Piopolis, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Piopolis, Illinois
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Country | United States |
State | Illinois |
County | Hamilton |
Elevation | 410 ft (120 m) |
Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
Area code(s) | 618 |
GNIS feature ID | 415732 |
Piopolis is a small place in Hamilton County, Illinois, United States. It is called an unincorporated community. This means it is a group of homes and buildings that does not have its own local government. Piopolis is about 2.5 miles (4.0 km) south of Belle Prairie City. It is located in Crouch Township.
The Story of Piopolis: How It Began
Piopolis was first settled in 1841. The first people to live there were Roman Catholic immigrants from Baden, Germany. Immigrants are people who move from one country to live in another. These settlers brought their culture and beliefs with them.
Before it was called Piopolis, this community had many different names. Some of these names included Auxier Prairie, Dutch Settlement, and Mount St. John. It was also known as St. Francis Xavier and Belle Prairie. The name Piopolis was chosen in 1877. It was named after Pope Pius IX, who was the leader of the Roman Catholic Church at that time.
Life in Early Piopolis: School and Work
Piopolis once had its own post office. This post office first opened in 1848. It helped people send and receive letters and packages. There was also a public school in Piopolis. This school taught local children from the 1880s until the 1920s.
For many years, the main way people made a living in Piopolis was through farming. People grew crops and raised animals. This helped the community to grow and thrive.