Omaha, Illinois

Omaha, Illinois
Village
IL 1 in Omaha
Location of Omaha in Gallatin County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 37°53′24″N88°18′12″W / 37.89000°N 88.30333°W / 37.89000; -88.30333
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Gallatin
Area [1]
• Total	0.74 sq mi (1.93 km2)
• Land	0.74 sq mi (1.93 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	390 ft (120 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	209
• Density	280.91/sq mi (108.40/km2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
ZIP Code(s)	62871
Area code	618
FIPS code	17-56003
GNIS ID	2399573 [2]
Wikimedia Commons	Omaha, Illinois

Omaha is a village in Gallatin County, Illinois, United States. The population was 209 at the 2020 census. ^[3]

History

Omaha was established in 1871 as a stop along the Springfield and Illinois South Eastern Railway. A baggage master working for the railroad, Henry Pearce, named the settlement for Omaha, Nebraska, where he had previously worked as a baggage master. After an initial attempt at incorporation failed in 1875, Omaha successfully incorporated in 1888. ^[4]

Omaha is home to many strawberry farms and used to hold an annual "Strawberry Day" in May. In Southern Illinois, Omaha is well known for one of the area's largest and most popular furniture stores, "Omaha Furniture," which has been in business since 1932.

Geography

Omaha is located in northwestern Gallatin County at 37°53′24″N88°18′12″W / 37.89000°N 88.30333°W / 37.89000; -88.30333 (37.889963, -88.303341). ^[5] Illinois Route 1 passes through the village, leading north 7 miles (11 km) to Norris City and south 32 miles (51 km) to Cave-in-Rock on the Ohio River. Shawneetown, the Gallatin County seat, is 16 miles (26 km) to the southeast via Routes 1 and 13.

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Omaha has a total area of 0.75 square miles (1.94 km²), of which 0.74 square miles (1.92 km²) (or 99.87%) is land and 0.00 square miles (0.00 km²) (or 0.13%) is water. ^[6]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1880	187		—
1890	428		128.9%
1900	569		32.9%
1910	586		3.0%
1920	449		−23.4%
1930	358		−20.3%
1940	413		15.4%
1950	394		−4.6%
1960	312		−20.8%
1970	304		−2.6%
1980	295		−3.0%
1990	273		−7.5%
2000	263		−3.7%
2010	266		1.1%
2020	209		−21.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]

As of the 2020 census ^[3] there were 209 people, 101 households, and 65 families residing in the village. The population density was 280.54 inhabitants per square mile (108.32/km²). There were 116 housing units at an average density of 155.70 per square mile (60.12/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 95.22% White, 0.00% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.00% from other races, and 4.31% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.00% of the population.

There were 101 households, out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were married couples living together, 3.96% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.64% were non-families. 35.64% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.87% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.09 and the average family size was 2.35.

The village's age distribution consisted of 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.9 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.0 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $45,375, and the median income for a family was $47,917. Males had a median income of $42,500 versus $27,143 for females. The per capita income for the village was $20,146. About 15.4% of families and 18.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 20.4% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Nathan D. Bryant (1869–1949), member of the Illinois House of Representatives. He was a resident of Omaha during his political career. ^[8]

References

1. "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Omaha, Illinois
3. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
4. William K. Fulkerson, "Omaha, Illinois and Its Only National Bank, The First National Bank of Omaha," Paper Money, Vol. 23, No. 4 (July/August 1984), p. 171.
5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. Bureau, US Census. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
7. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
8. Official directory of the General Assembly of Illinois 1897. Illinois Secretary of State. p. 56. Retrieved September 26, 2022.

Further reading

• 1887. History of Gallatin, Saline, Hamilton, Franklin and Williamson Counties, Illinois. Chicago: Goodspeed Publishing Co.
• Musgrave, Jon, ed. 2002. Handbook of Old Gallatin County and Southeastern Illinois. Marion, Ill.: IllinoisHistory.com. 464 pages.

External links

• Media related to Omaha, Illinois at Wikimedia Commons