Shirley is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in southwestern McLean County, Illinois, United States, just off Interstate 55. It was founded in 1854. As of the 2020 census, the population of the CDP was 135. Shirley is home to the Funk Prairie Home & Rock Museum.
History The town of Shirley was laid out on September 14, 1866, by John M. Foster (1806 – 1898)..Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McLean County (Edited by Ezra M. Prince and John H. Burnham; 2 vols: Chicago: Munsell, 1908) p. 902. Foster was a native of New Hampshire. Before the village was established there was a switch at the location and a few lots had been platted. Foster built a brick house and store south of the railroad.History of McLean County, Illinois (Chicago: LeBaron 1879) p.616. The original town consisted of ten small blocks, mostly on the north side of the St. Louis Chicago and Alton Railroad. In 1874, Foster's home and a store and the station were on the south side of the tracks, and a warehouse and mill were on the north side.Combined Indexed Atlas 1856-1914, McLean County, Illinois, (Bloomington: McLean County Historical Society and McLean County Genealogical Society, 2006) P.75. In 1895 there was a Methodist church, a Christian church, and a hotel north of the tracks; at that time were about twenty houses scattered on both sides of the railroad.Combined Atlas, 2006, 173.
The Grassy Ridge Cemetery, located in Shirley, was notably frequented by alternative musician Silicon Monday during his time as a student at Illinois State University. Monday alludes to the location in the lyrics of “A Girl Named Mercy (The Mariposa Song)”.
Demographics Shirley first appeared as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. census.
Education The school district is Heyworth Community Unit School District 4. - Text list
References
External links Shirley, United States Page 61772 Zip Code Detailed Profile Funk Prairie Home & Rock Museum Shirley 'cut' split little town in two back in 1909 - Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois newspaper)