Forreston, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Forreston is a village in Ogle County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 1,446 at the 2010 census, down from 1,469 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land. It is 100 miles West of Chicago, Illinois
of 2000, there were 1,469 people, 594 households, and 414 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,767.4 people per square mile (683.4/km²). There were 632 housing units at an average density of 760.4 per square mile (294.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.25% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.07% from other races
, and 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 594 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% were married couples
living together, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the village the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $36,554, and the median income for a family was $44,853. Males had a median income of $35,463 versus $21,086 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $16,958. About 7.4% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
area, as the future town of Forreston was flanked by major routes of pioneer travel
(the Kellogg's and Boles Trails).
George W. Hewitt entered the original town plot of Forreston on November 5, 1854. David A. Neal, Vice President of the Illinois Central Railroad, followed closely on November 17, 1854 with his plat that paralleled the tracks, which reached the village that winter. This explains the "V" shaped business district and the "flat iron" shaped village hall built in 1902.
Education was of importance to the early settlers, with a one story frame structure built in 1856. It was followed by a 3-story brick structure built in 1867, which was replaced by a 2-story brick building in 1916. The south portion of the current grade school was built in 2001. The high school located east on Rt.72 was built in 1956, with an addition in 1996. The Forrestville Valley School District is fortunate to have a number of community minded members that take part in Sports Boosters, FFA, Music Patrons, Mentoring, PTO, etc.
Forreston also boasts a new library renovated from an early structure.
Also, a new Fire Department and Ambulance building was recently built, which is manned by volunteers. There are also two fine parks and ball diamonds.
Organizations include the Lions, American Legion, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Ogle County Prairie Preservation, and 4-H groups.
Forreston received national news coverage for its "Sauerkraut Day" celebration beginning in 1913 and ending in 1960. Over 20,000 visitors crowded the streets for the "World's Largest Free Meal".
More recently, Forreston celebrated its Sesquicentennial on September 10, 11, 12 of 2004. It now has an Illinois State Historical Marker and a Veteran's Memorial.
spring tends to be 50-65 degrees with considerable rain.
summer tends to be 75-100 degrees with moderate humidity.
Fall tends to be 35-65 degrees with leaves falling in Mid-October.
Winter tend to be -20-35 degrees with considerable snow usually.
:
Ogle County, Illinois
Ogle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 53,497, which is an increase of 4.8% from 51,032 in 2000. Its county seat is Oregon, and its largest city is Rochelle...
, 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 1,446 at the 2010 census, down from 1,469 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Forreston is located at 42°7′33"N 89°34′48"W (42.125700, -89.579955).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 village has a total area of 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²), all of it land. It is 100 miles West of Chicago, Illinois
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 1,469 people, 594 households, and 414 families residing in the village. 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 1,767.4 people per square mile (683.4/km²). There were 632 housing units at an average density of 760.4 per square mile (294.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 99.25% White, 0.14% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.07% 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 0.34% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.23% of the population.
There were 594 households out of which 35.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% 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, 8.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.3% were non-families. 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 3.01.
In the village the population was spread out with 28.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 90.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $36,554, and the median income for a family was $44,853. Males had a median income of $35,463 versus $21,086 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 village was $16,958. About 7.4% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.8% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.
Buildings/Businesses
- A.G. Edwards & Sons
- Burke-Tubbs Funeral Homes
- CDM Home & Office Computers
- Centsible Interiors
- Country Insurance & Financial Terry Olson
- Danlee Wood Products
- Denekas Equipment
- Doug & Patti Jennings
- Evergreen Farm Inn
- Faith Lutheran Church
- Ferguson Financial Group Julie Heeren
- First United Methodist Church
- Floyd's Forreston Barber Shop
- Forreston Auto Body
- Forreston Auto Sales
- Forreston Car Care
- Forreston Dental
- Forreston Grove Church
- Forreston Hardware
- Forreston Mutual Insurance Co.
- Forreston Reformed Church
- Forreston State Bank
- Forreston Tool, Inc.
- Forreston Veterinary Clinic
- Forreston Wash Shed
- Graphics by Kathy Pasch
- Groenewold Fur & Wool Co.
- Jerry Griffin Agency
- Jim's Auto Restoration
- Josh's Saloon
- Kilker Roofing
- KLS Trucking
- Ludwig Realty & Auction
- Mary Zettle Barrett, Inc. Realtors
- McKay Nursery Co.
- Meyer-Zettle Builders
- Meyers' Repair
- Mid America Plastic Co.
- Mike Wolf Construction
- Mimmo's Pizza
- Mobile Electronics
- Moring Disposal
- North Grove Evangelical Church
- Paul Farms Tiling & Excavating
- Peach Consulting, Inc.
- Phil's Fresh Beef
- Phil's Fresh Eggs
- R. & S. Builders Supply
- Rick's Plumbing
- Robert Sandell Agency
- Schemel Construction
- Sheely Aggregates
- St. James Evangelical
- Lutheran Church
- Swalve Realty & Auction
- Sweetwood Interiors
- The Car Store of Forreston
- The Depot
- Townline Veterinary Clinic
- Troy Rudy Auctioneer/Realtor
- Village Hairstyles
- West Branch Church of the Brethren
History
A number of Ostrfrisians (Northwest Germans) immigrants were the first to settle in thearea, as the future town of Forreston was flanked by major routes of pioneer travel
(the Kellogg's and Boles Trails).
George W. Hewitt entered the original town plot of Forreston on November 5, 1854. David A. Neal, Vice President of the Illinois Central Railroad, followed closely on November 17, 1854 with his plat that paralleled the tracks, which reached the village that winter. This explains the "V" shaped business district and the "flat iron" shaped village hall built in 1902.
Education was of importance to the early settlers, with a one story frame structure built in 1856. It was followed by a 3-story brick structure built in 1867, which was replaced by a 2-story brick building in 1916. The south portion of the current grade school was built in 2001. The high school located east on Rt.72 was built in 1956, with an addition in 1996. The Forrestville Valley School District is fortunate to have a number of community minded members that take part in Sports Boosters, FFA, Music Patrons, Mentoring, PTO, etc.
Forreston also boasts a new library renovated from an early structure.
Also, a new Fire Department and Ambulance building was recently built, which is manned by volunteers. There are also two fine parks and ball diamonds.
Organizations include the Lions, American Legion, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Ogle County Prairie Preservation, and 4-H groups.
Forreston received national news coverage for its "Sauerkraut Day" celebration beginning in 1913 and ending in 1960. Over 20,000 visitors crowded the streets for the "World's Largest Free Meal".
More recently, Forreston celebrated its Sesquicentennial on September 10, 11, 12 of 2004. It now has an Illinois State Historical Marker and a Veteran's Memorial.
Climate
Forreston's average temp in thespring tends to be 50-65 degrees with considerable rain.
summer tends to be 75-100 degrees with moderate humidity.
Fall tends to be 35-65 degrees with leaves falling in Mid-October.
Winter tend to be -20-35 degrees with considerable snow usually.
Population
Population percentage by ethnic groupEthnic group
An ethnic group is a group of people whose members identify with each other, through a common heritage, often consisting of a common language, a common culture and/or an ideology that stresses common ancestry or endogamy...
:
- German 52.9%
- US/American 10.2%
- Irish 8.7%
- English 6.7%
- Other (often includes Hispanic and African American) 3.9%
- Norwegian 2.7%
- Italian 2.2%
- Swedish 1.7%
- French (except Basque) 1.6%
- Dutch 1.6%
- Polish 1.6%
- French Canadian 1.2%
- Swiss 0.9%
- Czech 0.7%
- Scotch-Irish 0.6%
- Scottish 0.5%
- Danish 0.5%
- Welsh 0.5%
- Belgian 0.4%
- Greek 0.2%
- Canadian 0.2%