Alvin, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alvin
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Alvin post office and grain elevator
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Location of Alvan in Vermilion County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Vermilion |
| Township | South Ross |
| Founded | c. 1875 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.79 sq mi (2.05 km2) |
| • Land | 0.79 sq mi (2.05 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 643 ft (196 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 233 |
| • Density | 293.82/sq mi (113.42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
61811
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-01242 |
| GNIS ID | 2397950 |
| Website | https://villageofalvin.com/ |
Alvin is a small village located in Vermilion County, Illinois, in the United States. It is part of the larger Danville, Illinois area. In 2020, about 233 people lived there. Even though the U.S. Post Office calls it Alvin, you might also see it spelled Alvan, for example, by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Contents
History of Alvin
How Alvin Was Founded
The story of Alvin began in 1872. A settlement called Gilbert was first created about a mile south of where Alvin is today. It was named after its founder, Alvan Gilbert. This early settlement was built along the Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad line.
A few years later, in 1875, a new railroad line, the Havana, Rantoul and Eastern Railroad, crossed the first one. This new line later became part of the Illinois Central Railroad. The village of Alvin was then founded right at this important railroad crossing.
The Name Change Mystery
There's an interesting story about how the village got its name. It's said that the original name was supposed to be Alvan, just like the founder. However, the post office accidentally misspelled it as Alvin (with an "i" instead of an "a"). The story goes that they simply refused to correct the mistake, and so the name Alvin stuck!
The 1942 Tornado Event
On March 16, 1942, a powerful tornado hit Alvin. This natural event caused a lot of damage to the village. Today, there is a special marker in Alvin that remembers this event. It lists the date and time of the tornado, and the names of those who were affected. The marker was donated by Mel Schriefer in 2004, with A.E. Hoskins also involved.
Geography of Alvin
Where is Alvin Located?
Alvin is situated in Illinois, specifically in Vermilion County, Illinois. You can find it on County Road 3. It's about 3.6 miles north of a town called Bismarck and about 12 miles north of the city of Danville. The North Fork of the Vermilion River flows along the western side of the village.
Size of the Village
According to information from 2010, the village of Alvin covers a total area of about 0.79 square miles (which is about 2.05 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large bodies of water within the village limits.
Population of Alvin
How Many People Live in Alvin?
The number of people living in Alvin has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population counts from different census years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 165 | — | |
| 1900 | 368 | — | |
| 1910 | 319 | −13.3% | |
| 1920 | 386 | 21.0% | |
| 1930 | 322 | −16.6% | |
| 1940 | 339 | 5.3% | |
| 1950 | 287 | −15.3% | |
| 1960 | 281 | −2.1% | |
| 1970 | 318 | 13.2% | |
| 1980 | 378 | 18.9% | |
| 1990 | 339 | −10.3% | |
| 2000 | 316 | −6.8% | |
| 2010 | 270 | −14.6% | |
| 2020 | 233 | −13.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As you can see, the population has gone up and down. In 2000, there were 316 people living in Alvin. By 2020, the population was 233 people.
Village Households
In 2000, there were 106 households in Alvin. A household means all the people who live together in one home. The average household in Alvin had about 2.98 people.
Images for kids
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The marker commemorating the 1942 tornado in Alvin.
