Homer, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Homer
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Location of Homer in Champaign County, Illinois.
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 Homer
Location in Champaign County, Illinois
Homer
Location in Illinois
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Champaign |
| Founded | 1855 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.98 sq mi (2.54 km2) |
| • Land | 0.98 sq mi (2.54 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 676 ft (206 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,073 |
| • Density | 1,094.90/sq mi (422.84/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-35814 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2398532 |
Homer is a small village located in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,073 people lived there.
Contents
The Story of Homer Village
Homer started as a small group of homes called Union. This settlement was built around 1829-1830. It was located almost three miles north of where Homer is today. Union was an important stop for mail and meetings in what was then Vermilion County. Later, this area became Champaign County in 1833.
In 1834, a man named Moses Thomas built a mill near a creek called Salt Fork. This mill helped grind grain. Soon after, a young merchant named Michael Doctor Coffeen opened a store next to the mill. Together, Thomas and Coffeen officially created the village of Homer on January 26, 1837. The post office moved to Homer in 1841, and M. D. Coffeen became the postmaster.
Moving the Village
By 1850, Homer had about 120 people. A new railroad, the Great Western Railroad, was being built south of the town. To be closer to the railroad, the entire village decided to move! In February 1855, all 32 buildings in Homer were carefully dragged about 1.5 miles south. This amazing feat was done using 18 teams of oxen.
Once moved, Homer became a stop on the railway, which was later called the Wabash Railroad. This made Homer a central place for farming in eastern Champaign County.
Homer Park: A Fun Place
In 1905, Homer became home to an amusement park called Homer Park. It was located north of the village, along the Salt Fork creek. People could visit the park by taking the Illinois Traction System interurban line, which was like an electric train.
Homer Park offered many fun activities. Visitors could go swimming, enjoy food, watch baseball games, see movies, and even visit a small zoo. Sadly, the park closed in 1937 due to floods and problems with how it was managed.
The Longest Teachers' Strike
The Homer School District once had the longest teachers' strike in the history of the United States. A strike is when workers stop working to protest their pay or working conditions. This strike lasted for 156 days, from October 26, 1986, to June 23, 1987. This was more than twice as long as the second-longest strike of its kind.
The main issue was how teachers' salaries were calculated. Even though the strike was very long, students only missed 11 days of school. This was because the district hired other teachers to keep classes going. However, some families moved away from Homer or paid for their children to attend schools in nearby towns.
After the strike, the Homer School District joined with another school district. Many teachers left, and most school board members either did not run for re-election or lost their positions. The effects of this long strike were felt in the town for many years.
Where is Homer Located?
Homer is located in Champaign County, Illinois. According to information from 2021, the village covers an area of about 0.98 square miles (2.54 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of Homer
The population of Homer has changed over the years. Here's a look at how many people have lived in the village during different census years:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 120 | — | |
| 1870 | 767 | — | |
| 1880 | 924 | 20.5% | |
| 1890 | 917 | −0.8% | |
| 1900 | 1,080 | 17.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,086 | 0.6% | |
| 1920 | 978 | −9.9% | |
| 1930 | 918 | −6.1% | |
| 1940 | 983 | 7.1% | |
| 1950 | 1,030 | 4.8% | |
| 1960 | 1,276 | 23.9% | |
| 1970 | 1,354 | 6.1% | |
| 1980 | 1,279 | −5.5% | |
| 1990 | 1,264 | −1.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,200 | −5.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,193 | −0.6% | |
| 2020 | 1,073 | −10.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As of the 2020 census, there were 1,073 people living in Homer. These people made up 519 households and 347 families. The village had about 1,095 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Homer were White (about 91.89%). A small number were African American (0.19%), Asian (0.84%), or from other races (0.47%). About 6.62% of the population identified as being from two or more races. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up 2.24% of the population.
In terms of households, about 34.9% had children under 18 living with them. About 42.39% were married couples. Around 30.83% of all households were made up of individuals living alone.
The average age of people in Homer was 30.9 years. About 28.8% of the population was under 18 years old. About 11.8% were 65 years or older.
The median income for a household in Homer was $65,347. The median income for a family was $81,750. The average income per person in the village was $44,604. About 10.6% of the total population lived below the poverty line.
See also
In Spanish: Homer (Illinois) para niños
