Golconda, ruined city, Andhra Pradesh state, SE India. It was the capital (c.1364-1512) of the Bahmani kingdom, but after 1512 it became the capital of the Muslim sultanate of Golconda. The legions of Aurangzeb, the Mughal emperor, captured the city in 1687, after which Golconda gradually fell into ruin. The main feature of the city is its fort on a hill 400 ft (120 m) above the plain; it was large enough to house the administration, the army, and families of the rulers. There are also ruins of palaces and mosques. At its peak, the city was famed for the diamonds found to the southeast and cut in Golconda; its name has come to be associated with great wealth.

Fortress and ruined city, Andhra Pradesh state, southern India. Located 5 mi (8 km) west of modern Hyderabad, it was the capital (1512–1687) of one of the five Muslim sultanates of the Deccan. It was conquered in 1687 by the emperor Aurangzeb and was annexed to the Mughal empire. The fortress, with palaces and mosques, remains intact. Historically, Golconda was famous for its diamonds, mined in the nearby hills.

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Golconda is a town in Pope County, Illinois, along the Ohio River. The population was 726 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Pope County.

Geography

Golconda is located at (37.363844, -88.486792).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²), of which, 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (5.08%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 726 people, 330 households, and 163 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,287.0 people per square mile (500.6/km²). There were 418 housing units at an average density of 741.0/sq mi (288.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 95.45% White, 0.96% African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.55% from other races, and 2.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.41% of the population.

There were 330 households out of which 22.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.2% were married couples living together, 13.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 48.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 27.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.98 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 22.7% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 29.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 77.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 72.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,000, and the median income for a family was $34,375. Males had a median income of $31,250 versus $16,146 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,698. About 18.3% of families and 25.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 43.1% of those under age 18 and 18.4% of those age 65 or over.

History

First permanent settlement in Pope County in 1798, and a ferry point across the Ohio River that was sometimes called Lusk's Ferry. The town was named Sarahsville upon organization of the county and town in 1816, but changed its name to Golconda on January 24, 1817, after the ancient city of Golkonda in India.

In 1838-1839 some 13,000 Cherokees crossed here on their "Trail of Tears" To Oklahoma.

Among the many historic buildings built in the latter half of the 19th century in town is the First Presbyterian Church (built in 1869). It is the oldest continuous Presbyterian congregation in Illinois. The church was organized in 1819.

Notable residents

• James Lusk Alcorn, (1816-1894), born in Golconda, United States Senator and Governor of Mississippi
• John R. Hodge, (June 12, 1893 - November 12, 1963), born in Golconda, IL, Military Governor of South Korea preceding Korean War and Commanding General of the U.S. Third Army
• Green B. Raum, Union general during the American Civil War; postbellum U.S. Congressman and head of the Internal Revenue Service.

References

See also

• List of cities and towns along the Ohio River
• Dixon Springs State Park
• Shawnee National Forest

External links

• http://www.visitgolconda.com/