Flora, Illinois
{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Flora
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| settlement_type = City
| image_skyline = File:North Avenue in downtown Flora.jpg
| imagesize = 250px
| image_alt =
| image_caption = Downtown Flora
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| motto = "Good things happen when good people work together"{{cite web|url= http://florail.govoffice2.com/ |title= City of Flora, Illinois |publisher= City of Flora, Illinois |access-date=August 31, 2012}}
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| image_map = File:Clay County Illinois Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Flora Highlighted.svg
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| map_caption = Location of Flora in Clay County, Illinois.
| image_map1 = Illinois in United States (US48).svg
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| map_caption1 = Location of Illinois in the United States
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| coordinates = {{coord|38|40.3|N|88|28.5|W|display=inline,title}}
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| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = United States
| subdivision_type1 = State
| subdivision_name1 = Illinois
| subdivision_type2 = County
| subdivision_name2 = Clay
| subdivision_type3 = Township
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| established_title = Founded
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| leader_title = Mayor
| leader_name = Rick J. Slaughter
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| unit_pref = Imperial
| area_total_km2 = 12.15
| area_total_sq_mi = 4.69
| area_land_km2 = 12.15
| area_land_sq_mi = 4.69
| area_water_km2 = 0.00
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| population_as_of = 2020
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| population_total = 4803
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| population_density_km2 = 395.37
| population_density_sq_mi = 1024.09
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| timezone1 = CST
| utc_offset1 = -6
| timezone1_DST = CDT
| utc_offset1_DST = -5
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| postal_code_type = ZIP Code(s)
| postal_code = 62839
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| area_code = 618
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| blank_info = 17-26454
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| blank2_name_sec2 = Wikimedia Commons
| blank2_info_sec2 = Flora, Illinois
| website = [http://florail.govoffice2.com/ City of Flora, Illinois]
| footnotes =
}}
Flora is a city in Clay County, Illinois, United States. The population was 4,803 at the 2020 census.
History
Flora was founded by Samuel White. White was born September 10, 1831, in Warren County, Ohio. He and his family came to Clay County in 1852. During that time, he purchased {{convert|85|acres}} of land from the State of Illinois. His first wife, Sarah Ann Wall was born in 1833. Sarah died December 13, 1859, in Flora, and is buried in the family plot in Elmwood Cemetery. In December 1860, White married Helen M. Riggs in Flora.
The original town of Flora was laid out, surveyed and platted in February 1854 by Ethelred Nixon, County Surveyor; John Brown, Trustee for Songer, Camp & Company; and Samuel White. It embraced eighty-five acres of the west half of Section 25, Township 3 north Range 6 east. Samuel White who still owned the land, deeded one-half interest in forty acres to John Brown, Trustee, with a view of securing the town and depot. An effort had already been made to establish a town one mile west called Mooresville, where over 100 lots had been sold and some buildings done. After the collapse of that village, the principal house was moved to Flora, and was then known as the "Commercial House."
Samuel White also donated land to the City of Flora for several buildings and the city park. The City Park, at that time called the Public Square, is present day Library Park where Flora Public Library is located. White donated land for the 1st schoolhouse, the Baptist Church and parsonage. Land was also donated for streets and alleys of the original town of Flora. The city's founder died November 15, 1912, in Sterling, Colorado, and was returned to Flora for burial in the family plot at Elmwood.
From "Flora, Illinois - Founded 1854" compiled by Flora Resident, Jeanie Briscoe.
The book also contains historic information about the B & O railroad, the history of various buildings, and obituaries of some of Flora's early citizens.
Geography
Flora is located at {{coord|38|40.2|N|88|28.5|W|type:city}} (38.6698, -88.4841).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}
According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Flora has a total area of {{convert|4.69|sqmi|km2|2}}, all land.{{Cite web |publisher=United States Census Bureau |title=Gazetteer Files |url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Census.gov}}
=Climate=
{{Weather box
| single line = Y
| location = Flora, Illinois, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 2000–present
|Jan record high F = 70
|Feb record high F = 76
|Mar record high F = 85
|Apr record high F = 89
|May record high F = 95
|Jun record high F = 105
|Jul record high F = 107
|Aug record high F = 102
|Sep record high F = 101
|Oct record high F = 95
|Nov record high F = 83
|Dec record high F = 72
|Jan avg record high F = 61.3
|Feb avg record high F = 66.6
|Mar avg record high F = 75.5
|Apr avg record high F = 83.9
|May avg record high F = 90.3
|Jun avg record high F = 96.1
|Jul avg record high F = 97.0
|Aug avg record high F = 96.3
|Sep avg record high F = 94.3
|Oct avg record high F = 86.8
|Nov avg record high F = 74.1
|Dec avg record high F = 64.6
|year avg record high F = 99.0
| Jan high F =38.8
| Feb high F =44.2
| Mar high F =54.5
| Apr high F =67.1
| May high F =76.8
| Jun high F =86.0
| Jul high F =89.0
| Aug high F =87.8
| Sep high F =81.6
| Oct high F =69.0
| Nov high F =54.8
| Dec high F =43.2
| Jan mean F =30.0
| Feb mean F =34.5
| Mar mean F =43.8
| Apr mean F =55.3
| May mean F =65.5
| Jun mean F =74.7
| Jul mean F =77.4
| Aug mean F =75.6
| Sep mean F =68.5
| Oct mean F =56.6
| Nov mean F =44.2
| Dec mean F =34.5
| Jan low F =21.2
| Feb low F =24.7
| Mar low F =33.0
| Apr low F =43.5
| May low F =54.1
| Jun low F =63.3
| Jul low F =65.8
| Aug low F =63.4
| Sep low F =55.4
| Oct low F =44.3
| Nov low F =33.6
| Dec low F =25.9
|Jan avg record low F = 1.9
|Feb avg record low F = 5.6
|Mar avg record low F = 17.5
|Apr avg record low F = 29.7
|May avg record low F = 39.9
|Jun avg record low F = 53.3
|Jul avg record low F = 57.1
|Aug avg record low F = 54.6
|Sep avg record low F = 44.3
|Oct avg record low F = 30.6
|Nov avg record low F = 19.7
|Dec avg record low F = 10.6
|year avg record low F = -0.7
|Jan record low F = -14
|Feb record low F = -9
|Mar record low F = 2
|Apr record low F = 23
|May record low F = 34
|Jun record low F = 41
|Jul record low F = 51
|Aug record low F = 47
|Sep record low F = 36
|Oct record low F = 24
|Nov record low F = 6
|Dec record low F = -7
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch =2.95
| Feb precipitation inch =2.54
| Mar precipitation inch =3.83
| Apr precipitation inch =5.31
| May precipitation inch =5.09
| Jun precipitation inch =5.86
| Jul precipitation inch =4.19
| Aug precipitation inch =3.73
| Sep precipitation inch =3.34
| Oct precipitation inch =3.67
| Nov precipitation inch =4.23
| Dec precipitation inch =3.26
|year precipitation inch = 48.00
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 7.2
|Feb precipitation days = 7.5
|Mar precipitation days = 9.7
|Apr precipitation days = 9.4
|May precipitation days = 12.1
|Jun precipitation days = 10.2
|Jul precipitation days = 7.9
|Aug precipitation days = 7.3
|Sep precipitation days = 6.5
|Oct precipitation days = 8.4
|Nov precipitation days = 8.7
|Dec precipitation days = 9.0
| Jan snow inch =3.1
| Feb snow inch =3.2
| Mar snow inch =0.8
| Apr snow inch =0.0
| May snow inch =0.0
| Jun snow inch =0.0
| Jul snow inch =0.0
| Aug snow inch =0.0
| Sep snow inch =0.0
| Oct snow inch =0.0
| Nov snow inch =0.0
| Dec snow inch =4.5
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 1.8
|Feb snow days = 1.5
|Mar snow days = 0.2
|Apr snow days = 0.0
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.0
|Dec snow days = 1.3
{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00113106&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|title = U.S. Climate Normals Quick Access – Station: Flora, IL
|access-date = February 25, 2023
}}
|source 2 = National Weather Service (mean maxima/minima 2006–2020)
{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=ilx
|publisher = National Weather Service
|title = NOAA Online Weather Data – NWS Central Illinois
|access-date = February 25, 2023
}}
}}
Demographics
{{US Census population
|1860= 456
|1870= 1339
|1880= 1494
|1890= 1695
|1900= 2311
|1910= 2704
|1920= 3558
|1930= 4393
|1940= 5474
|1950= 5255
|1960= 5331
|1970= 5283
|1980= 5379
|1990= 5054
|2000= 5128
|2010= 5070
|2020= 4803
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}
}}
As of the 2020 census{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=1600000US1726454 |access-date=2022-06-28 |website=data.census.gov}} there were 4,803 people, 1,984 households, and 1,115 families residing in the city. The population density was {{Convert|1,024.09|PD/sqmi|PD/km2}}. There were 2,278 housing units at an average density of {{Convert|485.71|/sqmi|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the city was 92.30% White, 0.46% African American, 0.44% Native American, 1.23% Asian, 1.12% from other races, and 4.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.42% of the population.
There were 1,984 households, out of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.73% were married couples living together, 8.62% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.80% were non-families. 32.21% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.33% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 2.26.
The city's age distribution consisted of 20.6% under the age of 18, 9.9% from 18 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 27.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 80.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.2 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,722, and the median income for a family was $60,660. Males had a median income of $43,538 versus $27,326 for females. The per capita income for the city was $27,726. About 11.5% of families and 17.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.0% of those under age 18 and 9.0% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
In September 1960, Flora was named "Ford Town USA" and some 1500 vehicle owners were supplied with a new Ford car or truck to drive during that week.[https://web.archive.org/web/20121020115912/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,894984,00.html?iid=chix-sphere Models, Models, Models - TIME]
Flora's main industry is agriculture, although there are companies located in Flora that employ several hundreds. Flora is surrounded by a gently rolling countryside, with approximately 80-85% of it dedicated to farming and livestock.
The Flora B&O Depot
{{main|Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Depot (Flora, Illinois)}}
File:Old B&O depot in Flora.jpg railroad depot in Flora, Illinois]]
The Flora B&O Depot was built in 1872 with generous help from local citizens. It served the City of Flora until 1916, when it was destroyed by fire.
In 1916–1917, a new three-story brick depot was built. This building was a huge part of the economic life of the community during those early years. In the 1920s, the railroad employed half the wage earners in Flora. In 1924, three hundred employees worked at the local station.
When the depot was completed in 1917, it contained three floors. The main floor was used for passengers. It had a large waiting room with a baggage room and restrooms. The Western Union office, yard office, mailroom and ticket office were also located on this floor.
The second floor held the offices of important depot members. Men who occupied these offices included the chief clerk, division engineer, superintendents, dispatchers, carpenters, signal supervisors, train masters and road foremen, plus railroad law enforcement officers and the district's own physician.
The third floor contained large offices. Later, these offices became one social room. It was here that railroad employees and their families held potluck dinners and socials. Not only was the depot a hub of transportation and commerce, it was a center for much of the social life in the community.
In the 1950s, as roads improved, cars became the chief means of transportation. Travelers no longer looked to trains as the primary source of transportation. The depot became less important to the community and the days of hosting 12 passenger trains, daily passing through Flora, became a fond memory.
In 1998, the Flora B&O Depot was named one of three sites in Clay County on the National Register of Historic Places. With this recognition and the interest of many citizens of the community, the Flora Community Development Corporation (FCDC) purchased the depot from CSX Railroad.
FCDC successfully obtained three federal grants to restore the building, matched by local donations of citizens. Today, the University of Illinois Extension Service rents the third floor. The second floor is a community room available to rent for various activities. The first floor houses the Flora Chamber of Commerce office, a museum containing city and county historical artifacts and two unfinished room available for occupancy.
More history, rent/leasing information, and events can be found on their website.
'Is We Is'
In 1987 a group of Flora officials formed the so-called "Barbed Wire Choir" and recorded a music video in an attempt to land a state prison.{{cite web | title=Small towns used to see prisons as a boon. Now, many don't want them. | website=NBC News | date=2021-06-10 | url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/small-towns-used-see-prisons-boon-now-many-don-t-n1270147 | access-date=2021-06-11}} The song featured several city officials, including the mayor, asking then-Gov. Jim Thompson "Is we is or is we isn't/gonna get ourselves a prison." After being shown on local TV stations, the video gained the attention of national programs such as MTV, Good Morning America and The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers. Flora ultimately lost its bid to host the new prison.
Notable people
- Tim Tetrick, harness racing driver{{Cite web |url=http://thebigm.com/jockeys.aspx?id=1711 |title=Tim Tetrick at Meadlowlands Racing & Entertainment |access-date=2015-12-23 |archive-date=2015-12-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222095634/http://thebigm.com/jockeys.aspx?id=1711 |url-status=dead }}
- Mad Man Pondo, pro wrestler
- John Powless, basketball and tennis coach at University of Wisconsin, high school and college tennis champion
- Bill Ernest, President and managing director, Asia, for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
- Emily Bailey, contestant on the Road Rules: USA – The Second Adventure reality TV show
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- Flora Homepage - http://www.florail.us
- Flora Public Library - http://www.florapubliclibrary.org/
- Flora Police - http://www.florapolice.com
- Flora-Clay County ESDA http://www.flora-claycountyesda.com/
- City of Flora tourism videos- http://www.elocallink.tv/vp2/vp6_brain.php?loc=/vp2/vp3_show.php&qstring=cid%3D424
- Flora Schools http://www.floraschools.com
- WNOI 103.9 Radio http://www.wnoi.com/
- Flora Newspaper http://www.advocatepress.com/
- Clay County Health Department http://www.healthdept.org
- Clay County Hospital http://www.claycountyhospital.org
{{Clay County, Illinois}}
{{Southern-Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Cities in Clay County, Illinois