Akin, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Akin, Illinois
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 Akin, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Akin, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Franklin |
| Township | Eastern |
| Elevation | 472 ft (144 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 618 |
| GNIS feature ID | 403371 |
Akin (pronounced AY-kin) is a small place in Illinois, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community. This means it doesn't have its own local government, like a mayor or a town council, as a city or village would. Instead, it's part of a larger area called Eastern Township within Franklin County.
Akin is located about 9.6 kilometers (6 miles) east of a town called Benton. It's also about 5.7 kilometers (3.5 miles) north of another town, Thompsonville. For many years, Akin had its own post office, which is where people send and receive mail. However, this post office closed its doors on July 2, 2011.
A Glimpse into Akin's Past
How Akin Got Its Name
The community of Akin has a history that goes back to the mid-1800s. A very important part of any community is its post office, which helps people stay connected by sending letters and packages. Akin's post office started operating way back in 1860.
The name "Akin" most likely came from the first person in charge of the post office, who was called the postmaster. His name was George W. Aken. It was common for small communities to be named after important people who helped establish them, especially those who ran the local post office. So, it's believed that George W. Aken's name became the name for this community.
