Category: Issues Facing Rural America

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S4, E5 – Forgottonia and the 2020 Census: What the Numbers Reveal about Population, Education, Poverty, Race, and more

On this episode of the Forgottonia Project, we summarize what the 2020 census reveals about Forgottonia. This episode serves as the podcast edition of our previous post analyzing census data: Forgottonia Profile: The 2020 Census. CHS students helped create a mega document that summarizes important demographic, social, and economic patterns that persist throughout Forgottonia (check …

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Forgottonia Profile: Census

To gain a better idea of what the 16 county region known as Forgottonia actually looks like, we compiled some data from the 2010 census. What follows is an overview of each county's demographics. Click here for a profile of each county's presidential election results, and a brief overview about the history of each county. 

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Election Results in the Forgottonia Region (2000-2024)

To gain a better idea of what the 16 county region known as Forgottonia actually looks like, we compiled election data by county over the past 20 years.  Please note, the purpose of this examination is to not endorse one political party or policy over another, but to gain a better understanding of this place we call Forgottonia.  Although political party affiliation in Forgottonia over the past 20 years is complex and ever-changing, our study reveals that there has been and continues to be growing support for the Republican Party throughout Forgottonia. This trend occurred even before the presidential election of 2016, which subsequently sparked greater national interest in all things rural. 

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S4, E3 – Hypercapitalism: What is it and Why Rural Americans Should be Concerned, With author and psychologist Tim Kasser

On this edition of the Forgottonia Podcast, our students at Cuba H.S. completed a book study of the graphic novel “Hypercapitalism” and then had the privilege of interviewing the author of this book Tim Kasser. Our students ask Tim... What hypercapitalism is & why he wanted to write a graphic novel about it How spending …

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S4, E2 – The New Philadelphia Story, with Marynel Corton

In this episode, we’re thrilled to share our conversation with Marynel Corton, the executive director of the New Philadelphia Museum. New Philadelphia is one of the most important historical communities in the U.S. and it’s located right here in rural Forgottonia!   Although rural, western IL is sometimes known for being…well FORGOTTEN… there are a …

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S3, E6 – Saving Lives in Forgottonia: How One Rural Community is Creatively Funding and Staffing its First Responder Program

In this episode, Cuba High School's Ashley Howerter shares her conversation with Bob Schnarr, the chief director of the Cass-Putnam rescue squad. While many first responder teams across Forgottonia struggle to fund and staff programs, the majority of the Cass-Putnam rescue squad is made up of high school students. This is the first program of its kind in the state!

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S3, E4 – Sociology and Self-Care with WIU Sociology Instructor Alyssa Hall Anderson

One this episode of the Forgottonia Project we are pleased to share a very informative conversation we had recently with Western Illinois University Sociology Instructor, Alyssa Hall Anderson. In this interview, Alyssa discusses her latest blog post for the Forgottonia Project entitled "Sociology and Self-Care." She provides insights regarding sociological thinking as a form of self-care and shares her experience and interests with the subject of sociology.

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S3, E3 – What a Small Town Yoga Studio is Doing to Improve Well-Being in Forgottonia – Interview with Lyndsey Larson, Manager of The Breathing Tree

On this edition of the Forgottonia podcast we’re sharing a conversation about mental health in rural America with our friend Lyndsey Larson, the manager of a local yoga studio in Canton, IL called “The Breathing Tree.” Lyndsey is also a native and recent returnee to Canton, IL where she lives with her husband and their surprise triplets!

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S3 – Blog 01: Sociology and Self Care

by WIU Sociology Instructor and Guest Contributor Allyssa (Hall) Anderson The definition of self- care is “the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health” (Oxford languages).  We’ve probably all heard this term enough over 2020.  As an Instructor of Sociology, my Sociological Imagination influences everything I see, read, and hear.  It …

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