Fidelity, Illinois

Fidelity is a village in Jersey County, Illinois, United States, located about thirty-five miles north of Saint Louis, Missouri. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 114.

Not to be confused with Fidelity Township, Jersey County, Illinois.

Fidelity
Village
Location of Fidelity within Jersey County, Illinois
Location of Fidelity in Jersey County, Illinois.
Location of Illinois in the United States
Coordinates: 39°09′17″N 90°09′50″W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
County	Jersey
Township	Fidelity
Area [1]
• Total	0.10 sq mi (0.26 km^2)
• Land	0.10 sq mi (0.26 km^2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km^2)
Elevation	636 ft (194 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	114
• Estimate  (2019)[2]	112
• Density	1,108.91/sq mi (426.83/km^2)
Time zone	UTC-6 (CST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC-5 (CDT)
Area code(s)	618
FIPS code	17-25960

The village is usually noted for its postmark.

Geography

Fidelity is located at 39°9′17″N 90°9′50″W (39.154636, -90.163947).[3]

According to the 2010 census, Fidelity has a total area of 0.11 square miles (0.28 km²), all land.[4]

History

In 1829, people from Tennessee reportedly traveled across this site. According to local legend, a horse belonging to settler Joseph Russell went lame, stranding Russell, who was offered a replacement horse by another settler, Samuel Simmons.

The legend continues that Russell replied, "That's true fidelity."

Simmons built a log cabin there, and in 1850, Russell and his brother also settled in the area. The Russell brothers are credited with having ensured the town was officially named Fidelity. A post office was established in the village in 1854. During the mid-20th century, Fidelity was reportedly the site of "a small Army barracks, grain elevator, several doctors and dentists, a blacksmith shop and grocery stores."

Since then, Fidelity has become a tiny village made up mostly of small homes. The post office is now the only remaining business and its postmark has enjoyed some popularity for use on Valentine's day greetings, with several hundred requests for cancellations received from addresses both in the United States and around the world each year.[5]

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1880	236		—
1900	222		—
1910	211		−5.0%
1920	155		−26.5%
1930	138		−11.0%
1940	146		5.8%
1950	157		7.5%
1960	125		−20.4%
1970	132		5.6%
1980	98		−25.8%
1990	66		−32.7%
2000	105		59.1%
2010	114		8.6%
Est. 2019	112	[2]	−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 105 people, 41 households, and 30 families residing in the village. The population density was 941.2 people per square mile (368.6/km²). There were 44 housing units at an average density of 394.4 per square mile (154.4/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 100.00% White.

There were 41 households, out of which 46.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the village, the population was spread out with 29.5% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 30.5% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 8.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $17,500, and the median income for a family was $17,083. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $21,250 for females. The per capita income for the village was $7,798. There were 27.6% of families and 28.2% of the population living below the poverty line, including 29.0% of under eighteens and 13.3% of those over 64.

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 14, 2020.
2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
4. "G001 - Geographic Identifiers - 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2015-08-03.
5. Associated Press, Postmaster Shows Lot of Love in Fidelity, Jim Suhr retrieved February 10, 2007
6. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
7. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

[1]

1. "Postmaster shows lots of love in fidelity".