Wyoming, Illinois

Wyoming is a city in Stark County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,429 at the 2010 census, up from 1,424 in 2000. It is the headquarters of the Rock Island Trail State Park. Wyoming is part of the Peoria, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. The former CB&Q Railroad depot in town is the Rock Island Trail State Park's headquarters.

Events

*Spoon River Days

Held annually in July at the Stark County Junior Fairgrounds in Wyoming, Spoon River Days is a community celebration featuring a mix of live entertainment, food and craft vendors, games, and family-friendly activities. The event typically draws visitors from across the region and is a highlight of the summer for local residents.

*Wyoming Fall Festival

The Fall Festival takes place each September, at Thomas Park. The event includes seasonal attractions such as craft booths, local food, children's activities, contests, and live music. It serves as a way for the community to come together and celebrate the harvest season and local traditions.

Landmarks

Wyoming features a historic downtown that reflects the town's heritage and local pride. Murals depicting the town’s founding in 1836, the Rock Island Railroad, and early 20th-century street scenes adorn the side of a prominent downtown building, highlighting key moments in local history. Another eye-catching mural appears on the upper façade of the historic Paramount Theater, showcasing classic Hollywood actors in tribute to the theater's cinematic past.
The downtown area also features a vintage-style street clock, serving as a visual landmark and a nod to early 20th-century small-town design.
Among the town’s tallest structures is the First Congregational Church, known for its steep, pointed tower which makes it a local landmark. However, the tallest full-height building in town is a grain elevator complex located near 600 North Avenue. This agricultural structure dominates the skyline and reflects Wyoming’s deep ties to farming and grain shipping.
The Rock Island Trail State Park also passes through Wyoming, bringing cyclists and hikers into town and connecting the community to regional outdoor recreation.

History

The city of Wyoming was founded on May 3, 1836, by ''General Samuel Thomas'', a veteran of the War of 1812. General Thomas was born in 1787 and died in 1879. He is buried in the Wyoming City Cemetery where a plaque below his stone denotes that he was the founder and benefactor of the town of Wyoming. The main city park in Wyoming is Thomas Park; there is also a Thomas Street in honor of General Thomas. Samuel Thomas as well as many of the other early settlers came from the state of Pennsylvania. It is for the Wyoming Valley in Pennsylvania that the city is named.

Stark County is rural, consisting mostly of farm land. The county was established on March 2, 1839, and named for John Stark, a soldier of the French and Indian wars and a Major General of the Continental Army during the American Revolution, serving with great distinction at Bunker Hill, Trenton, Princeton, and Bennington.

Wyoming is the largest community in Stark County, with 1,429 people as of the 2010 census. The other principal villages are Toulon, Bradford, Lafayette, Castleton, Camp Grove, West Jersey, Duncan, Stark, Speer, Milo, Elmira, Osceola, and Modena. Toulon is the county seat, and an historic courthouse is sited there.

Geography

According to the 2010 census, Wyoming has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,424 people, 629 households, and 408 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 669 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the city was 99.09% White, 0.21% Asian, and 0.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.07% of the population.

There were 629 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.1% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.1% were non-families. 32.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 22.3% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 85.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.0 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $30,463, and the median income for a family was $41,797. Males had a median income of $30,074 versus $22,115 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,574. About 9.1% of families and 10.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.5% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

Stark County Elementary School and Stark County C.U.S.D. #100 offices are located in Wyoming.

Notable people

*J. Frank Duryea and brother Charles: designed the first gasoline-powered automobile built in the USA.
* Kirke La Shelle, Wyoming born journalist, playwright and theatrical producer.
* Harry Everett Townsend, served as a war artist with the United States Army during the First World War.
* Theo Von, comedian and podcaster. Spent time in Wyoming as a child.Smith, Gary L. "Are you joking? A stand-up comic in Wyoming?". Peoria Journal Star. June 18, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2025.

References

Further reading

* M.A. Leeson, History of Stark County Illinois, 1887

External links

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Cities in Stark County, Illinois
Cities in Illinois
Peoria metropolitan area, Illinois
Populated places established in 1836
1836 establishments in Illinois