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History · Ophiem

Ophiem dates to 1850, and 57% of its homes were built before 1940

Below: maps from 1953 on.

1850founded
0on the National Register
57%homes built before 1940
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Quick answers

How Ophiem began

When was Ophiem founded?

1850

Ophiem dates its founding to 1850 (Wikipedia’s history). Its post office opened in 1871.

2020 census: 123176 years
Founding year: Wikipedia. First post office: 1871.

What stands out about Ophiem’s past

Read from the archive, the National Register and the record. The page puts what stands out first.

A history waiting to be writtenNo old photos of Ophiem are in the public archives yet. The rest are in attics and albums.Old housesHalf of Ophiem’s homes were built before 1938.
★ What stands out · Help out

Start Ophiem’s collection

The first neighbors to add old photos shape how Ophiem’s history is told.

Decades since 1900 with photos
00s10s20s30s40s50s60s70s80s90s
0 of 10 decades. The empty ones are waiting for someone’s album.
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The story so far

Ophiem, in brief

Wikipedia doesn’t have a history of Ophiem yet. The photos, dates and memories neighbors add here are how it gets written.

Ophiem is an unincorporated community in Lynn Township, Henry County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2020 census, Ophiem had a population of 123. It was founded in 1850 by Johannes and Carl Johan Samuelson, who named it "Opphem", after their family farm in Sweden. A post office was established in 1871.

Ophiem was established in 1850.

Intro from Wikipedia. Population: U.S. Census Bureau.

By decade

No old photos in the archives yet

Weddings on Main Street, storms, parades, school pictures, the old store. If it’s in your family album, it belongs here.

Be the first to add onePhotograph a print flat, in daylight, no flash.
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On the map

Ophiem on the map, 1953 to 1991

Every edition of the U.S. Geological Survey’s map of Ophiem. Tap a year, or press play to watch the town change.

Ophiem on the 1953 USGS mapOphiem on the 1984 USGS mapOphiem on the 1991 USGS map1953Orion sheet · 1:24,000

U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (public domain), via Esri’s collection of the scans. The red ring marks the center of Ophiem.

Famous people

Famous people close to Ophiem

Nobody well known was born in Ophiem itself, so here are the best known from just nearby.

See all →
Don SamuelsonAmerican politician · b. 1913
Baby Doll JacobsonAmerican baseball player · b. 1890
Charles O. LobeckAmerican politician · b. 1852
B
Brian PhelpsAmerican DJ · b. 1959
L
Luke NelsonAmerican baseball player · b. 1893
C
Charles F. WennerstrumAmerican lawyer · b. 1889

Questions about Ophiem’s history

What year was Ophiem founded?

In 1850, according to Wikipedia’s history of the town. Ophiem’s post office opened in 1871.

Memory lane

What the archives can’t tell you, neighbors can.

Town Square →
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Sources

Where this page comes from

Founding dates: Wikidata, Wikipedia, the U.S. post office records of Blevins & Helbock (CC0) and the Census. Homes by year built: Census ACS 2020–24. National Register of Historic Places: National Park Service (list of May 22, 2026). Old photos, postcards and papers: Wikimedia Commons, the Library of Congress and other public archives, credited on each item’s page. Maps: U.S. Geological Survey historical topographic maps (via Esri) and Sanborn fire-insurance maps (Library of Congress). History text and census tables: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Places that used to be: USGS Geographic Names Information System (2021). How TownRatings grades history →

From U.S. Geological Survey historical maps. Archive images are copied here with their credits and licenses, shown on each photo’s page. Refreshed monthly.