As of the census of 2000, there were 593 people, 261 households, and 171 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,721.1 people per square mile (673.4/km²). There were 285 housing units at an average density of 827.2/sq mi (323.6/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 97.47% White, 0.17% African American, 0.17% Asian, 2.02% from other races, and 0.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.37% of the population.
There were 261 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.6% were married couples living together, 8.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.1% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the village the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 18.0% from 45 to 64, and 24.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.0 males.
The median income for a household in the village was $35,781, and the median income for a family was $48,250. Males had a median income of $31,458 versus $21,719 for females. The per capita income for the village was $21,251. About 5.4% of families and 5.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 6.3% of those age 65 or over.
Though the income of the village itself may seem low, the community as a whole -- comprising the membership of St. John's Ev. Lutheran Church in addition to those living in the village limits -- is far from poor. Home ownership is high, and many of those homes are fully paid for and are inhabited by second- and third-generations of one family. Pride of ownership and pride in the community are evident.
The family farm is disappearing here, as well as in other parts of the country, but often the original owner (who may also be second or third generation) retains the right to live in his home until his death, giving him substantial disposable income.
Buckley contains two schools. One is St. John's Lutheran School, which has 8 grades. At last report, there was 100 percent enrollment of the children from the church families. The present building was built in 1955-56 and is the fourth school building for the congregation. A building program is underway to expand.
The congregation owns a cemetery east and south of the town, separated from the township cemetery (Woodland Cemetery) only by a driveway and stand of trees. The eastern boundary of both cemeteries is marked by the course of Spring Creek.
Christ Lutheran High School inhabits a building west of the Illinois Central Railroad tracks which was originally Buckley High School, then Buckley-Loda-High School until further consolidation, which moved the public high school to Paxton, in Ford County, as Paxton-Buckley-Loda High School. The building remained empty until the successful formation of an association of Lutheran congregations in towns of the surrounding area.
Buckley is home to the Dutch Masters baseball team, a member of the East Illinois League. The home field is named Virgil Scheiwe field in honor of a former player who was a staunch supporter to his death. In the early days of the team, horse races were held at the field as a way to attract a crowd. There is now no need to attract crowds with other events. If the team is in town, the town is there to see the team -- and much of the surrounding area as well.
The team had no name until 1929; it was simply the Buckley baseball team.
The current field is not the original field. The land was purchased and drained -- at a cost of $2,700 plus $1,000 for drainage tile. With volunteer labor, mortgages on homes and businesses -- including a mortgage on the American Legion hut -- the field was made ready. When the poles for the 100,000-watt lights were delivered, they had not been paid for. They could not be installed until paid for. The Legionnaires canvassed the town, raising $1,200. The poles belonged to the Dutch Masters. When the transformers arrived, the bill was $966. It took only a matter of hours to raise the money.
The field is 351 feet down the left and right field foul lines to the fence and 467 out in dead center where a massive scoreboard with the words "Home of the Dutch Masters" is located. The scoreboard is still manual, and there are no plans to change that soon. Young men ride a golf cart in to verify the score, ride back out and post the score with large, numbered tiles.
Former players for the Dutch Masters include Scott Garrelts, pitcher for the Giants (was supposed to pitch the opener in the 1989 World Series, but an earthquake had other ideas); Mark Scheiwe, drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 1979 (the same year Scott was drafted by the Giants), but never making it to the big league because of injury; and Ernie Westfield, who played in the Negro League and still represents them publicly. He missed the Sesquicentennial Dutch Masters Reunion because of a prior commitment to the league.
Scott Garrelts and Mark Scheiwe both pitched for the Buckley-Loda baseball team, alternating at start, with Scott's cousin Robin Genzel as catcher. Robin had been catching Scott's pitches -- clocked at 93 mph even in high school -- since pee wee league.
Also a player for the Dutch Masters was Glen Fletcher, grandfather of Blue Jays catcher Darren Fletcher. Darren did not play for the team, however, since he lived too far away when he was a young man.
Perhaps this is not truly a "demographic," but it gives a better picture of Buckley, Aretsia Township, Iroquois County, Illinois than the bare statistics would indicate.