Hadley Township near Barry in Pike County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
How Many People Lived in New Philadelphia?
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 5, 2026
1. How Many People Lived in New Philadelphia? Marker
As an unincorporated town, New Philadelphia residents were counted as part of Hadley Township by the U.S. Census takers. By comparing the census schedules to property tax records and family histories, we are able to estimate that the number of families living within the town limits ranged from 5 in 1845 to 17 in 1865. At its peak population in the 1850s and 1860s, about 70 people lived in the town.
The New Philadelphia community consisted of more than the people living within the town limits. The surrounding farm families used the services of the blacksmith, shoemaker, wagon maker, and carpenter. They bought supplies, attended school, and participated in religious services here. Because the community was small, historians and archaeologists are able to study its 100-year history in close detail.
[Photo captions, clockwise from top center, read]
Monroe, Alexander and Thomas Clark
[Unnamed (possibly the Clark) family group photo]
Children of Hiley McWorter and Alexander Clark, ca. 1872
Kellum Family, ca. 1900
Erected by NPS Underground Railroad Network to Freedom, Illinois Rural Electric Cooperative, and the New Philadelphia Association.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans
this page online
Location. 39° 41.88′ N, 90° 57.677′ W. Marker is near Barry, Illinois, in Pike County. It is in Hadley Township. It is at the intersection of County Road 2 and 306th Lane/Broad Street (County Road 2159E), on the right when traveling east on County Road 2. Marker is under the New Philadelphia National Historic Site pavilion. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 29766 306th Lane, Barry IL 62312, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Illinois River Valley. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture and also the Northwest Territory.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Burdick Families of New Philadelphia (here, next to this marker); New Philadelphia in the Civil War Era (here, next to this marker); New Philadelphia Town Site (here, next to this marker); New Philadelphia and the Underground Railroad (here, next to this marker); New Philadelphia (here, next to this marker); The Archaeological Conservancy (a few steps from this marker); New Philadelphia: The Town, The Community (a few steps from this marker); Free Frank and Free Lucy McWorter (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Barry.
Also see . . . New Philadelphia National Historic Site. (Submitted on June 12, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., June 5, 2026
2. How Many People Lived in New Philadelphia? Marker
Left marker. Looking southeast.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 12, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 12, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 12, 2026, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
