Tolono tidbits

More than you'll ever need to know about this Champaign County community (ZIPcode 61880):

n The town covers 1.9 square miles.

n On the map, you can find it at 39.99 N latitude; 88.26 W longitude.

n The median resident age is 35.7 years.

n Between 75 and 80 trains go through Tolono on a typical day..

n The Tolono Public Library has more than 25,000 books, more than 800 audio materials, more than 1,600 video materials and 60 serial subscriptions.

n Architect Carl Metz, born in Tolono in 1893, designed the original McCormick Place in Chicago and was the structural engineer for the Brookfield Zoo.

n The 2002 Unity High School boys' basketball team finished fourth in the state.

n The Unity football team finished second in the state in 2000 and 2005.

n The Rockets volleyball team finished fourth in the state in 1977, second in 1978 and third in 1980.

n The Unity girls' cross-country team was second in the state in 1988.

n The wrestling team finished second in the state in 1989.

n The boys' cross-country team was fourth in state in 2000.

n In the 1920s, Tolono native Delmar Darrah wrote the "Passion Play" that was produced for many years in Bloomington.

n In 1906, the townspeople voted to go dry; in 1933 when Prohibition was repealed Tolono went wet and stayed that way.

n Tolono's oldest resident is Alice Strickland, 91, a former postmaster.

n The first car to travel through Tolono was a Mueller-Benz in 1896.

n The oldest home is at 107 N. Bourne Street; it dates to 1857.

n In 1860, Tolono's population was 277.

n In 1880, it was 905.

n In 1920, it was 693.

n In 1960, it was 1,539.

n In 2000, it was 2,700.

n Speculators drilled for oil in Tolono in 1900. Some oil gushed in 1906 – but not enough to matter.

n On Aug. 1, 1892, village officials purchased two balls with chains and a pair of handcuffs.

n The last historic tree in town, a hackberry at the corner of Main and Bourne streets, was cut down in 1995.

n The town has 1 stoplight.

n The community's biggest fire was in 1901: 6 buildings on Main Street, including a men's club, a hardware store and a ceramics shop, were destroyed.

n The most recent village motto, coined more than 30 years ago: City convenience; country charm.