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Wakefield, Illinois facts for kids

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Wakefield, Illinois
Wakefield, Illinois is located in Illinois
Wakefield, Illinois
Wakefield, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Wakefield, Illinois is located in the United States
Wakefield, Illinois
Wakefield, Illinois
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Illinois
County Richland
Elevation
489 ft (149 m)
Time zone UTC-6 (Central (CST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s) 618
GNIS feature ID 420382

Wakefield is a small place in Richland County, Illinois, in the United States. It's what we call an unincorporated community. This means it's not officially a town or city with its own local government. Instead, it's part of the larger county. Wakefield is about 11.5 miles (18.5 km) northwest of a bigger town called Olney.

What is an Unincorporated Community?

An unincorporated community is a group of homes and businesses that are not part of an official city or town. They don't have their own mayor or city council. Instead, they are governed by the county they are in. People in these communities still live, work, and go to school, just like in a city.

History of Wakefield

In the early 1900s, Wakefield was a very busy place. It was described as a "booming community." This means it was growing fast and had many important services for the people living there.

What Wakefield Had

  • A grocery store: This was where people bought food and other daily supplies.
  • A post office: This allowed people to send and receive mail.
  • A garage: This was likely for fixing cars or other vehicles.
  • A church: Named Liberty Baptist Church, it was a place for community gatherings and worship.

These places were very important for the people living in Wakefield at that time. They helped the community to grow and thrive.

Famous People from Wakefield

One notable person connected to Wakefield is the chemist Reynold C. Fuson. He was born near this community. Chemists are scientists who study what things are made of and how they change.

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