Bellflower, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bellflower, Illinois
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Location in McLean County, Illinois
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 Bellflower, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | McLean |
| Township | Bellflower |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.36 sq mi (0.93 km2) |
| • Land | 0.36 sq mi (0.93 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 787 ft (240 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 346 |
| • Density | 958.45/sq mi (370.56/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
61724
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| Area code(s) | 309 |
| FIPS code | 17-04897 |
| GNIS ID | 2398081 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Bellflower, Illinois |
Bellflower is a small village located in McLean County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 346 people lived there. It is part of the larger area around the cities of Bloomington and Normal.
Contents
Geography of Bellflower
Bellflower is found in the southeastern part of McLean County. It sits along Illinois Route 54. This road goes southwest about 9 miles (14 km) to Farmer City. It also goes northeast about 12 miles (19 km) to Gibson City. Bloomington, which is the main city of McLean County, is about 30 miles (48 km) to the northwest. Champaign is about 26 miles (42 km) to the southeast.
The U.S. Census Bureau says that Bellflower covers a total area of 0.36 square miles (0.93 square kilometers). All of this area is land. The village's water flows southeast into small streams that lead to Lone Tree Creek. This creek then flows into the Sangamon River, which is part of the Illinois River system.
Students from Bellflower attend schools in the Blue Ridge School District.
History of Bellflower
How Bellflower Started
Bellflower was officially planned on August 26, 1871. It was laid out by George Nelson Black and his wife, Louisa J. Black. George Black was born in Massachusetts and moved to Springfield, Illinois, in 1850. He became very rich from businesses like manufacturing, mining, and railroads.
The area where Bellflower is located, called Bellflower Township, helped pay for a new railroad. They promised $30,000 if the railroad built a station in their township. George Black bought 100 acres (0.40 km²) of land. He then divided 40 acres (0.16 km²) of it into town lots and gave the land to the railroad company.
The town was named after Bellflower Township. Jesse Richards chose the name because he really liked the Bellflower apple. Bellflower might be the only town in Illinois named after an apple! In the 1870s, people sometimes spelled it "Belle Flower" or "Belle-Flower."
Original Town Plan and Growth
The first plan for Bellflower had two square blocks of land. The western block was mostly divided into 16 smaller blocks. Each of these usually had 12 lots for homes or businesses. The railroad tracks cut diagonally through this part of town.
Unlike many towns built in the 1870s, Bellflower didn't have a special area just for the train station. The eastern square of land and a strip along the north side of the western square were divided into larger "out lots." These were several times bigger than the lots in the western square. This mix of small "in lots" and larger "out lots" was common in central Illinois.
The first business in Bellflower was started by R. E. Moreland. Bellflower quickly became an important place for shipping grain from the rich farmland nearby. By 1879, it was shipping over 350,000 bushels of grain each year! In 1900, the population was 356 people, which is very close to its size today.
Population Changes
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 356 | — | |
| 1910 | 394 | 10.7% | |
| 1920 | 441 | 11.9% | |
| 1930 | 442 | 0.2% | |
| 1940 | 425 | −3.8% | |
| 1950 | 413 | −2.8% | |
| 1960 | 389 | −5.8% | |
| 1970 | 400 | 2.8% | |
| 1980 | 421 | 5.3% | |
| 1990 | 405 | −3.8% | |
| 2000 | 408 | 0.7% | |
| 2010 | 357 | −12.5% | |
| 2020 | 346 | −3.1% | |
| Decennial US Census | |||
In 2000, there were 408 people living in Bellflower. There were 162 households, and 117 of these were families. The village had about 1,118 people per square mile (432 people per square kilometer). All the people living in the village were White.
About 32% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households (63.6%) were married couples living together. The average household had 2.52 people, and the average family had 3.01 people.
The population included people of all ages. About 24.8% were under 18. About 15.9% were 65 years or older. The average age in the village was 39 years old.
Notable People
- Harry Cassady: He was a baseball outfielder who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Washington Senators.
Events
The Bellflower Country Opry is a special monthly show. It takes place at the Bellflower Community Center. The show features music, short plays (skits), raffles, and prizes. There's also a fundraiser dinner to help local groups.
See also
In Spanish: Bellflower (Illinois) para niños
