Cass County, Illinois

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


map size = 150
founded = 1837
seat = Virginia
largest city = Beardstown
area_total_sq_mi =384
area_land_sq_mi =376
area_water_sq_mi =8
area percentage = 2.04%
census yr = 2000
pop = 13695
density_sq_mi = 36
density_km2 = 14
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset= -5
web = |

Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 13,695. Its county seat is Virginia, IllinoisGR|6. It is the home of the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 384 square miles (994 km²), of which 376 square miles (974 km²) is land and 8 square miles (20 km²) (2.04%) is water.

Townships

Arenzville, Ashland, Beardstown, Bluff Springs, Chandlerville, Hagener, Newmansville, Panther Creek, Philadelphia, Sangamon Valley, Virginia

Adjacent counties

*Mason County - northeast
*Menard County - east
*Sangamon County - southeast
*Morgan County - south
*Brown County - west
*Schuyler County - northwest

National protected area

* Meredosia National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Communities

Cities

*Beardstown
*Virginia

Villages

*Arenzville
*Ashland
*Bluff Springs
*Chandlerville
*Newmansville
*Philadelphia

History

Cass County was formed in 1837 out of Morgan County. It was named in honor of Lewis Cass, a general in the War of 1812, Governor of the Michigan Territory, and United States Secretary of State in 1860.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 17222
1910= 17372
1920= 17896
1930= 16537
1940= 16425
1950= 15097
1960= 14539
1970= 14219
1980= 15084
1990= 13437
2000= 13695
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt IL Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 13,695 people, 5,347 households, and 3,689 families residing in the county. The population density was 36 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 5,784 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.93% White, 0.45% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 3.34% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 8.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.2% were of German, 15.9% American, 12.5% English and 8.5% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 91.1% spoke English and 8.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 5,347 households out of which 32.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.80% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.00% were non-families. 26.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.52 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 98.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,243, and the median income for a family was $41,653. Males had a median income of $27,493 versus $21,781 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,532. About 9.20% of families and 12.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 6.70% of those age 65 or over.