Buckner, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buckner, Illinois
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Welcome sign along IL 14
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Location of Buckner in Franklin County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Franklin |
| Township | Browning |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.89 sq mi (2.31 km2) |
| • Land | 0.87 sq mi (2.26 km2) |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) |
| Elevation | 397 ft (121 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 409 |
| • Density | 469.04/sq mi (181.14/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-09330 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2397487 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Buckner, Illinois |
Buckner is a small village located in Franklin County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 409 people lived there. It is known for its history as a coal mining town that attracted many immigrant families. The current mayor is Aaron Eubanks.
Contents
History of Buckner Village
Buckner village was named after American Civil War Union veteran Moses Buckner. He was a soldier who fought for the Union during the Civil War.
Coal Mining in Buckner
Coal mining played a big part in Buckner's past. The United Coal Mine No. 2 opened in 1911. It was owned by the United Coal Mining Company. Later, in 1960, the mine was sold and became Old Ben Coal Mine No. 14. Sadly, there were some accidents in the mines. Eight men died in an explosion in 1915, and one man died in 1931. The mine stopped producing coal in 1960.
Immigrant Communities
The opening of the coal mines brought many new people to Buckner. A large number of miners came from other countries. Many of them were from places like Austria-Hungary, Poland, and Czechoslovakia. Some also came from the Lemko and Rusyn groups. Many of these early families had roots in a village called Myscowa in Poland.
Building Churches
The mining community built a Russian Orthodox Church in 1913. This first church burned down in 1918. A second church, called the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, was then built. This church is still standing today. It was designed to look similar to St. Ioasaph's in Muddy.
The church in Buckner was one of the first Orthodox churches in southern Illinois. These churches were built to serve the many immigrant mining families. Other similar churches were built in towns like Royalton, Madison, Benld, Grand Tower, and Dowell.
Past Entertainment
From the 1950s to the early 1980s, Buckner was known as a fun place in Franklin County. It had many places for entertainment. By 2023, the last restaurant in the village closed.
Buckner's Geography
Buckner is located in the western-central part of Franklin County. You can find it at 37°58′52″N 89°0′56″W / 37.98111°N 89.01556°W. Illinois Route 14 goes through the village. This road leads east about 5.5 miles (8.9 km) to Benton, which is the main town of the county. If you go west on the road, it's about 2 miles (3.2 km) to Christopher.
Land and Water Area
In 2021, Buckner covered a total area of about 0.89 square miles (2.31 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 0.87 square miles (2.26 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.02 square miles (0.05 square kilometers), is water.
Buckner's Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,827 | — | |
| 1930 | 1,409 | −22.9% | |
| 1940 | 927 | −34.2% | |
| 1950 | 783 | −15.5% | |
| 1960 | 610 | −22.1% | |
| 1970 | 489 | −19.8% | |
| 1980 | 520 | 6.3% | |
| 1990 | 478 | −8.1% | |
| 2000 | 479 | 0.2% | |
| 2010 | 462 | −3.5% | |
| 2020 | 409 | −11.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Population Numbers
According to the 2020 census, there were 409 people living in Buckner. These people made up 151 households and 89 families. The village had about 458 people per square mile. There were also 211 housing units.
Diversity in Buckner
Most of the people in Buckner, about 92.18%, were White. A small number were African American (0.24%). About 0.49% were from other races, and 7.09% were from two or more races. People who identified as Hispanic or Latino made up 0.98% of the population.
Households and Families
Out of the 151 households, about 23.8% had children under 18 living with them. About 45.03% were married couples. Around 12.58% were female householders without a husband present. About 41.06% were not families. Many households (35.10%) were made up of people living alone. About 16.56% of households had someone aged 65 or older living by themselves. The average household had 3 people, and the average family had 2.3 people.
Age and Income
The people in Buckner had different ages. About 19.8% were under 18 years old. Around 21.8% were 65 years or older. The average age in the village was 41.7 years.
The median income for a household in Buckner was $38,542. For families, the median income was $45,938. The average income per person in the village was $21,907. About 16.7% of all people and 11.2% of families lived below the poverty line. This included 44.4% of those under 18 and 2.6% of those 65 or older.
See also
In Spanish: Buckner (Illinois) para niños
