Fayette County, Illinois

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


seallink =


map size = 150
founded = 1821
seat = Vandalia
largest city = Vandalia
area_total_sq_mi = 725
area_total_km2 = 1879
area_land_sq_mi = 716
area_land_km2 = 1856
area_water_sq_mi = 9
area_water_km2 = 23
area percentage = 1.22%
census yr = 2000
pop = 21802
density_sq_mi = 30
density_km2 = 12
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset= -5
footnotes =
web = |

Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 21,802. Its county seat is Vandalia, IllinoisGR|6.

History

Fayette County was formed in 1821 out of Bond, Clark, and Crawford Counties. It was named in honor of the Marquis de LaFayette, French hero of the American Revolutionary War. Allan H. Keith, [http://books.google.com/books?id=1gJ_RVeb5JYC&pg=PA2&dq=richard+bock+sculptor&ie=ISO-8859-1&sig=ngQRYGbj78gEH8yXNlEZrDnRlMU#PPA1,M1 "Historical Stories: About Greenville and Bond County, IL"] . Consulted on August 15, 2007. ]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 725 square miles (1,879 km²), of which, 716 square miles (1,856 km²) of it is land and 9 square miles (23 km²) of it (1.22%) is water.

Townships

Avena, Bear Grove, Bowling Green, Carson, Hurricane, Kaskaskia, La Clede, Lone Grove, Loudon, Otego, Pope, Ramsey, Sefton, Seminary, Shafter, Sharon, South Hurricane, Vandalia, Wheatland, Wilberton

Adjacent counties

*Shelby County - northeast
*Effingham County - east
*Clay County - southeast
*Marion County - south
*Clinton County - southwest
*Bond County - west
*Montgomery County - northwest

ettlements

Cities

*St. Elmo
*Vandalia

Villages

*Bingham
*Brownstown
*Farina
*Pittsburg
*Ramsey
*St. Peter

Unincorporated

*Augsburg
*Bayle
*Bluff City
*Confidence
*Four Mile
*Frogtown
*Hagarstown
*Loogootee
*Pittsburg
*Shafter
*Shobonier
*St. Paul
*Stringtown
*Vera
*Woodyard

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 28065
1910= 28075
1920= 26187
1930= 23487
1940= 29159
1950= 24582
1960= 21946
1970= 20752
1980= 22167
1990= 20893
2000= 21802
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt IL Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 21,802 people, 8,146 households, and 5,653 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 9,053 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.02% White, 4.88% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 34.7% were of German, 23.5% American, 11.6% English and 9.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.2% spoke English and 1.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 8,146 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 108.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,873, and the median income for a family was $39,044. Males had a median income of $29,478 versus $20,254 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,357. About 8.40% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

References