Bluford

History

The town of Bluford was named after Bluford "Bluf" Green (1868–1912) when he was a small boy by his father Wiley Green (1835–1878), who was the local justice of the peace. An extended story about Bluford by Mrs. Opal H. Wood states: In 1881, before there was a Bluford, construction was started on the Air Line Railroad, later the Southern Railroad. George Evans, Mt. Vernon banker, laid out the town on 40 acres of land bisected by the railroad. In 1882, Rev. Z. H. Byard, a United Brethren preacher, built the first store building and dwelling. Byard also was the first postmaster in Bluford, and the first railroad station agent. Bluford was incorporated by popular vote counted and verified on September 8, 1926. Dwight Bressler was its first mayor. Bluford spread on both sides of the railroad. The south section unofficially was called Tilford, and the north, Bluford, both being names of the sons of Minerva (Flint) and Wiley Green. When son Tilford died, all the town became Bluford. No reason was given why the boys should have been so honored.

Geography

Bluford is in eastern Jefferson County, south of Illinois Route 15 and east of Mount Vernon, the county seat. According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Bluford has a total area of , all land.

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  912
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  692
• Carolina Chickadee

  Poecile carolinensis (Audubon, 1834) · Aves
  620
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  618
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  611
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  566
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  559
• House Finch

  Haemorhous mexicanus (P.L.Statius Müller, 1776) · Aves
  545

Largest nearby schools

• Zadok Casey Middle School
  Middle · Mount Vernon · 419 students · 14:1 ratio
• Summersville Grade School
  Elementary · Mount Vernon · 275 students · 11.5:1 ratio
• Bluford Grade School
  Elementary · Bluford · 249 students · 11.9:1 ratio
• Dr Andy Hall Early Educ Ctr
  Other · Mount Vernon · 215 students · 15.4:1 ratio
• Bethel Grade School
  Elementary · Mount Vernon · 160 students · 11.4:1 ratio
• Opdyke-Belle Rive Grade Sch
  Elementary · Opdyke · 145 students · 10.4:1 ratio
• Spring Garden Elementary School
  Elementary · Mount Vernon · 138 students · 12.5:1 ratio
• Webber High School
  High · Bluford · 128 students · 14.2:1 ratio