Washington County, Illinois

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 14,716.[1] Its county seat is Nashville.[2] It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "Little Egypt".

For counties with a similar name, see Washington County (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Washington, Illinois.

Washington County
U.S. county
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°21′N 89°25′W
Country United States
State Illinois
FoundedJanuary 2, 1818
Named forGeorge Washington
SeatNashville
Largest cityNashville
Area
 • Total564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Land563 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total14,716
 • Estimate 
(2018)
13,995
 • Density26/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district15th
Websitewww.washingtonco.illinois.gov

History

Washington County was formed on January 2, 1818 out of St. Clair County. It was named for George Washington. Despite its relative proximity to the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, the county is not considered part of the St. Louis metropolitan area, also known as the Metro-East. In 1813, the Lively Massacre occurred near Little Crooked Creek. In 1959, the state established the Washington County State Recreation Area.[3] Washington County was initially settled by immigrants from Kentucky who moved northward out of that state in the early 1800s. In the late 1800s there were (relatively) large numbers of immigrants who settled in Washington County, and by the early 1900s there were large numbers of first-generation immigrants still living in Washington County. They primarily came from the four countries of Germany, Poland, Ireland and England.[4]

  • Washington County from its 1818 creation to 1824
  • Washington County in 1824, reduced to its current borders by the creation of Clinton County

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 564 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 563 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[5] There are many lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks in this area, including the Kaskaskia River, which is the county's northern border.

Climate and weather
Nashville, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
2.2
 
 
38
22
 
 
2.3
 
 
44
27
 
 
3.5
 
 
56
35
 
 
3.9
 
 
67
45
 
 
4.1
 
 
76
55
 
 
3.7
 
 
85
64
 
 
3.7
 
 
88
68
 
 
2.7
 
 
87
65
 
 
3.2
 
 
80
58
 
 
3
 
 
69
47
 
 
3.8
 
 
54
37
 
 
3
 
 
42
26
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[6]

In recent years, average temperatures in Nashville have ranged from a low of 22 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −21 °F (−29 °C) was recorded in December 1989 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1980. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.18 inches (55 mm) in January to 4.10 inches (104 mm) in May.[6] On November 17, 2013, an EF4 tornado swept through the area, destroying homes and causing two fatalities.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18201,517—
18301,67510.4%
18404,810187.2%
18506,95344.6%
186013,73197.5%
187017,59928.2%
188021,11220.0%
189019,262−8.8%
190019,5261.4%
191018,759−3.9%
192018,035−3.9%
193016,286−9.7%
194015,801−3.0%
195014,460−8.5%
196013,569−6.2%
197013,7801.6%
198015,47212.3%
199014,965−3.3%
200015,1481.2%
201014,716−2.9%
2018 (est.)13,995[7]−4.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,716 people, 5,926 households, and 4,112 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 26.2 inhabitants per square mile (10.1/km2). There were 6,534 housing units at an average density of 11.6 per square mile (4.5/km2).[5] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 53.6% were German, 14.0% were Polish, 13.1% were Irish, 7.7% were English, and 6.1% were American.[13]

Of the 5,926 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 42.3 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $51,440 and the median income for a family was $64,171. Males had a median income of $44,272 versus $30,683 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,846. About 5.5% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Education

The county is served by six school districts:[15]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Washington County is divided into these townships:

Politics

Washington is a rural conservative county in Southern Illinois that has always trended Republican in presidential elections. The only Democrat to win a majority of the county's ballots since the Civil War was Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1932 landslide. Historically, the county was dominated by organized labor and family farms. The area tends to be economically and socially conservative.

Presidential elections results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 74.9% 5,571 19.5% 1,448 5.6% 419
2012 64.5% 4,792 33.0% 2,450 2.6% 193
2008 56.4% 4,473 42.1% 3,342 1.5% 117
2004 62.6% 5,072 36.9% 2,986 0.6% 46
2000 61.0% 4,353 37.0% 2,638 2.1% 147
1996 48.2% 3,339 39.6% 2,744 12.2% 844
1992 39.8% 3,003 39.5% 2,986 20.7% 1,566
1988 60.0% 4,127 39.1% 2,689 0.8% 58
1984 68.2% 5,129 31.4% 2,363 0.3% 24
1980 69.0% 5,354 27.8% 2,158 3.2% 250
1976 57.2% 4,485 41.1% 3,222 1.8% 137
1972 68.9% 5,179 30.9% 2,327 0.2% 16
1968 63.3% 4,793 27.7% 2,093 9.0% 683
1964 51.1% 3,840 48.9% 3,670 0.0% 0
1960 62.0% 5,053 37.9% 3,093 0.1% 11
1956 65.1% 5,299 34.7% 2,820 0.2% 16
1952 66.2% 5,546 33.7% 2,824 0.1% 11
1948 62.0% 4,544 37.3% 2,737 0.7% 49
1944 66.3% 5,428 33.3% 2,723 0.4% 35
1940 61.8% 5,701 37.7% 3,479 0.5% 42
1936 51.2% 4,540 46.5% 4,119 2.4% 209
1932 38.8% 3,076 59.3% 4,696 1.9% 154
1928 55.9% 3,638 43.8% 2,848 0.3% 22
1924 56.4% 3,444 28.1% 1,717 15.4% 942
1920 70.8% 4,519 17.3% 1,102 12.0% 765
1916 61.0% 4,657 36.6% 2,794 2.5% 190
1912 25.0% 1,058 39.1% 1,654 36.0% 1,522
1908 53.9% 2,355 41.9% 1,830 4.3% 187
1904 57.3% 2,374 36.3% 1,504 6.4% 265
1900 51.8% 2,351 45.9% 2,081 2.3% 106
1896 53.3% 2,351 44.9% 1,979 1.8% 81
1892 47.4% 1,956 45.2% 1,868 7.4% 307

Media

WNSV in Nashville is the only radio station in the county.

The two weekly newspapers in the county are The Nashville News, located in Nashville, and The Okawville Times, which is based in Okawville.

See also

References
Specific
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "About". www.dnr.illinois.gov. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  4. History of Washington County, Illinois: With Illustrations Descriptive of Its Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers by McDonough
  5. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  6. "Monthly Averages for Nashville, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved November 2, 2019.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 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 12, 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 12, 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 12, 2015.
  15. Education, Illinois State Board of. "Illinois Public School Districts by County" (XLS). Retrieved May 28, 2009.
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
General

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