Randolph County, Illinois
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Randolph County, Illinois | |
| Map | |
 Location in the state of Illinois |
|
 Illinois's location in the USA |
|
| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1795 |
|---|---|
| Seat | Chester |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,547 km² (597 mi²) 1,498 km² (578 mi²) 49 km² (19 mi²), 3.15% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
33,893 23/km² |
| Website: www.randolphco.org | |
Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 33,893. Its county seat is Chester, Illinois6.
Owing to its role in the state's history, the county motto is "Where Illinois Began."
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,547 km² (597 mi²). 1,498 km² (578 mi²) of it is land and 49 km² (19 mi²) of it (3.15%) is water.
The Kaskaskia River flows into the Mississippi River in Randolph County. At this point the Mississippi, which usually defines the border between Illinois and Missouri, is entirely in Illinois. The Mississippi changed its course in the late-nineteenth century, leaving Kaskaskia, the former state capitol, on the west side of the River. The boundary of the State, however, follows the old course of the River, leaving Illinois with an enclave on the western shore of the Mississippi River.
[edit] Adjacent Counties
- St. Clair County (north)
- Washington County (northeast)
- Perry County (east)
- Jackson County (southeast)
- Perry County, Missouri (south)
- Ste. Genevieve County, Missouri (southwest)
- Monroe County (northwest)
[edit] History
Randolph County was organized in 1795 out of a part of St. Clair County. It was named in honor of Edmund Randolph, Governor of Virginia. The Northwest Territory was captured from the British near the end of the Revolutionary War by the army of Virginia. Illinois then became, for a brief time, Illinois County, Virginia. Edmund Randolph was Governor of Virginia at the time Virginia ceded the Northwest Territory to the United States. The county's boundaries were last changed in 1827, when land was taken to form Perry County.
The Mississippi River has played a prominent role in the county's history, altering its boundaries in 1881 when it severed the isthmus that connected Kaskaskia to the Illinois mainland, destroying the original village of Kaskaskia and forcing its historic cemetery to be relocated across the river to Fort Kaskaskia. Crains Island[1], southeast of Chester, is another enclave of Illinois west of the Mississippi that was created by a change in the river's course.
[edit] Demographics
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 28,001 |
|
|
| 1910 | 29,120 | 4.0% | |
| 1920 | 29,109 | -0.0% | |
| 1930 | 29,313 | 0.7% | |
| 1940 | 33,608 | 14.7% | |
| 1950 | 31,673 | -5.8% | |
| 1960 | 29,988 | -5.3% | |
| 1970 | 31,379 | 4.6% | |
| 1980 | 35,652 | 13.6% | |
| 1990 | 34,583 | -3.0% | |
| 2000 | 33,893 | -2.0% | |
| IL Counties 1900-1990 | |||
As of the census² of 2000, there were 33,893 people, 12,084 households, and 8,362 families residing in the county. The population density was 23/km² (59/mi²). There were 13,328 housing units at an average density of 9/km² (23/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.71% White, 9.29% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.81% from other races, and 0.76% from two or more races. 1.54% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 12,084 households out of which 31.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.80% 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 2.99.
In the county the population was spread out with 22.10% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 30.40% from 25 to 44, 22.30% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 116.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 119.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $37,013, and the median income for a family was $44,766. Males had a median income of $30,837 versus $21,501 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,696. About 7.10% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Media
There are two AM radio stations licensed in the county, WHCO 1230AM in Sparta and KSGM 980AM in Chester.
There are several weekly newspapers in the county. They are The County Journal, which is based in Percy but also covers Perry and Jackson Counties, the North County News in Red Bud, the Randolph County Herald-Tribune in Chester and the Sparta News-Plaindealer.
[edit] Cities and towns
- Baldwin
- Chester
- Coulterville
- Ellis Grove
- Evansville
- Kaskaskia
- Percy
- Prairie du Rocher
- Red Bud
- Rockwood
- Ruma
- Sparta
- Steeleville
- Tilden
[edit] Census designated places
- Glenn
- Grigg
- Menard
- Modoc
- Schuline
- Walsh
- Welge
- Wine Hill
[edit] External links
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Municipalities and Communities of Randolph County, Illinois (County Seat: Chester) |
|---|---|
| Cities, Towns and Villages | Baldwin | Chester | Coulterville | Ellis Grove | Evansville | Glenn | Grigg | Kaskaskia | Menard | Modoc | Percy | Prairie du Rocher | Red Bud | Rockwood | Ruma | Schuline | Sparta | Steeleville | Tilden | Walsh | Welge | Wine Hill |
| Precincts | Baldwin | Blair | Bremen | Brewersville | Central | Chester | Coulterville | Ellis Grove | Evansville | Kaskaskia | Palestine | Percy | Prairie du Rocher | Redbud | Rockwood | Ruma | Sparta | Steelville | Tilden | Wine Hill |
