Waynesville, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waynesville
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Location of Waynesville in Witt County, Illinois.
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Location of Illinois in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | DeWitt |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.32 sq mi (0.83 km2) |
| • Land | 0.32 sq mi (0.83 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 725 ft (221 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 381 |
| • Density | 1,194.36/sq mi (461.50/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (CST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| ZIP Code(s) |
61778
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| Area code(s) | 217 |
| FIPS code | 17-79449 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2400118 |
| Wikimedia Commons | Waynesville, Illinois |
Waynesville is a small village located in DeWitt County, Illinois, United States. In 2020, about 381 people lived there. It's a quiet place with a long history in central Illinois.
Contents
The Story of Waynesville
Waynesville is one of the oldest places settled in central Illinois. The first people to live here arrived around 1825. Prettyman Marvel and his wife, Rebecca, were among the first settlers. They cleared land and soon other families joined them. This led to a small community forming near Kickapoo Creek.
How Waynesville Got Its Name
In 1832, the village was officially planned. It was named "Waynesville" to honor General Anthony Wayne. He was a hero from the Revolutionary War. Land lots were sold, but not many buildings were put up at first.
Why Waynesville Stayed Small
Even though Waynesville was one of the first villages, it never grew very large. When DeWitt County was created in 1839, Waynesville was in a corner of the county. This meant it couldn't become the county seat, which is the main town for the county government.
Also, important people in nearby Bloomington and Clinton made sure the Illinois Central Railroad went through their cities. This left Waynesville off the main train routes. Later, when state highways were built, Waynesville was bypassed again. These things kept the village from growing bigger.
A Difficult Time in Waynesville's Past
In 1855, Waynesville faced a very tough time. A serious illness spread through the village. About 50 out of 150 residents became very sick. This was one of the worst outbreaks of its kind in central Illinois.
Waynesville Today
Today, Waynesville is slowly getting smaller. Many young people move away for jobs or school. The village no longer has its own school. Some of the old buildings in the main business area have also fallen into disrepair over time.
Where is Waynesville?
Waynesville is located in central Illinois. According to information from 2010, the village covers an area of about 0.32 square miles (0.83 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People of Waynesville
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 322 | — | |
| 1880 | 200 | — | |
| 1890 | 368 | 84.0% | |
| 1900 | 528 | 43.5% | |
| 1910 | 546 | 3.4% | |
| 1920 | 592 | 8.4% | |
| 1930 | 511 | −13.7% | |
| 1940 | 564 | 10.4% | |
| 1950 | 516 | −8.5% | |
| 1960 | 510 | −1.2% | |
| 1970 | 522 | 2.4% | |
| 1980 | 569 | 9.0% | |
| 1990 | 440 | −22.7% | |
| 2000 | 452 | 2.7% | |
| 2010 | 434 | −4.0% | |
| 2020 | 381 | −12.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Waynesville has changed a lot over the years. In 1850, there were 322 people. The population reached its highest in 1920 with 592 people. By 2020, the number of residents was 381.
Who Lives in Waynesville?
Based on the 2020 census, there were 381 people living in Waynesville. These people made up 206 households. Most of the people living in the village were White. A small number of people were from other racial backgrounds.
About 24% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households were married couples. The average household had about 2.8 people.
Age and Income in Waynesville
The median age in Waynesville was about 36.8 years old. This means half the people were younger than 36.8 and half were older. About 19.6% of the population was under 18.
The median income for a household in the village was $66,000 per year. For families, the median income was $84,167. A small percentage of families and people lived below the poverty line.
Education in Waynesville
Students in Waynesville attend schools within the Olympia Community Unit School District 16.
See also
In Spanish: Waynesville (Illinois) para niños
