Oquawka, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Oquawka is a village in Henderson County, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 1,539 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Henderson County.
Oquawka is part of the Burlington
, IA
–IL Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (21.08%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,539 people, 656 households, and 421 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,051.8 people per square mile (407.0/km²). There were 736 housing units at an average density of 503.0 per square mile (194.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.38% White, 0.06% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 656 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples
living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.6% 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 2.31 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $38,152. Males had a median income of $29,333 versus $18,571 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $15,254. About 8.4% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
named Norma Jean, who perished on July 17, 1972 after being struck by lightning. The pachyderm was attached to a small circus that performed in the city. Norma Jean was buried on the spot, and the circus, without its star attraction, closed within a year. Later, local pharmacist Wade Meloan spearheaded the drive to build the monument that stands over her grave.
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 1,539 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Henderson County.
Oquawka is part of the Burlington
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in the 2000 census. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area including West Burlington, Iowa and Middletown, Iowa and...
, IA
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
–IL Micropolitan Statistical Area
Burlington micropolitan area
The Burlington Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – one in southeast Iowa and the other in west central Illinois, anchored by the city of Burlington, Iowa....
.
Geography
Oquawka is located at 40°56′20"N 90°56′57"W (40.938880, -90.949044).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 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), of which, 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1 km²) of it (21.08%) is water.
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 1,539 people, 656 households, and 421 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 1,051.8 people per square mile (407.0/km²). There were 736 housing units at an average density of 503.0 per square mile (194.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.38% White, 0.06% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.13% Asian, and 1.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.71% of the population.
There were 656 households out of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% 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, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.8% were non-families. 31.6% 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 2.31 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the village the population was spread out with 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.7% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.9 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $32,500, and the median income for a family was $38,152. Males had a median income of $29,333 versus $18,571 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 $15,254. About 8.4% of families and 12.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.
Local Attractions
Within the city exists a memorial and grave marker to a circus elephantElephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
named Norma Jean, who perished on July 17, 1972 after being struck by lightning. The pachyderm was attached to a small circus that performed in the city. Norma Jean was buried on the spot, and the circus, without its star attraction, closed within a year. Later, local pharmacist Wade Meloan spearheaded the drive to build the monument that stands over her grave.