![]() Politics Īs part of Yankee-settled Northern Illinois, Henderson County was solidly Whig in its first three elections and then equally Republican from that party's formation until the Great Depression. About 7.8% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over. The per capita income for the county was $22,492. Males had a median income of $41,052 versus $27,426 for females. The median income for a household in the county was $43,450 and the median income for a family was $55,154. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.78. Of the 3,149 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. In terms of ancestry, 24.4% were German, 14.5% were Irish, 11.9% were English, 5.9% were Swedish, and 5.0% were American. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% white, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. There were 3,827 housing units at an average density of 10.1 per square mile (3.9/km 2). The population density was 19.3 inhabitants per square mile (7.5/km 2). Norma Jean is celebrated each August by a festival in Oquawka that includes an elephant walk, white elephant sale and a bake sale featuring "elephant ears.2000 census age pyramid for Henderson CountyĪs of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,331 people, 3,149 households, and 2,127 families residing in the county. ![]() A plaque on it reads: "This memorial is dedicated in memory of an elephant named Norma Jean, who was killed by lightning at this location, and lies buried here."Įxplained Wade: "I just didn't think that ending seemed proper for someone who had been a circus star." A collection of Norma Jean memorabilia is displayed in a glass case, and a small concrete elephant is perched atop the tombstone. Today, signs pointing towards "Elephant Killed By Lightning" direct dumbstruck tourists to Norma Jean's grave from all points in Oquawka. He raised enough money to commission a twelve-foot-tall limestone tombstone for Norma Jean, and he raised the consciousness of the town enough to let him erect it in the square. Not so fast, said Wade Meloan, a local druggist. Oquawka filled in the pit and walked away, apparently hoping that everyone would forget that Norma Jean had ever existed. ![]() Norma Jean was buried where she fell - which, conveniently, was in Oquawka's town square. With no elephant, the Circus went out of business a year later. Her trainer, "Possum Red," was knocked 30 feet by the blast. That ended abruptly on the morning of July 17, 1972, when she was struck and killed by a bolt of lightning. Norma Jean was a 6,500-pound elephant and the star attraction of the Clark and Walters Circus. Marker and original statue at the grave of the elephant, Norma Jean. ![]()
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