Christian County, Illinois

Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,800.[1] Its county seat is Taylorville.[2]

Christian County
U.S. county
Christian County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°33′N 89°17′W
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
 (2010)
 • Total34,800
 • Estimate 
(2018)
32,661
 • Density49/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district13th
Websitechristiancountyil.com

Christian County comprises the Taylorville, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Springfield-Jacksonville-Lincoln, IL Combined Statistical Area.

History

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. It was called Dane County for a period of one year.[3]

  • Christian County at the time of its creation in 1839

Geography

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

Major highways

Climate and weather
Taylorville, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
1.8
 
 
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1.8
 
 
39
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3
 
 
50
31
 
 
3.5
 
 
63
41
 
 
3.8
 
 
74
52
 
 
3.7
 
 
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3.7
 
 
86
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2.8
 
 
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79
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67
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3.6
 
 
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38
22
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[6]

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
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
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%
2018 (est.)32,661[7]−6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]
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.[12] 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.[12] In terms of ancestry, 21.9% were German, 12.7% were Irish, 10.6% were American, and 9.9% were English.[13]

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.[12]

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.[14]

Communities
Map of Christian County, Illinois

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Townships

Christian County is divided into these seventeen townships:

Notable people

Politics

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 due to opposition in this rural county to the Democratic Party’s liberal position on social issues.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 68.1% 10,543 25.8% 3,992 6.1% 942
2012 60.3% 8,885 37.3% 5,494 2.4% 348
2008 51.9% 7,872 45.7% 6,918 2.4% 365
2004 59.2% 9,044 40.0% 6,112 0.7% 111
2000 51.0% 7,537 46.0% 6,799 2.9% 435
1996 37.5% 5,563 50.1% 7,431 12.4% 1,843
1992 28.9% 5,087 51.4% 9,042 19.7% 3,461
1988 45.6% 7,040 53.7% 8,295 0.7% 101
1984 52.8% 8,534 46.7% 7,541 0.5% 77
1980 54.7% 8,770 41.3% 6,625 4.0% 641
1976 43.9% 7,445 54.9% 9,306 1.2% 209
1972 57.0% 10,072 42.8% 7,556 0.3% 47
1968 42.3% 7,486 47.8% 8,465 9.9% 1,743
1964 34.1% 6,153 65.9% 11,898 0.0% 0
1960 47.5% 9,263 52.4% 10,207 0.1% 15
1956 52.9% 10,282 46.8% 9,093 0.3% 59
1952 50.1% 9,906 49.8% 9,844 0.1% 17
1948 44.4% 7,576 54.9% 9,366 0.7% 120
1944 48.8% 8,995 50.8% 9,360 0.4% 82
1940 46.9% 10,255 52.4% 11,457 0.7% 150
1936 39.7% 8,145 55.6% 11,400 4.8% 976
1932 33.4% 6,096 63.1% 11,515 3.5% 631
1928 56.8% 9,896 42.1% 7,345 1.1% 190
1924 46.1% 7,398 36.3% 5,826 17.6% 2,832
1920 52.8% 7,535 37.8% 5,398 9.5% 1,352
1916 44.1% 6,923 50.9% 7,982 5.0% 787
1912 25.3% 1,994 48.5% 3,821 26.2% 2,067
1908 43.6% 3,686 49.2% 4,156 7.2% 607
1904 49.2% 3,856 42.0% 3,297 8.8% 693
1900 43.6% 3,686 53.4% 4,519 3.0% 252
1896 44.7% 3,857 53.8% 4,639 1.4% 124
1892 40.1% 2,941 49.9% 3,655 10.0% 735

See also

References
Specific
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 8, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  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. "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. "Monthly Averages for Taylorville, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 7, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 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. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  12. "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.
  13. "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.
  14. "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.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
General

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