Alpha, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Alpha is a village in Henry County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 671 at the 2010 census, down from 726 at the 2000 census.
looked at Alpha's railroad car diner as a possible location for filming scenes for his movie Diner
. Alpha's zip code (61413) is Pi in reverse (3.1416).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 726 people, 305 households, and 216 families residing in the village. The population density
was 2,254.7 people per square mile (876.0/km²). There were 318 housing units at an average density of 987.6 per square mile (383.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.48% White, 0.55% from other races
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.
There were 305 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.6% 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 2.38 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $31,548 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $17,407. About 4.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.
Henry County, Illinois
Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 50,486, which is a decrease of 1.0% from 51,020 in 2000. Its county seat is Cambridge...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 671 at the 2010 census, down from 726 at the 2000 census.
History
On June 1, 1872, Anson Calkins laid out the village of Alpha. Alpha was created as a railroad town and replaced the town of Oxford, which was located about three miles west of current day Alpha. The village was named Alpha (the first letter of the Greek alphabet), because Calkins believed it to be the beginnings of a great city. It was incorporated on January 11, 1895. In the early 1980s, director Barry LevinsonBarry Levinson
Barry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
looked at Alpha's railroad car diner as a possible location for filming scenes for his movie Diner
Diner
A diner, also spelled dinor in western Pennsylvania is a prefabricated restaurant building characteristic of North America, especially in the Midwest, in New York City, in Pennsylvania and in New Jersey, and in other areas of the Northeastern United States, although examples can be found throughout...
. Alpha's zip code (61413) is Pi in reverse (3.1416).
Geography
Alpha is located at 41°11′32"N 90°22′51"W (41.192203, -90.380943).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the village has a total area of 0.3 square mile (0.776996433 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 726 people, 305 households, and 216 families residing in the village. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,254.7 people per square mile (876.0/km²). There were 318 housing units at an average density of 987.6 per square mile (383.7/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 98.48% White, 0.55% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.96% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.52% of the population.
There were 305 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.9% were non-families. 25.6% 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 2.38 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the village the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 28.2% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.6 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $36,250, and the median income for a family was $43,750. Males had a median income of $31,548 versus $20,625 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the village was $17,407. About 4.2% of families and 5.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.