Fidelity, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Fidelity is a village in Jersey County
, Illinois
, United States
, located about thirty-five miles north of Saint Louis, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 114.
The village is usually noted for its postmark
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²). None of it is covered by water.
reportedly traveled across this site. According to local legend, a horse belonging to settler Joseph Russell went lame
, stranding Russell, who was offered a replacement horse by another settler, Samuel Simmons.
The legend continues that Russell replied, "That's true fidelity."
Simmons built a log cabin
there, and in 1850, Russell and his brother also settled in the area. The Russell brothers are credited with having ensured the town was officially named Fidelity. A post office
was established in the village in 1854. During the mid-20th century, Fidelity was reportedly the site of "a small Army barracks, grain elevator
, several doctors and dentists, a blacksmith
shop and grocery stores."
Since then, Fidelity has become a tiny village made up mostly of small homes. The post office is now the only remaining business and its postmark has enjoyed some popularity for use on Valentine's day
greetings, with several hundred requests for cancellations received from addresses both in the United States and around the world each year.
of 2000, there were 105 people, 41 households, and 30 families residing in the village. The population density
was 941.2 people per square mile (368.6/km²). There were 44 housing units at an average density of 394.4 per square mile (154.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 100.00% White.
There were 41 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples
living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% 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 2.77.
In the village, the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $17,500, and the median income for a family was $17,083. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $7,798. There were 27.6% of families and 28.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including 29.0% of under eighteens and 13.3% of those over 64.
Jersey County, Illinois
Jersey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. Jersey County is part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 22,985, which is an increase of 6.1% from 21,668 in 2000...
, 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...
, located about thirty-five miles north of Saint Louis, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 114.
The village is usually noted for its postmark
Postmark
thumb|USS TexasA postmark is a postal marking made on a letter, package, postcard or the like indicating the date and time that the item was delivered into the care of the postal service...
.
Geography
Fidelity is located at 39°9′17"N 90°9′50"W (39.154636, -90.163947).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 0.1 square mile (0.258998811 km²). None of it is covered by water.
History
In 1829, people from TennesseeTennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
reportedly traveled across this site. According to local legend, a horse belonging to settler Joseph Russell went lame
Lame
Lame may refer to:* Lameness , lameness in horses* LAME, MP3 encoder* "Lame" , song by Unwritten Law* Licensed aircraft maintenance engineer...
, stranding Russell, who was offered a replacement horse by another settler, Samuel Simmons.
The legend continues that Russell replied, "That's true fidelity."
Simmons built a log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
there, and in 1850, Russell and his brother also settled in the area. The Russell brothers are credited with having ensured the town was officially named Fidelity. A post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
was established in the village in 1854. During the mid-20th century, Fidelity was reportedly the site of "a small Army barracks, grain elevator
Grain elevator
A grain elevator is a tower containing a bucket elevator, which scoops up, elevates, and then uses gravity to deposit grain in a silo or other storage facility...
, several doctors and dentists, a blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
shop and grocery stores."
Since then, Fidelity has become a tiny village made up mostly of small homes. The post office is now the only remaining business and its postmark has enjoyed some popularity for use on Valentine's day
Valentine's Day
Saint Valentine's Day, commonly shortened to Valentine's Day, is an annual commemoration held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The day is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Saint Valentine, and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496...
greetings, with several hundred requests for cancellations received from addresses both in the United States and around the world each year.
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 105 people, 41 households, and 30 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 941.2 people per square mile (368.6/km²). There were 44 housing units at an average density of 394.4 per square mile (154.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 100.00% White.
There were 41 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% 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, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% 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 2.77.
In the village, the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $17,500, and the median income for a family was $17,083. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $21,250 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 $7,798. There were 27.6% of families and 28.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including 29.0% of under eighteens and 13.3% of those over 64.