Tolono, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tolono
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Tolono Historical Society & Veteran's Museum
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Location of Tolono in Champaign County, Illinois.
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 Tolono
Location in Champaign County, Illinois
Tolono
Location in Illinois
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Champaign |
| Township | Tolono |
| Area | |
| • Total | 2.06 sq mi (5.34 km2) |
| • Land | 2.06 sq mi (5.34 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,604 |
| • Density | 1,748.67/sq mi (675.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
61880
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-75614 |
| Website | http://tolonoil.us/ |
Tolono is a village located in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. It is part of Tolono Township. In 2020, about 3,604 people lived there.
The name "Tolono" was created by J.B. Calhoun, who worked for the Illinois Central Railroad. He said he used the letter "o" three times and filled in the letters "t," "l," and "n."
Contents
Exploring Tolono's Location and Land
Tolono is located at 39°59′10″N 88°15′35″W / 39.98611°N 88.25972°W. An interesting story about its name comes from a surveyor for the Illinois Central Railroad. He was looking for a main office location and wrote "too low, No." on a map. This phrase supposedly became the town's name.
How Tolono's Land Was Drained
In the past, Tolono had companies that made special tiles. These tiles were used to drain water from the land around the town. This helped to dry out swampy areas, especially on the east side near the Wabash Railroad.
Tolono's Size
According to information from 2021, Tolono covers a total area of about 2.06 square miles (5.34 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
Understanding Tolono's Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 777 | — | |
| 1880 | 905 | 16.5% | |
| 1890 | 902 | −0.3% | |
| 1900 | 845 | −6.3% | |
| 1910 | 760 | −10.1% | |
| 1920 | 693 | −8.8% | |
| 1930 | 790 | 14.0% | |
| 1940 | 876 | 10.9% | |
| 1950 | 1,065 | 21.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,539 | 44.5% | |
| 1970 | 2,027 | 31.7% | |
| 1980 | 2,434 | 20.1% | |
| 1990 | 2,605 | 7.0% | |
| 2000 | 2,700 | 3.6% | |
| 2010 | 3,447 | 27.7% | |
| 2020 | 3,604 | 4.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, the village of Tolono had 3,604 residents. There were 1,150 households, and 789 of these were families. This means there were about 1,749 people living in each square mile.
Who Lives in Tolono?
Most people in Tolono are White (about 91%). There are also smaller groups of African American, Native American, and Asian residents. About 6% of the population identifies with two or more races. Around 2.6% of the people are of Hispanic or Latino background.
Households and Families
Out of all the households, about 41% had children under 18 living with them. Nearly 46% were married couples. About 18% of households had a female head with no husband present. Around 27% of households were made up of people living alone.
Age Groups in Tolono
The population of Tolono includes people of all ages. About 26% of residents are under 18 years old. Around 28% are between 25 and 44 years old. The median age in the village is 34.6 years.
Tolono's Past: A Look at Its History
Tolono was founded in the early 1800s. It grew because of the Illinois Central Railroad expanding south. Many of the first people to live here worked for the railroad. You can even find streets named after railroad staff!
Railroad's Importance
Because two railway lines crossed in Tolono, it became an important stop for early train passengers. A famous moment in Tolono's history happened when Abraham Lincoln gave a farewell speech from his train car. This was his last stop in Illinois before leaving his home state.
Monical's Pizza and Local Film
In 1959, the very first Monical's Pizza restaurant opened in Tolono. Even though that exact location isn't a Monical's anymore, another one is just a block away. The family who started Monical's still lives in the village.
In 2006, Mark Roberts, who grew up in Tolono, filmed his movie "Welcome To Tolono" in the village. The movie was shown at film festivals in 2007. It tells the story of an Alcoholics Anonymous group meeting in a church basement in Tolono.
Famous People from Tolono
Tolono has been home to several notable individuals:
- Brian Cardinal: An NBA basketball player.
- George Washington Burr: A Major General during World War I.
- Mark Roberts: A screenwriter, producer, and actor, known for creating the TV show Mike & Molly.
- Rocky Ryan: An NFL player for the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears.
Learning in Tolono: The Schools
Tolono is part of Community Unit School District #7, also known as Unit Seven Schools. This district serves students from preschool all the way through twelfth grade. It covers a large area of about 173 square miles (448 square kilometers). This includes Tolono and nearby communities like Philo, Sidney, Sadorus, and Pesotum.
New Schools for Students
In August 2002, three new schools opened:
- Unity East Elementary: For about 300 students from Sidney and Philo.
- Unity West Elementary: For about 400 students from Pesotum, Sadorus, and Tolono.
- Unity Junior High: For about 200 students from across the district. It has a gymnasium called the Rocket Center.
Along with the existing High School, there are now four schools in the district. The district is located in a farming area, about 10 miles (16 kilometers) south of Champaign-Urbana. It's also close to Parkland College and the University of Illinois.
Images for kids
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Tolono post office
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Tolono village office
See also
In Spanish: Tolono (Illinois) para niños
