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Catlin
Village
Nickname(s): 
the V-O-C
Location of Catlin in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Location of Catlin in Vermilion County, Illinois.
Catlin, Illinois is located in Vermilion County, Illinois
Catlin, Illinois
Catlin, Illinois
Location in Vermilion County, Illinois
Country United States
State Illinois
County Vermilion County
Township Catlin Township
Founded 1866
Area
 • Total 0.85 sq mi (2.21 km2)
 • Land 0.85 sq mi (2.20 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)  0%
Elevation
656 ft (200 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 1,983
 • Density 2,335.69/sq mi (901.40/km2)
Time zone UTC-6 (CST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP code
61817
Area code(s) 217
FIPS code 17-11774
GNIS ID 2397576
Catlin Illinois grain elevator
Grain elevator in Catlin

Catlin is a village in Vermilion County, Illinois, United States. It is part of the Danville, Illinois area. In 2020, about 1,983 people lived there. Catlin is known as the hometown of Chad Hays, a former Illinois State Representative.

Exploring Catlin's Past: A Look at its History

Catlin Illinois Trail of Death marker
A marker for the Potawatomi Trail of Death near Catlin.

Catlin has a rich history with many important events. Let's explore some of them!

Early Settlements and Firsts

  • 1820: The first permanent settlement in Vermilion County was established. It was called Butler's Point, named after the first settler, James Butler.
  • 1822: God's Acre Cemetery, the first cemetery in Vermilion County, was created. The first county meetings were held at James Butler's home.
  • 1823: James Butler built the first mill in the area. It was a simple "corncracker" mill, used to grind corn.
  • 1824: People came to the area for the "salt works." Large kettles were used to boil water and make salt.
  • 1825: The first double wedding in the county happened at Butler's Point.

Growing the Community

  • 1827: Amos Woodin built a house that is now the Catlin Heritage Museum. The first school was also built, which served as a church too.
  • 1830: Grandma Guyman arrived and became the local doctor and midwife. She helped deliver over 1,000 babies!
  • 1834: Asa Elliott, an early settler and friend of James Butler, began serving in the State Legislature. He worked alongside Abraham Lincoln.
  • 1838: The Potawatomi Trail of Death passed through the village. This was when 860 members of the Potawatomi tribe were forced to move from Indiana to Kansas.
  • 1849: Henry Jones from England bought a large amount of land near Catlin. He was considered a wealthy farmer.
  • 1850: The Vermilion County Fair was held in Catlin for many years. It later moved to Danville in 1878.
  • 1856: The village was officially named Catlin. It was named after the president of the Great Western Railroad.

Catlin's Location and Size

Catlin is a small village. According to the 2010 census, it covers about 0.84 square miles (2.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water.

Learning in Catlin: Schools and Education

Catlin has a strong focus on education. The local schools have seen some changes over the years.

School District Changes

  • Before 2015, Catlin had its own school district, Catlin Community Unit School District #5. It included Catlin Grade School and Catlin High School.
  • In November 2014, people in Catlin voted to combine their school district with the Jamaica Unit #12 school district.
  • This led to the creation of the new Salt Fork Unit #512 school district. The first day of school for this new district was August 24, 2015.

Current Schools in Catlin

  • Salt Fork North: This is an elementary school in Catlin. It serves students from pre-kindergarten (PK) through 5th grade. About 260 students from Catlin and the surrounding area attend this school.
  • Salt Fork High School: This high school is also located in Catlin. It serves students in grades 9-12 from the Salt Fork School District #512.

Places of Worship in Catlin

Catlin has two main churches:

  • The Catlin Church of Christ
  • The Catlin United Methodist Church

Both of these churches are Christian and Protestant. Many residents who are Roman Catholic attend services in nearby Danville or Westville, Illinois.

Who Lives in Catlin? Population Facts

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 317
1890 275 −13.2%
1900 697 153.5%
1910 952 36.6%
1920 931 −2.2%
1930 813 −12.7%
1940 845 3.9%
1950 953 12.8%
1960 1,263 32.5%
1970 2,093 65.7%
1980 2,226 6.4%
1990 2,173 −2.4%
2000 2,087 −4.0%
2010 2,040 −2.3%
2020 1,983 −2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 2,087 people living in Catlin. Most residents were White. A small percentage of people were from other racial backgrounds. About 35% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.5 people.

Famous People from Catlin

Catlin has been home to some notable individuals:

  • Ralph E. Church: He was born near Catlin and served in both the Illinois House of Representatives and the United States House of Representatives.
  • Chad Hays: He is a former Mayor of Catlin and also served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives.
  • Tyler Jacob Moore: He is an actor known for his roles as Tony Markovich on Shameless and Prince Hans on Once Upon a Time.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Catlin (Illinois) para niños

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