Carlock, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Carlock, Illinois
Village
Location in McLean County, Illinois
Carlock, Illinois Location in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	McLean
Township	White Oak
Area
• Total	0.40 sq mi (1.02 km2)
• Land	0.40 sq mi (1.02 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	764 ft (233 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	548
• Density	1,387.34/sq mi (535.43/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code	61725
Area code(s)	309
FIPS code	17-11215
GNIS ID	2397556
Wikimedia Commons	Carlock, Illinois

Carlock is a small village located in McLean County, Illinois, in the United States. It's a friendly place with a population of 548 people, according to the 2020 census. Carlock is also part of the larger area around the cities of Bloomington and Normal.

History of Carlock

How Carlock Started

Carlock was officially planned on January 5, 1888, by a man named John Franklin Carlock. He owned a lot of land, and 80 acres of it were used to create the first part of the village. This new town was located south of the main road, which is now U.S. Route 150. This road connected the cities of Bloomington and Peoria. Carlock was one of the last towns to be planned in McLean County.

The Older Town of Oak Grove

Before Carlock, there was a small community called Oak Grove. It was located a little northeast of where Carlock is now. This area was interesting to people who wanted to build towns because a main road, known as the Old Peoria Trail, went through some wooded hills there.

The first try at building a town here was in 1838 by a farmer named John McGee. He planned a town called Livingston, but it didn't work out. He couldn't sell any land.

Later, in the 1850s, a small group of houses and stores started to appear near McGee's old town site. In 1866, a post office was opened there, and it was named Oak Grove. By 1879, Oak Grove had about twenty homes, a town hall, two general stores, a blacksmith shop, a mill, and even a brass band! People thought all it needed was a railroad.

When the Town Moved Downhill

By March 1887, it became clear that a railroad would be built nearby. People in Oak Grove hoped the train would stop in their town. They even sent people to talk to the railroad company, but the news wasn't good.

Then, John Franklin Carlock, who was also supplying wood to the railroad, decided to plan a new town about a mile and a half away. This new town was right next to where the railroad would go.

In November 1879, something amazing happened: people started moving the buildings from Oak Grove! They put the buildings on skids and pulled them down the hill to the new Carlock site. By February 1888, people were already living in their homes in the new location. A reporter even wrote that "nothing is left of our town but pieces" in Oak Grove. Other towns nearby also moved their buildings to be closer to the new railroad.

Carlock's Early Days

The first plan for Carlock was small and simple. It was shaped like a rectangle, cut in half by the railroad tracks. Most of the businesses were along Perry Street, north of the tracks. In 1895, Carlock had about sixty buildings. Most of these were new, but about twelve had been moved from Oak Grove. Because Carlock was built later than some other towns, it didn't grow as fast. It remained a small community that helped local farmers and shipped grain.

New Homes in Carlock

In 2004, some land northeast of Carlock was bought to build new homes. This area is called Stoneman Gardens. It will have about 65 homes and a small park. These houses are built by future owners who might not have a lot of money, with help from an organization called YouthBuild McLean County. This project helps families get a new home they might not otherwise be able to afford. Building started in 2005, and more homes are still being built.

Another new area for homes, called Rock Creek, is on the eastern side of Carlock. It's still growing, with more lots available for new houses in the future.

Carlock's Location

Carlock is in the northwestern part of McLean County. U.S. Route 150 goes right through the village. Interstate 74 is just west of Carlock, and you can get on it from Exit 120. Both I-74 and US 150 lead southeast about 13 miles to Bloomington, which is the main city of McLean County. Peoria is about 27 miles northwest if you take I-74.

Rock Creek flows along the eastern edge of the village. This creek eventually flows into the Mackinaw River, which then joins the Illinois River.

The people of Carlock and the areas around it are kept safe by the McLean County Sheriff's Police and the Danvers Police Department. Fire and emergency medical services (EMS) are provided by the Carlock Fire Protection District.

Carlock's Population

In 2010, there were 552 people living in Carlock. There were 219 households, which means 219 different homes or families.

Most people in Carlock are White (90.2%), with some African American (7.6%) and Asian (0.5%) residents. About 1.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino.

In 2000, about 37.8% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.53 people. The median age in the village was 34 years old.

Education in Carlock

Carlock has its own elementary school! It's part of the McLean County School District: Unit 5. After elementary school, students go to Parkside Jr High School and then to Normal Community West High School, both located in Normal, Illinois. The school mascot for Carlock is an Eagle.

Famous People from Carlock

Some notable people have connections to Carlock:

• H. C. Baldridge: He was the 14th governor of Idaho from 1927 to 1931. He was born in Carlock.
• Simon E. Lantz: An Illinois farmer and politician who was also born in Carlock.
• Bonnie Lou: A famous recording artist, radio, and TV star. She is a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

See also

In Spanish: Carlock (Illinois) para niños