Casey () is a city in Clark and Cumberland counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 2,404 at the 2020 census.

The Cumberland County portion of Casey is part of the Charleston–Mattoon Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Casey is noted for its outdoor sculptures listed as Guinness World Records for their size, including the Wind Chime, Rocking Chair, and more.

Geography

Most of the city lies in Clark County, although a small portion extends into Cumberland County. In the 2000 census, 2,940 of Casey's 3067 residents (99.9%) lived in Clark County and 2 (0.1%) lived in Cumberland County.

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Casey has a total area of , all land.

Climate

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Casey had a population of 2,404, with 1,054 households and 745 families residing in the city. The population density was . There were 1,233 housing units at an average density of .

The median age was 43.5 years. 21.5% of residents were under the age of 18 and 23.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 86.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 80.7 males age 18 and over.

Of the city's households, 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living in them. 41.7% were married-couple households, 19.1% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 35.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

Big Things Small Town

alt=World's largest wind chime.|thumb|upright=0.6|World's largest wind chime.

Casey is most known for its collection of "World's Largest" items.

Jim Bolin, a local craftsman and businessman, has built fourteen things that have set Guinness World Records for their size:

  1. World's Largest Wind Chime
  2. World's Largest Golf Tee
  3. World's Largest Pitchfork
  4. World's Largest Rocking Chair
  5. World's Largest Wooden Shoes
  6. World's Largest Mailbox
  7. World's Largest Gavel (currently in Marshall, IL)
  8. World's Largest Truck Key
  9. World's Largest Barbershop Pole
  10. World's Largest Teeter Totter
  11. World's Largest Golf Driver
  12. World's Largest Swizzle Spoon

The other two have since been beaten: World's Largest Knitting Needles and World's Largest Crochet Hook.

Around the town, there are other big things that haven't gotten records like The Big Ear of Corn, The Big Mousetrap, and The Big Pizza Slicer (made by The Greathouse of Pizza), among others. Bolin has also created big things inspired by pop culture like the big PokeBall and big Minion.

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File:World's largest rocking chair (53059035376).jpg|World's Largest Rocking Chair

File:World's largest pitchfork.jpg|World's Largest Pitchfork

File:World's largest mailbox.jpg|World's Largest Mailbox

File:World's Largest Pencil.jpg|Large pencil

</gallery>

Notable residents

  • David Hanners, 1989 Pulitzer Prize winner

References