Arcola, Illinois

Geobox|Settlement
name = Arcola
native_name =
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category = City
etymology =
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image_caption = Main St, Arcola


symbol =
country = United States
state = Illinois
region = Douglas
region_type = County
district =
district_type = Township
municipality =
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lat_d = 39
lat_m = 41
lat_s = 1
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long_EW = W
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area_imperial = 1.4
area_land_imperial = 1.4
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population = 2652
population_date = 2000
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population_density_imperial = 1938.9
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leader_type = Mayor
timezone = CST
utc_offset = -6
timezone_DST = CDT
utc_offset_DST = -5
postal_code = 61910
area_code = 217
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map_caption = Location of Arcola within Illinois
map_background = Illinois - background map.png map_locator = Illinois2
commons = Arcola, Illinois
statistics =
website =
footnotes =

Arcola is a city in Douglas County, Illinois, United States. The population was 2,652 at the 2000 census. The city was founded in 1855, when the Illinois Central Railroad was built through the county. The railroad itself was responsible for surveying, platting, and founding the town.

Arcola is somewhat famous for the Lawn Rangers, a "precision lawn mower drill team" that marches in formation with brooms and lawn mowers while wearing cowboy hats. Every year since 1980 the Lawn Rangers have marched in the Arcola Broomcorn Festival Parade. The event, held every year the weekend after Labor Day, honors Arcola's position in the late nineteenth century as a center of broom corn production. This unique custom was publicized by humor columnist Dave Barry, who marched with the Lawn Rangers in 1995 and has written columns about them.

Arcola is the 1880 birthplace of John Barton Gruelle, or "Johnny" Gruelle, who is famous for creating Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy, the loveable American dolls and storybook characters. Johnny Gruelle used his artistic skills learned from his painter father Richard Buckner Gruelle combined with his self-taught writer skills to create stories expressing regional values and aesthetic images. His artitistic granddaughter, Joni Gruelle Wannamaker manages the Raggedy Ann Museum in Arcola.

A nationally known tourist attraction, [http://www.rockome.com Rockome Gardens] which features large formal gardens, concrete fencing and architecture, buggy rides, and many special events from May through October is conveniently located just outside of the town of Arcola.

Arcola is also known for housing the world's only [http://www.roadsideamerica.com/attract/ILARChippie.html Hippie Memorial] created by Bob Moomaw. He died in 1998. He worked as a railroad clerk and tax assessor, but didn’t like either job. As an eccentric, independent artist with strong beliefs, he was able to give voice to his feelings, passions, and opinions through his art and the writing on the sides of his buildings. He created the sixty-two-feet-long artwork starting in 1992 to say something about his life and the era during which he lived. A nearby marker gives an interpretation of his work.

In the countryside near Arcola is a prominent community of Old Order Amish, the largest in Illinois.

Geography

Arcola is located at coor dms|39|41|1|N|88|18|21|W|city (39.683545, -88.305844)GR|1. US Route 45 runs through the town.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.44%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 2,652 people, 1,031 households, and 748 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,938.9 people per square mile (747.4/km²). There were 1,080 housing units at an average density of 789.6/sq mi (304.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 89.40% White, 0.26% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.79% Asian, 8.03% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 19.87% of the population.

There were 1,031 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.7% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.4% were non-families. 24.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the city the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 22.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $38,125, and the median income for a family was $46,107. Males had a median income of $30,168 versus $22,723 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,664. About 2.0% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 3.1% of those under age 18 and 2.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable residents

* Johnny Gruelle (1880-1938), creator of the Raggedy Ann doll.
* Jennie Garth, best known for her role as Kelly Taylor in Beverly Hills, 90210
* The Lawn Rangers - a "precision lawn mower drill team" that has participated in parades across the country.
* [http://www.nanciekingmertz.com/ Nancie King Mertz] Born in Arcola, she is a well-known Chicago artist.

References

External links

* [http://www.arcola.k12.il.us/ Arcola Community Unit School District #306]
* [http://www.arcola-il.org/ Arcola Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://genealogytrails.com/ill/douglas/arcolatwp.html History of Arcola Township (written 1884)]
* [http://www.tombruno.com/lawn_rangers.html Personal website of a Lawn Ranger]
* [http://www.raggedyann-museum.org/ The Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann & Andy Museum in Arcola, Illinois]