Opdyke, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Opdyke, Illinois
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 Opdyke, Illinois
Location in Illinois
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Jefferson |
| Township | Pendleton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.53 sq mi (1.37 km2) |
| • Land | 0.53 sq mi (1.37 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 515 ft (157 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 236 |
| • Density | 446.97/sq mi (172.54/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Postal code |
62872
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| Area code(s) | 618 |
| FIPS code | 17-56198 |
| GNIS ID | 2628558 |
Opdyke is a small community in Jefferson County, Illinois, United States. It is called a census-designated place, which means it's a special area defined for counting people. In 2010, about 254 people lived there. By 2020, the population was 236.
Contents
History of Opdyke
Opdyke was created in 1871. This happened after the St. Louis & Southeastern Railroad was built. Before Opdyke, there was a town nearby called Lynchburg. Most people from Lynchburg moved to Opdyke when the railroad arrived.
How Opdyke Got Its Name
A company named Calhoun & Opdyke from New York helped pay for the railroad. They gave a lot of money, over $4.5 million, to build it. The town of Opdyke was named after the "Opdyke" part of this company. Some people think the town's name was all they got from their big investment!
Old Roads and New Highways
Around 1800, maps of Illinois showed an old road called the Goshen Road. This road went right through where Opdyke is now. It ran north and south, just east of the main road that forms the western edge of the village today. Not many signs of this old road are left. It's unclear if it was still used when Opdyke was founded.
Opdyke first grew up right next to the railroad tracks. Today, the railroad is not as important for the village. Now, the main road for Opdyke is Illinois Route 142. A bigger highway, Interstate 64, passes about a mile north of Opdyke. However, there isn't an exit for Opdyke directly from Interstate 64.
Population of Opdyke
The number of people living in Opdyke has changed over time. Here's how the population has been counted:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 2010 | 254 | — | |
| 2020 | 236 | −7.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
As you can see, the population was 254 people in 2010. By 2020, it had slightly decreased to 236 people.
See also
In Spanish: Opdyke para niños
