Arcola, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Arcola
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Main St, Arcola
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Location of Arcola in Douglas County, Illinois
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| County | Douglas |
| Township | Arcola |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.04 sq mi (5.29 km2) |
| • Land | 2.02 sq mi (5.24 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
| Elevation | 676 ft (206 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,927 |
| • Density | 1,446.86/sq mi (558.67/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
61910
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-01881 |
| GNIS ID | 2393978 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Arcola, Illinois |
| Website | http://www.arcolaillinois.org/ |
Arcola is a city in Douglas County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 2,927 people lived there. The city was started in 1855 when the Illinois Central Railroad built its tracks through the area. The railroad actually planned and founded the town itself!
Contents
History of Arcola
How Arcola Got Its Name
Arcola got its name from a town in Italy called Arcole. A famous battle happened there a long time ago, known as the Battle of Arcole.
The Creator of Raggedy Ann
Arcola is the birthplace of John Barton Gruelle, also known as "Johnny" Gruelle. He was born in 1880 and created the famous Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy dolls and storybook characters. Johnny learned a lot from his father, who was a painter. He also taught himself how to write stories. His granddaughter, Joni Gruelle Wannamaker, now helps manage the Raggedy Ann Museum in Arcola.
From Gardens to Wildlife Adventure
Just outside Arcola, there used to be a popular tourist spot called Rockome Gardens. It had beautiful gardens, unique concrete fences, and attractions inspired by the Amish community. Rockome Gardens was built in 1937 and was run by local Old Order Amish families for nearly 80 years. In 2015, the property was sold. It is now called Aikman Wildlife Adventure, which is a drive-through wildlife park that opened in 2016.
The Unique Hippie Memorial
Arcola is also home to the world's only Hippie Memorial. It was created by Bob Moomaw, who passed away in 1998. Bob worked as a railroad clerk and tax assessor, but he didn't enjoy those jobs. He was an independent artist with strong beliefs. He used his art and writings on the sides of his buildings to share his feelings and ideas. He started building the 62-foot-long artwork in 1992 to tell a story about his life and the time he lived in. A sign nearby helps explain his artwork.
The Amish Community and Interpretive Center
Near Arcola, especially around Arthur, Illinois, lives a large community of Old Order Amish. This is the biggest Amish community in Illinois. Their farms cover much of the land west of Arcola. You can find many Amish businesses around Arthur and nearby small towns like Chesterville, Bourbon, and Cadwell.
Arcola has the Illinois Amish Interpretive Center. The Old Order Amish Museum opened in 1996. It has exhibits that show different parts of Amish life and a video about the Amish in Central Illinois. Through the museum, you can even arrange tours of the Amish countryside, visit Amish homes and farms, and even have meals with Amish families.
The Famous Lawn Rangers
Arcola is somewhat famous for the Lawn Rangers. They are a "precision lawn mower drill team" that marches in parades. They march in formation with brooms and lawn mowers while wearing cowboy hats! Every year since 1980, the Lawn Rangers have marched in the Arcola Broom Corn Festival Parade.
The festival happens the weekend after Labor Day. It celebrates Arcola's history as a major center for growing broom corn in the late 1800s. In 1980, the Grand Marshal of the parade was Clayton Moore, who played the Lone Ranger. The team was named in his honor. This unique tradition became even more famous when humor writer Dave Barry marched with the Lawn Rangers in 1995.
Broomtown: The Libman Company
Arcola is also home to the Libman Company. This company makes mops and brooms. It's special because it's one of the only major cleaning product companies that makes its mops and brooms right here in America. William Libman is a big employer in the city, providing jobs for about 600 people. This is why Arcola is sometimes called "broomtown."
Geography of Arcola
Arcola is located at 39°41′1″N 88°18′21″W / 39.68361°N 88.30583°W. Two main roads, US Route 45 and Illinois Route 133, run through the town.
In 2021, Arcola had a total area of about 2.04 square miles (5.29 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 2.02 square miles (5.24 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.06 square kilometers), is water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 1,515 | — | |
| 1890 | 1,733 | 14.4% | |
| 1900 | 1,995 | 15.1% | |
| 1910 | 2,100 | 5.3% | |
| 1920 | 1,831 | −12.8% | |
| 1930 | 1,686 | −7.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,837 | 9.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,700 | −7.5% | |
| 1960 | 2,273 | 33.7% | |
| 1970 | 2,276 | 0.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,714 | 19.2% | |
| 1990 | 2,678 | −1.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,652 | −1.0% | |
| 2010 | 2,916 | 10.0% | |
| 2020 | 2,927 | 0.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
According to the 2020 census, there were 2,927 people living in Arcola. There were 1,008 households and 699 families. The city had about 1,432 people per square mile (558.67 per square kilometer).
About 69.80% of the people were White. Other groups included African American (0.31%), Native American (0.61%), and Asian (0.96%). About 36.04% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
In the households, 39.1% had children under 18 living with them. About 48.02% were married couples. The average household had about 3.17 people, and the average family had about 2.71 people.
The median age in the city was 35.5 years. About 26.3% of the population was under 18 years old, and 14.5% were 65 years or older.
Getting Around Arcola
Public Transportation
Arcola has a service called Dial-A-Ride Public Transportation. This is a bus service that you can call to pick you up. The closest train station for passengers is at Mattoon station. From there, you can take Amtrak trains to cities like Chicago and New Orleans.
Major Roads
- Interstate 57
- U.S. Route 45
- Illinois Route 133
Education in Arcola
Arcola is home to the Arcola Community Unit School District 306 and Arcola High School.
Notable People from Arcola
- Joseph Barricklow (1867–1924), an Illinois lawyer and state politician.
- Charles L. Craig (1872-1935), a former New York City Comptroller.
- Jennie Garth (born 1972), an actress best known for her role as Kelly Taylor in Beverly Hills, 90210.
- Johnny Gruelle, (1880–1938) the person who created the Raggedy Ann doll.
- The Lawn Rangers, a unique "precision lawn mower drill team" that performs in parades.
- H. M. Wicks, Herbert Moore "Harry" Wicks, one of the founding members of the Communist Party of America.
See also
In Spanish: Arcola (Illinois) para niños
