Wayne County, Illinois

Infobox U.S. County
county = Wayne County
state = Illinois


seallink =


map size = 150
founded = 1819
seat = Fairfield
largest city = Fairfield
area_total_sq_mi = 716
area_total_km2 = 1853
area_land_sq_mi = 714
area_land_km2 = 1849
area_water_sq_mi = 2
area_water_km2 = 4
area percentage = 0.23%
census yr = 2000
pop = 17151
density_sq_mi = 24
density_km2 = 9
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset= -5
footnotes =
web = |

Wayne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population is 17,151. Its county seat is Fairfield, IllinoisGR|6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 716 square miles (1,853 km²), of which, 714 square miles (1,849 km²) of it is land and 2 square miles (4 km²) of it (0.23%) is water.

Townships

Arrington, Barnhill, Bedford, Berry, Big Mound, Elm River, Four Mile, Garden Hill, Grover, Hickory Hill, Indian Prairie, Jasper, Keith, Lemard, Leech, Massilon, Mount Erie, Orchard, Orel, Zif

Adjacent counties

*Clay County (north)
*Richland County (northeast)
*Edwards County (east)
*White County (southeast)
*Hamilton County (south)
*Jefferson County (southwest)
*Marion County (northwest)

History

Wayne County was formed in 1819 out of Edwards County. It is named after Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne, an officer in the Revolutionary War and Northwest Indian War.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 27626
1910= 25697
1920= 22772
1930= 19130
1940= 22092
1950= 20933
1960= 19008
1970= 17004
1980= 18059
1990= 17241
2000= 17151
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt IL Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 17,151 people, 7,143 households, and 4,971 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 7,950 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.71% White, 0.15% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.06% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.60% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.8% were of American, 16.4% German, 15.9% English and 8.1% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 7,143 households out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.30% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.40% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 18.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,481, and the median income for a family was $37,729. Males had a median income of $29,148 versus $20,989 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,793. About 9.40% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.70% of those under age 18 and 10.70% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns