The historical population data for the ZIP code 61928, which encompasses Gays, Illinois, suggests a remote rural lifestyle and limited urban development activity. With a total area of 30.46 square miles and a population of 612 in 2022, the population density is approximately 20.09 people per square mile. This low population density is consistent with the characteristics of remote rural areas, which typically have fewer than 50 people per square mile.

The population in this ZIP code has fluctuated over the years, with a peak of 815 in 2014 and a low of 499 in 2019. Despite these variations, the population density has remained well below the threshold for rural areas, which is between 50 and 500 people per square mile. This indicates that the area has maintained its remote rural character throughout the period covered by the data.

Given the estimated 234 housing units corresponding to the 2022 population and the national average household size of 2.61, it can be inferred that the area is characterized by large expanses of land per household, likely more than 5 acres. This is typical of remote rural areas, where the lifestyle is predominantly agricultural or undeveloped, with a focus on privacy and self-sustainability.