Flora, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Flora is a city in Clay County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 5,086 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 5,886 people, 2,127 households, and 1,325 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,146.2 people per square mile (442.3/km²). There were 2,352 housing units at an average density of 530.1 per square mile (204.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.76% White, 0.18% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races
, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 2,127 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,157, and the median income for a family was $36,313. Males had a median income of $30,867 versus $19,693 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,653. About 9.5% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.
In 1961, Flora was named "Ford Town USA" and some 1500 vehicle owners were supplied with a new Ford car or truck.
Flora's main industry is agriculture, although there are companies located in Flora that employ several hundreds. Flora is surrounded by a gently rolling countryside, with approximately 80-85% of it dedicated to farming and livestock.
Current DCCA profile information is available on the City of Flora's website http://florail.us/dcca1.htm
Mayor Charles Overstreet appeared on the "The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers," and weatherman Spencer Christian
later visited the town. After the hoopla died down, Flora lost their bid to three other communities. It also appeared briefly on Oprah at one point. A VHS copy of the video was found at the local newspaper and uploaded to YouTube January 1st 2008 by a former resident of the town. The video can be viewed here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5-d2WOgpfQ
Clay County, Illinois
Clay County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. In 1950, the U.S. Census Bureau placed the mean center of U.S. population in Clay County. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 13,815, which is a decrease of 5.1% from 14,560 in 2000...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 5,086 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Flora is located at 38°40′11"N 88°29′3"W (38.669813, -88.484105).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), all land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 5,886 people, 2,127 households, and 1,325 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,146.2 people per square mile (442.3/km²). There were 2,352 housing units at an average density of 530.1 per square mile (204.5/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.76% White, 0.18% African American, 0.33% Native American, 1.12% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.29% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.65% of the population.
There were 2,127 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.7% were non-families. 34.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.5% under the age of 18, 8.7% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 21.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 83.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,157, and the median income for a family was $36,313. Males had a median income of $30,867 versus $19,693 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $15,653. About 9.5% of families and 11.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.5% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.
In 1961, Flora was named "Ford Town USA" and some 1500 vehicle owners were supplied with a new Ford car or truck.
Flora's main industry is agriculture, although there are companies located in Flora that employ several hundreds. Flora is surrounded by a gently rolling countryside, with approximately 80-85% of it dedicated to farming and livestock.
Current DCCA profile information is available on the City of Flora's website http://florail.us/dcca1.htm
'Is We Is'
In 1987 a group of Flora officials formed the Barbed Wire Choir and recorded a music video in an attempt to land a state prison. The song featured several city officials, including the mayor, asking then-Gov. Jim Thompson "Is we is or is we isn't/gonna get ourselves a prison." After initially being shown on local TV stations, the video was soon picked up by national stations such as WGN, MTV and ABC's "Good Morning America."Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
Mayor Charles Overstreet appeared on the "The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers," and weatherman Spencer Christian
Spencer Christian
Spencer Christian is an American television broadcaster, best known as the former weather forecaster for ABC's Good Morning America from 1986 to 1998. He currently is the weather forecaster for ABC-owned KGO-TV in San Francisco. Christian is also the author of several children's...
later visited the town. After the hoopla died down, Flora lost their bid to three other communities. It also appeared briefly on Oprah at one point. A VHS copy of the video was found at the local newspaper and uploaded to YouTube January 1st 2008 by a former resident of the town. The video can be viewed here - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5-d2WOgpfQ
External links
- Flora Sports - http://www.florasports.com/
- Flora Homepage - http://www.florail.us
- Flora Police - http://www.florapolice.com
- Flora-Clay County ESDA http://www.flora-claycountyesda.com/
- City of Flora tourism videos- http://www.elocallink.tv/vp2/vp6_brain.php?loc=/vp2/vp3_show.php&qstring=cid%3D424
- Flora Schools http://www.floraschools.com
- Flora Academic Foundation http://floraschools.com/faf.htm
- http://www.southeastillinois.com
- WNOI 103.9 Radio http://www.wnoi.com/
- Clay County Health Department http://www.healthdept.org
- Clay County Hospital http://www.claycountyhospital.org
- State Farm Agent Angie Borrelli http://angieborrelli.com/