Aiken, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Aiken, Illinois
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Aiken highlighted on 1911 USGS map
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 Aiken, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Aiken, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jo Daviess |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area codes | 815 and 779 |
| GNIS feature ID | 422391 |
Aiken is a small, rural place in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. It's not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it's an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and buildings that are part of a larger area, like Rice Township, rather than having its own mayor or city council.
Aiken is located in the northwestern part of Illinois. It's quite close to the border with the state of Iowa.
Contents
What is an Unincorporated Community?
An unincorporated community is a place where people live that isn't officially organized as a city or town. It doesn't have its own local government. Instead, it's usually governed by the county or township it's in.
- People living in unincorporated communities still get services. These services, like roads and police, are provided by the county or township.
- Many small, rural places in the United States are unincorporated communities.
A Look at Aiken's History
Aiken began as a small stop along the railroad lines. It was established around the year 1887. Back then, railroads were super important for travel and moving goods.
The Railroad Era
Aiken was known as a "whistle stop." This was a place where trains would slow down or stop only if someone needed to get on or off, or if there was cargo to pick up or drop off. The train conductor would often blow the whistle to signal their arrival.
- Aiken was located along major railroad lines. These included the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad and the Chicago Great Western Railway.
- These railroads connected different parts of the country. They helped communities like Aiken grow by bringing in people and supplies.
- Over time, as cars and trucks became more common, the importance of these small railroad stops changed.
Where is Aiken Located?
Aiken is situated in Jo Daviess County, Illinois. This county is known for its beautiful rolling hills and farmland.
- It is located at a latitude of 42.353 degrees North and a longitude of -90.415 degrees West. These numbers help pinpoint its exact spot on a map.
- The community is part of Rice Township.
