About

A little History of Oblong

The Village of Oblong was platted in 1872 and incorporated in 1883. The Springfield, Effingham, and Southeastern Railroad (narrow-gauge) was built through in 1880.

In 1883, Oblong boasted a population of 320 people. By 1990 the population was 743, a number which doubled in 1908 after the start of the oil boom. At the last census (2020), Oblong was reported to have a population of 1371.

The Village of Oblong has a Village Mayor, six trustees, a Chief of Police, Village Treasurer, Village Clerk, Public Works Department encompassing a water and sewer department, street department, and building maintenance plus park maintenance.

Oblong has many different businesses in our downtown area. They have been loyally dedicated to our community for many years. The majority of these businesses are family owned and operated.

Oblong has two active T.I.F (Tax Increment Financing) districts. We have two schools (Oblong Grade School and Oblong High School), plus a daycare center, a nursing home/rehab center, pharmacy, a beautiful main park and lake on the east side of our Village, a dog park, churches, a food pantry, two banking facilities, a volunteer fire department, two gas stations, two coffee shops, a music shop, and a host of other services.

Oblong plays host to: the annual Crawford County Fair which is held the last full week of July. It includes a 4-H Fair plus various activities throughout the week including the very popular demo derby. In August we host the annual “Oblong Antique Tractor & Engine Show”. October brings us the annual “Metal Meet” which is attended by people from all parts of the world. And lastly, on the last weekend of October we host our most popular event of the year which is the “Oblong Fall Follies and Largest Nighttime Parade in Illinois”.

Our objective and purpose are to work to ensure that Oblong is a great place to live and raise a family. We strive to ensure that generations can and will want to remain in rural Illinois. We work to be proactive and constantly look for ways to better our community while at the same time being fiscally responsible with our resident’s tax monies they entrust with us. We take pride in our Village and hope that even those who must move away will always want to return.