Oakley, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oakley, Illinois
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 Oakley, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Oakley, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Macon |
| Founded by | William H Rea |
| Elevation | 682 ft (208 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 217 |
| GNIS feature ID | 414910 |
Oakley is a small, quiet place in Macon County, Illinois, United States. It is known as an unincorporated community. This means it's a settlement that doesn't have its own local government, like a city or town. Instead, it's governed by the larger Oakley Township.
Oakley is located about 8 miles (13 km) east-northeast of Decatur, Illinois. It sits right along the Norfolk Southern Railway tracks. Today, Oakley is mostly a rural area with no main shopping street. However, it used to be a busy little village!
In the past, Oakley had two stores, a blacksmith shop, and even a train station for passengers. There was also a school, a church, a baseball field with lights, and a post office. While the church and post office buildings are still there, they are now used as homes. The Oakley Township Shed helps serve the people living in the surrounding area. A company called Clarkson Grain also runs a large grain elevator in the village.
Oakley's Early Days
The community of Oakley was officially started in 1856. A person named William Rea was the one who planned out the village. This happened shortly after the first train tracks were laid through the area in 1855. The arrival of the railroad was a very important event for Oakley. It helped the community grow and connect with other places.
