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Christian County, Illinois

Coordinates: 39°33′N 89°17′W / 39.55°N 89.28°W / 39.55; -89.28
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Christian County
County
Christian County Courthouse in Taylorville
Christian County Courthouse in Taylorville
Map of Illinois highlighting Christian County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°33′N 89°17′W / 39.55°N 89.28°W / 39.55; -89.28
Country United States
State Illinois
Founded1839
Named forChristian County, Kentucky
SeatTaylorville
Largest cityTaylorville
Area
 • Total716 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Land709 sq mi (1,840 km2)
 • Water6.3 sq mi (16 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total34,032
 • Density48/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district15th
Websitechristiancountyil.com

Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,032.[1] Its county seat is Taylorville.[2]

History

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Christian County was formed February 15, 1839, out of Sangamon, Montgomery and Shelby counties. It was named for Christian County, Kentucky. It was originally named Dane County and was called Dane County until 1840.[3]

  • Christian County at its creation in 1839
    Christian County at its creation in 1839

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 716 square miles (1,850 km2), of which 709 square miles (1,840 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) (0.9%) is water.[4] The county is bounded on the north by Sangamon River, and intersected by the south fork of that stream.[5]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Climate and weather

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Taylorville, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[6]
Metric conversion
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45
 
 
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70
 
 
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26
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59
 
 
19
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91
 
 
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3
−6
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Taylorville have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in August 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.78 inches (45 mm) in January to 3.77 inches (96 mm) in May.[6]

Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18401,878—
18503,20370.6%
186010,492227.6%
187020,36394.1%
188028,22738.6%
189030,5318.2%
190032,7907.4%
191034,5945.5%
192038,45811.2%
193037,538−2.4%
194038,5642.7%
195038,8160.7%
196037,207−4.1%
197035,948−3.4%
198036,4461.4%
199034,418−5.6%
200035,3722.8%
201034,800−1.6%
202034,032−2.2%
2023 (est.)33,228[7]−2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010[12]
2000 census age pyramid for Christian County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 34,800 people, 14,055 households, and 9,211 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 49.1 inhabitants per square mile (19.0/km2). There were 15,563 housing units at an average density of 21.9 per square mile (8.5/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 1.4% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 21.9% were German, 12.7% were Irish, 10.6% were American, and 9.9% were English.[14]

Of the 14,055 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 41.6 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,712 and the median income for a family was $52,680. Males had a median income of $42,897 versus $30,027 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,519. About 12.7% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Communities

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Map of Christian County, Illinois
Map of Christian County, Illinois

Cities

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Villages

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated places

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Townships

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Christian County is divided into these seventeen townships:

Notable people

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Politics

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Like most of German-settled Central Illinois, Christian County was solidly Democratic until Woodrow Wilson’s response to German defeat in World War I turned the county over to the Republican Party in its 1920, 1924 and 1928 landslides. The county remained Democratic-leaning through the rest of the twentieth century, only voting Republican in landslide wins. However, since 2000 Christian County has become reliably Republican.

United States presidential election results for Christian County, Illinois[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 11,563 71.24% 4,335 26.71% 333 2.05%
2016 10,543 68.12% 3,992 25.79% 942 6.09%
2012 8,885 60.33% 5,494 37.31% 348 2.36%
2008 7,872 51.94% 6,918 45.65% 365 2.41%
2004 9,044 59.24% 6,112 40.03% 111 0.73%
2000 7,537 51.03% 6,799 46.03% 435 2.94%
1996 5,563 37.49% 7,431 50.08% 1,843 12.42%
1992 5,087 28.92% 9,042 51.40% 3,461 19.68%
1988 7,040 45.61% 8,295 53.74% 101 0.65%
1984 8,534 52.84% 7,541 46.69% 77 0.48%
1980 8,770 54.69% 6,625 41.31% 641 4.00%
1976 7,445 43.90% 9,306 54.87% 209 1.23%
1972 10,072 56.98% 7,556 42.75% 47 0.27%
1968 7,486 42.31% 8,465 47.84% 1,743 9.85%
1964 6,153 34.09% 11,898 65.91% 0 0.00%
1960 9,263 47.54% 10,207 52.38% 15 0.08%
1956 10,282 52.91% 9,093 46.79% 59 0.30%
1952 9,906 50.11% 9,844 49.80% 17 0.09%
1948 7,576 44.40% 9,366 54.89% 120 0.70%
1944 8,995 48.79% 9,360 50.77% 82 0.44%
1940 10,255 46.91% 11,457 52.41% 150 0.69%
1936 8,145 39.69% 11,400 55.55% 976 4.76%
1932 6,096 33.42% 11,515 63.12% 631 3.46%
1928 9,896 56.77% 7,345 42.14% 190 1.09%
1924 7,398 46.08% 5,826 36.29% 2,832 17.64%
1920 7,535 52.75% 5,398 37.79% 1,352 9.46%
1916 6,923 44.12% 7,982 50.87% 787 5.02%
1912 1,994 25.30% 3,821 48.48% 2,067 26.22%
1908 3,686 43.63% 4,156 49.19% 607 7.18%
1904 3,856 49.15% 3,297 42.02% 693 8.83%
1900 3,686 43.59% 4,519 53.44% 252 2.98%
1896 3,857 44.74% 4,639 53.82% 124 1.44%
1892 2,941 40.12% 3,655 49.86% 735 10.03%

See also

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References

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Specific
  1. ^ "Christian County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Adams, James N. (compiler) (1989), Keller, William E. (ed.), Illinois Place Names, Springfield: Illinois State Historical Society, pp. 575, ISBN 0-912226-24-2
  4. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  5. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Christian. II. A central county of Illinois" . The American Cyclopædia.
  6. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Taylorville, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  14. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  15. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
General

39°33′N 89°17′W / 39.55°N 89.28°W / 39.55; -89.28

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