Edgar County, Illinois

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


map size = 100
census



founded = January 3, 1823
seat = Paris| area_total_sq_mi =624
area_land_sq_mi = 623
area_water_sq_mi =1
area percentage = 0.10%
census yr = 2000
pop = 19704
density_km2 =12
web=www.co.edgar.il.us|

Edgar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 19,704. Its county seat is Paris.GR|6

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 624 square miles (1,617 km²), of which 624 square miles (1,615 km²) is land and 1 square mile (2 km²) (0.10%) is water.

Townships

Brouilletts Creek, Buck, Edgar, Elbirdge, Embarrass, Grandview, Hunter, Kansas, Paris, Prairie, Ross, Shiloh, Stratton, Symmes, Young America

Township map

Adjacent counties

*Vermilion County (north)
*Vermillion County, Indiana (northeast)
*Vigo County, Indiana (southeast)
*Clark County (south)
*Coles County (southwest)
*Douglas County (northwest)
*Champaign County (northwest)

Political subdivisions

Cities

*Chrisman
*Paris

Villages

*Brocton
*Hume
*Kansas
*Metcalf
*Redmon
*Vermilion

Townships

Fifteen townships make up Edgar County. They are:

*Brouilletts Creek
*Buck
*Edgar
*Elbridge
*Embarrass
*Grandview
*Hunter
*Kansas
*Paris
*Prairie
*Ross
*Shiloh
*Stratton
*Symmes
*Young America

Demographics

USCensusPop
1830=4071
1840=8225
1850=10692
1860=16925
1870=21450
1880=25499
1890=26787
1900=28273
1910=27336
1920=25769
1930=24966
1940=24430
1950=23407
1960=22550
1970=21591
1980=21725
1990=19595
2000=19704
footnote=UVa Census Browser 1830-1890 [Citation
title = Historial Census Browser, University of Virginia, Geospacial and Statistical Data Center
publication-date = 2004
url = http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/collections/stats/histcensus/index.html]
Illinois Counties 1900-1990 [Citation
publication-date =
contribution =
contribution-url=
title =Illinois Counties 1900-1990
publisher =U.S. Census Bureau
url =http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt] As of the U.S. Census of 2000,GR|2 there were 19,704 people, 7,874 households, and 5,322 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 8,611 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.12% White, 1.84% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.2% were of American, 20.0% German, 12.6% English and 11.2% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.7% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 7,874 households out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.00% were married couples living together, 9.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.40% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.00% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,203, and the median income for a family was $41,245. Males had a median income of $30,214 versus $21,097 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,857. About 7.60% of families and 10.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.20% of those under age 18 and 9.90% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Major highways

*U.S. Route 36
*U.S. Route 150
*Illinois Route 1
*Illinois Route 16
*Illinois Route 133

Three railroad lines run through the county. Two are operated by CSX Transportation and the third by the Eastern Illinois Railroad Company. [Citation
url=http://www.dot.il.gov/officialrailmap.pdf
title=Illinois Railroad Map
accessdate=2007-10-11] Edgar County Airport is located approximately six miles north of Paris.

History

Edgar County was formed out of Clark County in 1823 and named for John Edgar, [Citation
last =Adams
first =James N. (compiler)
year =
date =
publication-date =1989
editor-last =Keller
editor-first =William E.
title =Illinois Place Names
edition =
series =
place =
publication-place =Springfield
publisher =Illinois State Historical Society
volume =
pages =580
isbn =0912226242] an Irish-born officer in the Royal Navy who resigned rather than fight against the Americans in the Revolutionary War. Edgar moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois in 1784, becoming a miller and merchant in that town.

References

External links

* [http://www.co.edgar.il.us Edgar County official site]
* [http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/edgar.html Edgar County Fact Sheet, Illinois State Archives]
* [http://www.genealogytrails.com/ill/edgar/index.html Edgar County, Illinois History and Genealogy]