Ashmore, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ashmore
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Location of Ashmore in Coles County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| County | Coles |
| Township | Ashmore |
| Incorporated as a Village | May 3, 1867 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Trustee-Village Form |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.81 sq mi (2.08 km2) |
| • Land | 0.81 sq mi (2.08 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 696 ft (212 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 637 |
| • Density | 791.30/sq mi (305.70/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
61912
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-02557 |
| GNIS ID | 2397998 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Ashmore, Illinois |
| Website | https://ashmore.gov |
Ashmore is a small village located in Coles County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 637 people lived there. It's part of a larger area that includes the towns of Charleston and Mattoon. Fun fact: Ashmore, Illinois is the only town in the entire United States with this name!
Contents
Where is Ashmore Located?
Ashmore is a pretty small place, covering about 0.81 square miles (2.08 square kilometers). It's all land, with no big lakes or rivers inside the village.
How Many People Live in Ashmore?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 403 | — | |
| 1890 | 446 | 10.7% | |
| 1900 | 476 | 6.7% | |
| 1910 | 511 | 7.4% | |
| 1920 | 548 | 7.2% | |
| 1930 | 431 | −21.4% | |
| 1940 | 454 | 5.3% | |
| 1950 | 406 | −10.6% | |
| 1960 | 447 | 10.1% | |
| 1970 | 428 | −4.3% | |
| 1980 | 883 | 106.3% | |
| 1990 | 800 | −9.4% | |
| 2000 | 809 | 1.1% | |
| 2010 | 785 | −3.0% | |
| 2020 | 637 | −18.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the village of Ashmore had 637 residents. There were 421 households, and 299 of these were families. Most people living in Ashmore are White (about 97%).
The average age in Ashmore is about 37 years old. About 26% of the people are under 18, and about 12% are 65 or older.
How Ashmore is Governed
The main office for Ashmore's government is at 10 W Ashmore St. The village uses a "Trustee-Village" form of government. This means that the community elects a Village President and a group of Village Trustees to make decisions.
Village Leaders
The current Village President is Kurt Crail. There are also six Village Trustees: Bill Edwards, Thomas "TC" Grissom, Dane Perdieu, Terry Price, L. Bryan Watson, and Cathy Welborn. The jobs of Clerk and Treasurer are chosen each year by the village.
Interesting Places to Visit
Ashmore has a few unique spots that might catch your eye.
Ashmore Estates
One interesting place is Ashmore Estates. This building used to be a "poor farm" or almshouse, which was a place where people who couldn't support themselves could live and work. It was closed in 1987.
The Giant Abraham Lincoln Statue
You might be surprised to find a huge statue of Abraham Lincoln in Ashmore! This statue is 62 feet tall. It was first put up in Charleston in 1969 to attract visitors. However, many people thought its head looked too big and cartoonish.
After some time, the statue was moved to a private property in Ashmore. It fell into disrepair for many years. Later, new owners fixed it up in 2004. They made it the main attraction for their Lincoln Springs Resort campground. Even though the property is now private again, you can still see the giant Lincoln statue from a distance!
Getting Around Ashmore
If you need to travel in Ashmore, Coles County Zipline offers a "dial-a-ride" bus service. This means you can call and arrange for a bus to pick you up.
For longer trips, the closest train station is in Mattoon. From there, you can catch an Amtrak train to big cities like Chicago or New Orleans.
Famous People from Ashmore
- Bill Cox: He was a professional baseball pitcher who played for teams like the St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago White Sox. He also served as a state representative in Illinois.
Images for kids
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Location of Ashmore in Coles County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
