Galton, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Galton, Illinois
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 Galton, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Galton, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Douglas |
| Elevation | 650 ft (200 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 217 |
| GNIS feature ID | 408860 |
Galton is a small, quiet place located in Douglas County, Illinois, in the United States. It is known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own official town government like a city or village. Instead, it's usually managed by the county government.
Where is Galton?
Galton is easy to find on a map. It sits right along U.S. Route 45, which is a major road. If you travel about 4 miles (which is about 6.4 kilometers) north from the town of Arcola, you will reach Galton. It's a peaceful spot in the countryside of Illinois.
How Galton Got Its Name
Galton was named after a man named Douglas Galton. He was a British actuary. An actuary is a person who uses math and statistics to study risks, especially for businesses like insurance companies. Douglas Galton visited Illinois many times. He came to check the financial records of the Illinois Central Railroad. This was a very important train company back then. He was doing this for investors, who were people from the Netherlands and Britain who had put money into the railroad.
A Community Forms
In 1883, a post office was opened in Galton. This was a big step for the community. It meant that people living there could send and receive mail more easily. Having a post office often helps a small settlement grow and become more connected to the outside world.
