Oblong, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Oblong is a village in Crawford County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 1,580 at the 2000 census. The village boasts itself as being "The Only Oblong" in the world. It is the home of the Illinois Oil Field Museum and Resource Center at Oblong, Illinois, a collection of early oilfield artifacts from the early days of the oil industry in the Illinois Basin and a resource center featuring a collection of early oil field records and resource books.
Oblong also boasts the largest nighttime marching band parade competition in the state of Illinois. The annual parade caps off the Oblong "Fall Follies" fall festival and the event is attended each year by large crowds of people from all around the surrounding areas.
Oblong was also featured in a prominent headline in the Chicago Tribune - "Oblong Man Marries Normal Woman" - referring to the matrimony of a man from Oblong, Illinois and woman from Normal, Illinois.
Oblong has one public four year high school and one public grade school. In athletics, Oblong High School's teams are nicknamed the "Panthers" for boys and "Lady Panthers" for the girls. Oblong Grade School touts "Tigers" as the nickname for its athletic teams.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it is land and 1.04% is water.
of 2000, there were 1,580 people, 681 households, and 439 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,662.8 people per square mile (642.1/km²). There were 761 housing units at an average density of 800.9 per square mile (309.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.92% White, 0.19% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.13% Asian, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population. Oblong is mentioned by James Loewen as a sundown town
.
There were 681 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples
living together, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $27,409, and the median income for a family was $36,532. Males had a median income of $27,135 versus $20,560 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $14,926. About 7.0% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.
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 1,580 at the 2000 census. The village boasts itself as being "The Only Oblong" in the world. It is the home of the Illinois Oil Field Museum and Resource Center at Oblong, Illinois, a collection of early oilfield artifacts from the early days of the oil industry in the Illinois Basin and a resource center featuring a collection of early oil field records and resource books.
Oblong also boasts the largest nighttime marching band parade competition in the state of Illinois. The annual parade caps off the Oblong "Fall Follies" fall festival and the event is attended each year by large crowds of people from all around the surrounding areas.
Oblong was also featured in a prominent headline in the Chicago Tribune - "Oblong Man Marries Normal Woman" - referring to the matrimony of a man from Oblong, Illinois and woman from Normal, Illinois.
Oblong has one public four year high school and one public grade school. In athletics, Oblong High School's teams are nicknamed the "Panthers" for boys and "Lady Panthers" for the girls. Oblong Grade School touts "Tigers" as the nickname for its athletic teams.
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 1 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²) of it is land and 1.04% is water.
History
Oblong was incorporated in 1883. The village was originally a crossroads, notable only for its general store, owned by Henry Peck. The store featured a prominent sign, "Hen. Peck" and people of the area referred to the crossroads as "Henpeck." When the village decided to incorporate, it was decided that Henpeck would be a terrible name for their fair village. While surveying the area in conjunction with the incorporation, a rectangular prairie was identified on the outskirts of the community - and thus, Oblong was born.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 1,580 people, 681 households, and 439 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 1,662.8 people per square mile (642.1/km²). There were 761 housing units at an average density of 800.9 per square mile (309.3/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.92% White, 0.19% African American, 0.25% Native American, 0.13% Asian, and 0.51% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.57% of the population. Oblong is mentioned by James Loewen as a sundown town
Sundown town
A sundown town is a town that is or was purposely all-White. The term is widely used in the United States in areas from Ohio to Oregon and well into the South. The term came from signs that were allegedly posted stating that people of color had to leave the town by sundown...
.
There were 681 households out of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% 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, 12.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 81.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $27,409, and the median income for a family was $36,532. Males had a median income of $27,135 versus $20,560 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 $14,926. About 7.0% of families and 9.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.0% of those under age 18 and 5.6% of those age 65 or over.