Oakland, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Oakland is a city in Coles County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 880 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (4.65%) is water.
of 2000, there were 996 people, 416 households, and 294 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,215.8 people per square mile (469.0/km²). There were 437 housing units at an average density of 533.4 per square mile (205.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.10% White, 0.20% African American, 0.10% Native American, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.
There were 416 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% were married couples
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,038, and the median income for a family was $38,167. Males had a median income of $29,342 versus $20,577 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $15,964. About 8.8% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
Pioneer doctor and abolitionist Dr. Hiram Rutherford moved to Oakland in 1840 to start his practice in the young town. He became a prominent citizen. Rutherford is most widely known for his involvement in the 1847 Matson slave trial, which involved his friend Abraham Lincoln. A Kentucky slave owner, Gen. Robert Matson, annually brought slaves to work on his land near Oakland. One year, a family of slaves ran away from the farm and took refuge with Dr. Rutherford and Gideon Ashmore. Matson sued the men for harboring slaves; Rutherford and Ashmore countered that the slaves could not legally be held in a free state. Rutherford attempted to have Lincoln represent him in the case, but Lincoln had already agreed to represent the slave owner. Matson, represented by Lincoln, lost the case in Coles County court.
Rutherford's home and office, as well as other historic sites, are maintained and available for tours.
Coles County, Illinois
Coles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 53,873, which is an increase of 1.3% from 53,196 in 2000. Its county seat is Charleston, which is also the home of Eastern Illinois University....
, 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 880 at the 2010 census.
Geography
Oakland is located at 39.656788°N 88.025401°W.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 city has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.3 km²), of which, 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1035995244 km²) of it (4.65%) is water.
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 996 people, 416 households, and 294 families residing in the city. 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 1,215.8 people per square mile (469.0/km²). There were 437 housing units at an average density of 533.4 per square mile (205.8/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 99.10% White, 0.20% African American, 0.10% Native American, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.90% of the population.
There were 416 households out of which 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.0% 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, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the city the population was spread out with 26.1% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $34,038, and the median income for a family was $38,167. Males had a median income of $29,342 versus $20,577 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 city was $15,964. About 8.8% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
Oakland, formerly known as Independence, was platted in 1833.Pioneer doctor and abolitionist Dr. Hiram Rutherford moved to Oakland in 1840 to start his practice in the young town. He became a prominent citizen. Rutherford is most widely known for his involvement in the 1847 Matson slave trial, which involved his friend Abraham Lincoln. A Kentucky slave owner, Gen. Robert Matson, annually brought slaves to work on his land near Oakland. One year, a family of slaves ran away from the farm and took refuge with Dr. Rutherford and Gideon Ashmore. Matson sued the men for harboring slaves; Rutherford and Ashmore countered that the slaves could not legally be held in a free state. Rutherford attempted to have Lincoln represent him in the case, but Lincoln had already agreed to represent the slave owner. Matson, represented by Lincoln, lost the case in Coles County court.
Rutherford's home and office, as well as other historic sites, are maintained and available for tours.
Maps
- Tiger maps: small scale, surroundings, zoomed in on town
- Mapquest map
- Yahoo map