Omaha, Illinois

Village in Illinois, United States

37°53′24″N 88°18′12″W / 37.89000°N 88.30333°W / 37.89000; -88.30333CountryUnited StatesStateIllinoisCountyGallatinArea

^[1]

• Total0.74 sq mi (1.93 km²) • Land0.74 sq mi (1.93 km²) • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km²)Elevation

^[2]

390 ft (120 m)Population

(2020)

• Total209 • Density280.91/sq mi (108.40/km²)Time zoneUTC-6 (CST) • Summer (DST)UTC-5 (CDT)ZIP Code(s)

62871

Area code618FIPS code17-56003GNIS ID2399573^[2]Wikimedia CommonsOmaha, 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″N 88°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.	%±
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, 91 households. 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, 0.48% Asian, and 4.31% from two or more races.

The median income for a household in the village was $54,107, and the median income for a family was $71,250. About 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.6% of those under age 18 and 12.3% 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

^ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
^ ^a ^b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Omaha, Illinois
^ ^a ^b "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved June 28, 2022.
^ 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.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
^ Bureau, US Census. "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved June 29, 2022.
^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
^ Official directory of the General Assembly of Illinois 1897. Illinois Secretary of State. p. 56. Retrieved September 26, 2022.