Homer, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Homer is a village in Champaign County
, Illinois, United States. Its population was 1,193 at the 2010 census.
prior to the creation of Champaign County
in 1833. Moses Thomas, a native of Pennsylvania
, built a mill on the Salt Fork creek southeast of Union in 1834 and began to mill grain. A young merchant traveling from Indiana
, Michael Doctor Coffeen, built a store adjacent to the mill, and with Thomas created the village of Homer on January 26, 1837. The post office was moved to Homer with M. D. Coffeen as postmaster in 1841.
Homer grew to 120 people in 1850, and the coming of the Great Western Railroad to the south of the town prompted the village to move to its present location. In February 1855, the town's 32 buildings were dragged 1.5 miles south by 18 teams of oxen. The village became a stop on the railway, later named the Wabash Railroad
, becoming the center of agriculture in eastern Champaign County.
In 1905, the town became the location for Homer Park, an amusement park on the Illinois Traction System interurban line. Homer Park, north of the village on the Salt Fork creek, offered swimming, food, baseball, movies and even a small zoo. The park closed in 1937 after flooding and poor management.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
This Homer should not be confused with the former village of Homer, now called Troy Grove nor the Homer Glen area of Will County in Homer Township
.
of 2000, there were 1,200 people, 489 households, and 339 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,169.3 people per square mile (449.8/km²). There were 511 housing units at an average density of 497.9 per square mile (191.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.83% White, 0.08% African American, 0.50% Asian, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.
There were 489 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $37,429, and the median income for a family was $43,170. Males had a median income of $33,021 versus $23,897 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $18,788. About 7.3% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Champaign County, Illinois
Champaign County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 201,081, which is an increase of 11.9% from 179,669 in 2000.. It is the 10th most populous county in Illinois...
, Illinois, United States. Its population was 1,193 at the 2010 census.
History
Homer grew from a settlement named Union, which was on the Fort Clark or State Road running between Danville and Urbana, nearly three miles north of the present town. Union was little more than several cabins built in 1829-30, but it served as a post office and meeting place in what was Vermilion CountyVermilion County, Illinois
Vermilion County is a county located in the eastern part of the U.S. state of Illinois, between the Indiana border and Champaign County. It was established in 1826 and was the 45th of Illinois' 102 counties...
prior to the creation of Champaign County
Champaign County, Illinois
Champaign County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 201,081, which is an increase of 11.9% from 179,669 in 2000.. It is the 10th most populous county in Illinois...
in 1833. Moses Thomas, a native of Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, built a mill on the Salt Fork creek southeast of Union in 1834 and began to mill grain. A young merchant traveling from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, Michael Doctor Coffeen, built a store adjacent to the mill, and with Thomas created the village of Homer on January 26, 1837. The post office was moved to Homer with M. D. Coffeen as postmaster in 1841.
Homer grew to 120 people in 1850, and the coming of the Great Western Railroad to the south of the town prompted the village to move to its present location. In February 1855, the town's 32 buildings were dragged 1.5 miles south by 18 teams of oxen. The village became a stop on the railway, later named the Wabash Railroad
Wabash Railroad
The Wabash Railroad was a Class I railroad that operated in the mid-central United States. It served a large area, including trackage in the states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Missouri and Ontario. Its primary connections included Chicago, Illinois, Kansas City, Missouri, Detroit,...
, becoming the center of agriculture in eastern Champaign County.
In 1905, the town became the location for Homer Park, an amusement park on the Illinois Traction System interurban line. Homer Park, north of the village on the Salt Fork creek, offered swimming, food, baseball, movies and even a small zoo. The park closed in 1937 after flooding and poor management.
Geography
Homer is located at 40°2′6"N 87°57′32"W (40.034972, -87.958986).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), all of it land.
This Homer should not be confused with the former village of Homer, now called Troy Grove nor the Homer Glen area of Will County in Homer Township
Homer Township, Will County, Illinois
Homer Township is located in Will County, Illinois. The population was 28,992 at the 2000 census. In 2001, the village of Homer Glen was incorporated within area that is Homer Township. This region was formerly an unincorporated census-designated place known as Goodings Grove, 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 1,200 people, 489 households, and 339 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 1,169.3 people per square mile (449.8/km²). There were 511 housing units at an average density of 497.9 per square mile (191.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.83% White, 0.08% African American, 0.50% Asian, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.25% of the population.
There were 489 households out of which 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.7% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.5% were non-families. 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village the population was spread out with 26.5% under the age of 18, 6.4% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $37,429, and the median income for a family was $43,170. Males had a median income of $33,021 versus $23,897 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 $18,788. About 7.3% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.6% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.