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Oak Run, Illinois facts for kids

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Oak Run, Illinois
Oak Run, Illinois is located in Illinois
Oak Run, Illinois
Oak Run, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Oak Run, Illinois is located in the United States
Oak Run, Illinois
Oak Run, Illinois
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Illinois
County Knox
Townships Persifer, Copley
Area
 • Total 5.15 sq mi (13.34 km2)
 • Land 4.28 sq mi (11.08 km2)
 • Water 0.87 sq mi (2.26 km2)
Elevation
709 ft (216 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 721
 • Density 168.62/sq mi (65.10/km2)
ZIP code
61428
GNIS feature ID 2628556

Oak Run is a special community in Illinois, United States. It's known as a "census-designated place," which means it's a specific area identified for population counting. Oak Run is also a popular resort community. It is located in Knox County, within Persifer and Copley townships. In 2010, about 547 people lived there. By 2020, the population had grown to 721.

Discovering Oak Run

Oak Run is a fun place located about 3 miles (5 kilometers) north of U.S. Highway 150. It sits between Knox County Highway 12 and Knox County Highway 15. The community is built around a very large lake called Spoon Lake. This lake is the biggest man-made body of water in Central Illinois.

What to Do in Oak Run

The area covers about 4,000 acres (16 square kilometers) of land. You can find many exciting things to do here:

  • A golf course for playing a round or two.
  • A convenience store for quick snacks and supplies.
  • A restaurant where you can grab a meal.
  • A gas station for your car.
  • Two marinas, which are great for boats.
  • Several parks for outdoor fun.

Other cool places include a swimming pool, a lounge building, and tennis courts. There are also beaches where you can relax and a campground with 56 sites for camping adventures. The Oak Run rangers help keep the area safe and well-maintained. Many people live in Oak Run all year, while others have vacation homes there.

The Story of Oak Run

The construction of Oak Run began in 1971. Before that, the land was bought from 27 different owners. This area was traditionally known as "Round Bottom."

Building Spoon Lake

The most important part of Oak Run is Spoon Lake. This huge lake was created by building an earthen dam. The dam is about 61 feet (19 meters) high and 550 feet (168 meters) wide at its base. The lake itself is about 60 feet (18 meters) deep near the dam. It also has nearly 19 miles (31 kilometers) of shoreline, perfect for lakeside activities.

Spoon Lake first filled up with water in 1973. It gets its water from Sugar Creek and natural springs. More than 40 miles (64 kilometers) of paved roads were built to county standards, making it easy to get around. The public Oak Run Golf Course opened in the middle of summer in 1976, adding another great feature to the community.

Where is Oak Run?

Oak Run is located at an elevation of about 738 feet (225 meters) above sea level. Spoon Lake is so big that it actually divides the town into different parts.

People of Oak Run

The population of Oak Run has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during recent official counts:

Historical population
Census Pop.
2020 721
U.S. Decennial Census

See also

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

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