Ocoya

Ocoya is an unincorporated community in Central Illinois, located in southern Livingston County.

Ocoya began as a hamlet containing only a station on the Chicago & Alton Railroad (Now Union Pacific) in 1854. Duff and Cowan, from Pontiac platted it. Its post office opened in 1860 (now closed).[1] The land was purchased by Charles Roadnight, then General Freight Agent of the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, who soon after erected a small warehouse and depot. Part of the warehouse was used as a store, Alexander Martin generally attending to the business of Agent, Postmaster and storekeeper.[2] April 30, 1870, Ocoya was officially surveyed and platted. In 1871, the first grain elevator was built and the Babtist church a year later. Overshadowed by Chenoa and Pontiac, it remained tiny. At one point, it contained two stores, a gas station, a church and school. It still has a grain elevator owned by Prairie Central Co-op and a few scattered homes and around 30 residents.

Ocoya is located in Eppards Point Township, at an elevation of 673 feet (205 m).[3] Historic Route 66 runs parallel to the community's border.[4] The community is served by the Pontiac post office.

The weather in Ocoya is humid continental. The average temperatures during the summer are a high of 85 °F (29 °C) and a low of 63 °F (17 °C). The average temperatures during the winter are a high of 30 °F (−1 °C) and a low of 17 °F (−8 °C). Annual rainfall is approximately 38 inches (97 cm), and there are an average of 194 sunny days per year. Snowfall is 26 inches (66 cm) per year.

Coordinates: 40°48′18″N 88°40′59″W  /  40.805°N 88.683°W  / 40.805; -88.683