Wyoming, Illinois facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Wyoming, Illinois
City
The former CB&Q depot
Location of Wyoming in Stark County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Stark
Area
• Total	0.85 sq mi (2.21 km2)
• Land	0.85 sq mi (2.21 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	1,300
• Density	1,522.25/sq mi (587.51/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	61491
Area code(s)	309
FIPS code	17-83687

Wyoming is a small city located in Stark County, Illinois, in the United States. In 2020, about 1,300 people lived there. It's also home to the main office for the Rock Island Trail State Park. Wyoming is part of the larger Peoria area. The old CB&Q Railroad depot in town now serves as the park's headquarters.

History of Wyoming

Wyoming was founded on May 3, 1836. It was started by General Samuel Thomas, who was a soldier in the War of 1812. General Thomas was born in 1787 and passed away in 1879. He is buried in the Wyoming City Cemetery. A special plaque there shows that he was the founder and a helper of the town.

The main park in Wyoming is called Thomas Park, and there's also a Thomas Street. Both are named to honor General Thomas. Many of the first people who settled in Wyoming, including Samuel Thomas, came from Pennsylvania. The city of Wyoming is named after the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania.

Stark County's Background

Stark County is mostly rural, meaning it has a lot of farmland. The county was created on March 2, 1839. It was named after John Stark, a soldier who fought in the French and Indian wars. He was also a Major General in the Continental Army during the American Revolution. He was very brave in battles like Bunker Hill, Trenton, Princeton, and Bennington.

Wyoming is the biggest community in Stark County. In 2010, it had 1,429 residents. Other important villages nearby include Toulon, Bradford, and Lafayette. Toulon is the county seat, which means it's where the county government is located. It also has a historic courthouse.

Geography and Location

Wyoming is located at 41°3′49″N 89°46′27″W / 41.06361°N 89.77417°W / 41.06361; -89.77417. This means it's in the northern part of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, Wyoming covers about 0.84 square miles (2.2 square kilometers) of land. There is no water within the city limits.

Just west of Wyoming, you can find the Spoon River.

People and Population

In the year 2000, there were 1,424 people living in Wyoming. These people lived in 629 households, and 408 of those were families. Most people living in Wyoming were White (99.09%).

About 26.1% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households (53.1%) were married couples living together. About 32.1% of all households were single individuals. Also, 17.6% of households had someone aged 65 or older living alone. The average household had 2.26 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 22.3% were under 18 years old. About 21.6% were 65 years or older. The average age in the city was 42 years.

Schools in Wyoming

Wyoming is home to the Stark County Elementary School. The main offices for the Stark County C.U.S.D. #100 school district are also located here.

Famous People from Wyoming

Wyoming has been the birthplace or home of several notable individuals:

• J. Frank Duryea: He helped design the first car in the United States that ran on gasoline. He went to high school in Wyoming.
• Otho Cromwell Duryea: Born in Wyoming, he was the brother of J. Frank Duryea. He was also a pioneer in developing gasoline-powered cars.
• Kirke La Shelle: A journalist, writer for plays, and theater producer who was born in Wyoming.
• Arthur Melvin Otman: A judge from Peoria County who originally came from Wyoming.
• Harry Everett Townsend: A native of Wyoming who became a war artist for the United States Army during World War I.

See also

In Spanish: Wyoming (Illinois) para niños