Tolono, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Tolono is a village in Champaign County
, Illinois
, United States
. The population was 3,447 at the 2010 census. Its name was fabricated by J.B. Calhoun, land commission of the Illinois Central Railroad
, who wrote about it simply: "[I] placed the vowel o three times, thus o-o-o, and filling in with the consonants t-l-n." (Stewart, pg. 362)
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the village has a total area of 1.9 square miles (4.9 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,700 people, 1,083 households, and 753 families residing in the village. The population density
was 1,444.4 people per square mile (557.5/km²). There were 1,137 housing units at an average density of 608.3 per square mile (234.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.78% White, 0.30% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races
, and 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 1,083 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $44,200, and the median income for a family was $51,763. Males had a median income of $36,875 versus $24,694 for females. The per capita income
for the village was $19,894. About 3.3% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
's expansion southward, Tolono was initially home to many railroad employees. Many streets bear the names of the IC's administrative staff. The original homes in the community were small and narrow filling half lots adjacent to the railroad tracks. With the intersection of an east-west railway, Tolono became a featured stop for early rail passengers. The peak of the railroad's passenger influence in Tolono occurred when Tolono became the last stop in Illinois for Abraham Lincoln as he bid farewell to his home state in a speech given from the back of his coach.
The Midwest food industry has felt Tolono's influence. In 1959, Tolono became home to the first Monical's Pizza
restaurant. Although the original location does not bear the Monical's name any longer, the buildings still stand and another Monical's Pizza is operated less than a block away. Members of the entrepreneurial Monical family still reside in the village today.
Even Hollywood has a Tolono representative. After shooting in several locations in Tolono in 2006, Mark Roberts
, a Tolono native, wrapped production on his feature-length movie "Welcome To Tolono". The film was highlighted on the 2007 film festival circuit. Welcome To Tolono shows the struggles of real people with real problems, trying to help themselves in a small town where anonymity is impossible, and the hypocrisy of organized religion is unforgivable. As their lives intersect, friendships and alliances are formed, and tragedy is the glue that ultimately bonds them.
, Sidney
, Sadorus
, and Pesotum
. In August 2002, there were three new schools, Unity East Elementary (approximately 300 students from Sidney and Philo), Unity West Elementary (approximately 400 students from Pesotum, Sadorus, and Tolono), and Unity Junior High (approximately 200 students district-wide) featuring the Rocket Center gymnasium. Along with the existing High School, there are now four schools instead of seven. The district is located in a rural agricultural setting 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Champaign-Urbana, minutes from both Parkland College
and the University of Illinois.
Unit Seven Schools
408 North Central Street
Tolono, Illinois 61880
Phone: 217-485-6510
Website:http://www.unitsevenschools.com/
Unity High School
1127 County Road 800N
Tolono, Illinois 61880
Phone: 217-485-6230
Website: http://www.unityrockets.com
Champaign County, Illinois
Champaign County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 201,081, which is an increase of 11.9% from 179,669 in 2000.. It is the 10th most populous county in Illinois...
, 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 3,447 at the 2010 census. Its name was fabricated by J.B. Calhoun, land commission of the Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
, who wrote about it simply: "[I] placed the vowel o three times, thus o-o-o, and filling in with the consonants t-l-n." (Stewart, pg. 362)
Geography
Tolono is located at 39°59′10"N 88°15′35"W (39.986046, -88.259727).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 1.9 square miles (4.9 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 2,700 people, 1,083 households, and 753 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 1,444.4 people per square mile (557.5/km²). There were 1,137 housing units at an average density of 608.3 per square mile (234.8/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.78% White, 0.30% African American, 0.52% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.11% Pacific Islander, 0.37% 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 0.78% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.93% of the population.
There were 1,083 households out of which 36.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% 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, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.4% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.49 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the village the population was spread out with 27.4% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 33.5% from 25 to 44, 21.4% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 101.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $44,200, and the median income for a family was $51,763. Males had a median income of $36,875 versus $24,694 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 $19,894. About 3.3% of families and 5.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.8% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.
History
Founded in the early 19th century as a result of the land-grant Illinois Central RailroadIllinois Central Railroad
The Illinois Central Railroad , sometimes called the Main Line of Mid-America, is a railroad in the central United States, with its primary routes connecting Chicago, Illinois with New Orleans, Louisiana and Birmingham, Alabama. A line also connected Chicago with Sioux City, Iowa...
's expansion southward, Tolono was initially home to many railroad employees. Many streets bear the names of the IC's administrative staff. The original homes in the community were small and narrow filling half lots adjacent to the railroad tracks. With the intersection of an east-west railway, Tolono became a featured stop for early rail passengers. The peak of the railroad's passenger influence in Tolono occurred when Tolono became the last stop in Illinois for Abraham Lincoln as he bid farewell to his home state in a speech given from the back of his coach.
The Midwest food industry has felt Tolono's influence. In 1959, Tolono became home to the first Monical's Pizza
Monical's Pizza
Monical's Pizza is a regional pizza chain, which as of 2007, consists of 60 locations in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin. The company franchises in Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin about half of the locations are franchised, while the others are owned by the corporation...
restaurant. Although the original location does not bear the Monical's name any longer, the buildings still stand and another Monical's Pizza is operated less than a block away. Members of the entrepreneurial Monical family still reside in the village today.
Even Hollywood has a Tolono representative. After shooting in several locations in Tolono in 2006, Mark Roberts
Mark Roberts
Mark Roberts is a British streaker who has run naked during several international events.A father of three, Roberts' streaking began when he saw a female streaker run naked down a 1993 Rugby Sevens game in Hong Kong...
, a Tolono native, wrapped production on his feature-length movie "Welcome To Tolono". The film was highlighted on the 2007 film festival circuit. Welcome To Tolono shows the struggles of real people with real problems, trying to help themselves in a small town where anonymity is impossible, and the hypocrisy of organized religion is unforgivable. As their lives intersect, friendships and alliances are formed, and tragedy is the glue that ultimately bonds them.
Notable people
- Brian CardinalBrian CardinalBrian Lee Cardinal , nicknamed "The Custodian" or "The Janitor", is an American professional basketball player. Prior to being drafted to the NBA, Cardinal played college basketball at Purdue University.-1991–1995:...
- professional basketball player in the NBA - Mark RobertsMark RobertsMark Roberts is a British streaker who has run naked during several international events.A father of three, Roberts' streaking began when he saw a female streaker run naked down a 1993 Rugby Sevens game in Hong Kong...
- Hollywood producer, director, writer, and actor ("Two and a Half MenTwo and a Half MenTwo and a Half Men is an American television sitcom that premiered on CBS on September 22, 2003. Starring Charlie Sheen, Jon Cryer, and Angus T. Jones, the show was originally about a hedonistic jingle writer, Charlie Harper; his uptight brother, Alan; and Alan's growing son, Jake...
", "FriendsFriendsFriends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
")
Schools
Community Unit School District # 7 or Unit Seven Schools is a district that services preschool through twelfth grade in the greater Tolono area. The school district covers 173 square miles (448.1 km²) covering the communities of Tolono, PhiloPhilo, Illinois
Philo is a village about nine miles south of Urbana in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,466 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Philo is located at...
, Sidney
Sidney, Illinois
Sidney is a village in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,233 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sidney is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
, Sadorus
Sadorus, Illinois
Sadorus is a village in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 416 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Sadorus is located at ....
, and Pesotum
Pesotum, Illinois
Pesotum is a village in Champaign County, Illinois, United States. The population was 551 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Pesotum is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-Demographics:...
. In August 2002, there were three new schools, Unity East Elementary (approximately 300 students from Sidney and Philo), Unity West Elementary (approximately 400 students from Pesotum, Sadorus, and Tolono), and Unity Junior High (approximately 200 students district-wide) featuring the Rocket Center gymnasium. Along with the existing High School, there are now four schools instead of seven. The district is located in a rural agricultural setting 10 miles (16.1 km) south of Champaign-Urbana, minutes from both Parkland College
Parkland College
Parkland College is a is a two-year community college in Champaign, Illinois, a member of the Illinois Community College System serving Community College District 505. District 505 includes all of Ford County, and parts of Coles, Champaign, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Iroquois, Livingston, Moultrie,...
and the University of Illinois.
Unit Seven Schools
408 North Central Street
Tolono, Illinois 61880
Phone: 217-485-6510
Website:http://www.unitsevenschools.com/
Unity High School
1127 County Road 800N
Tolono, Illinois 61880
Phone: 217-485-6230
Website: http://www.unityrockets.com