and possibility of West Central Illinois. The region covers a 300-mile radius that encompasses nearly 34 million people, approximately 15% of the nation’s population. It is the largest 300-mile market west of Chicago. The region is also adjacent to one of the Top 15 Logistics Centers in the Midwest, the Quad Cities. With all of these cities within reach, via multiple modes of transportation, there is no better place to start your business.
CITY
|
TRAVEL TIME (BY CAR) | TRAVEL TIME (BY TRAIN) | DISTANCE |
Chicago
|
2.78
|
3.0
|
181
|
St. Louis
|
2.86
|
3.5
|
186
|
Kansas City
|
5.25
|
4.0
|
341
|
Minneapolis
|
5.82
|
10.0
|
378
|
Detroit
|
6.6
|
9.0
|
429
|
Memphis
|
7.18
|
9.5
|
467
|
Cleveland
|
7.69
|
10.5
|
500
|
Atlanta
|
11.09
|
23.0
|
721
|
New Orleans
|
13.25
|
20.0
|
861
|
Dallas
|
14.18
|
21.0
|
922
|
New York
|
14.52
|
23.0
|
944
|
* Driving time assumes a 10-hour drive day, traveling at an average speed of 65 miles per hour, with no stops; distances are measured in miles and times measured in hours. |
Geography
|
Galesburg |
Illinois |
Land area, 2010 (square miles) |
17.75 |
55,518.93 |
Persons per square mile, 2010 |
1,813.8 |
231.1 |
FIPS Code |
28326 |
17 |