Tonica, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tonica, Illinois
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Aerial view of Tonica
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Location in LaSalle County, Illinois
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | LaSalle |
| Township | Eden |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.36 sq mi (3.53 km2) |
| • Land | 1.36 sq mi (3.53 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 666 ft (203 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 749 |
| • Density | 550.7/sq mi (212.12/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP code |
61370
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| Area code(s) | 815 |
| FIPS code | 17-75718 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2399993 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Tonica, Illinois |
Tonica is a small village located in LaSalle County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 749 people lived there. Tonica is part of the larger Ottawa area.
Contents
Discovering Tonica's Past
Tonica started as a small place called Point Republic. A man named Andrew West, who worked for the Illinois Central Railroad, helped create the village. The railroad tracks arrived on May 23, 1853.
How Tonica Got Its Name
The name "Tonica" comes from the Tunica people, a Native American tribe. Andrew West learned about them when he was growing up in New York. He also named many of the streets in Tonica after different Native American tribes and people.
When Tonica Became a Village
Tonica officially became a village on April 3, 1859. It was re-established on August 16, 1873, and this was confirmed on October 16, 1901.
Exploring Tonica's Location
Tonica is in the western part of LaSalle County. A main road, Illinois Route 251, goes right through the middle of the village. This road leads north to Peru and south to Wenona.
Highways Near Tonica
Interstate 39 is a big highway that runs along the west side of Tonica. You can get onto I-39 from Exit 48. This highway goes north to Interstate 80 in LaSalle and south to Interstate 55 near Normal.
Size of the Village
In 2020, Tonica covered an area of about 1.36 square miles (3.53 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People Living in Tonica
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 504 | — | |
| 1890 | 473 | −6.2% | |
| 1900 | 497 | 5.1% | |
| 1910 | 483 | −2.8% | |
| 1920 | 439 | −9.1% | |
| 1930 | 500 | 13.9% | |
| 1940 | 510 | 2.0% | |
| 1950 | 585 | 14.7% | |
| 1960 | 750 | 28.2% | |
| 1970 | 821 | 9.5% | |
| 1980 | 695 | −15.3% | |
| 1990 | 715 | 2.9% | |
| 2000 | 685 | −4.2% | |
| 2010 | 768 | 12.1% | |
| 2020 | 749 | −2.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, there were 749 people living in Tonica. There were 328 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 207 of these households were families.
Who Lives in Tonica?
The population density was about 550 people per square mile. This means that for every square mile of land, there were about 550 people.
About 20.8% of the people in Tonica were under 18 years old. About 12.1% were 65 years old or older. The average age of people in Tonica was 41.4 years.
Education in Tonica
The village of Tonica has its own school for younger students. It is called Tonica Grade School and teaches children from kindergarten through eighth grade.
Famous People from Tonica
- Arthur R. Hall was a football player and coach at the University of Illinois. He grew up in Tonica.
