Adams County, Illinois

Adams County, Illinois
U.S. Post Office and Court House (historical), Quincy, Illinois
Map of Illinois highlighting Adams County
Location in the state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location in the U.S.
Founded 1825
Named for John Quincy Adams
Seat Quincy
Largest city Quincy
Area
 • Total 871 sq mi (2,256 km2)
 • Land 855 sq mi (2,214 km2)
 • Water 16 sq mi (41 km2), 1.9%
Population
 • (2010) 67,103
 • Density 78/sq mi (30/km²)
Congressional district 18th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.co.adams.il.us

Adams County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the population was 67,103.[1] Its county seat is Quincy.[2]

Adams County is part of the Quincy, IL–MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Adams County was formed in 1825 out of Pike County. Its name is in honor of the sixth President of the United States, John Quincy Adams.

  1. ^ White, Jesse. Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties. State of Illinois, March 2010. [1]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 871 square miles (2,260 km2), of which 855 square miles (2,210 km2) is land and 16 square miles (41 km2) (1.9%) is water.[3]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

National protected area

Climate and weather

Quincy, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.4
 
 
34
16
 
 
1.7
 
 
40
21
 
 
2.9
 
 
52
30
 
 
3.5
 
 
65
41
 
 
4.6
 
 
75
51
 
 
3.3
 
 
84
61
 
 
3.9
 
 
88
66
 
 
3.1
 
 
86
63
 
 
3.5
 
 
78
55
 
 
2.5
 
 
66
43
 
 
3.1
 
 
51
33
 
 
2.2
 
 
38
21
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[4]

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Quincy have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −21 °F (−29 °C) was recorded in January 1979 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 2005. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.36 inches (35 mm) in January to 4.61 inches (117 mm) in May.[4]

Demographics

2000 Census Age Pyramid for Adams County.
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18302,186—
184014,476562.2%
185026,50883.1%
186041,32355.9%
187056,36236.4%
188059,1354.9%
189061,8884.7%
190067,0588.4%
191064,588−3.7%
192062,188−3.7%
193062,7841.0%
194065,2293.9%
195064,690−0.8%
196068,4675.8%
197070,8613.5%
198071,6221.1%
199066,090−7.7%
200068,2773.3%
201067,103−1.7%
Est. 201367,1300.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 68,277 people, 26,860 households, and 17,996 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile (31/km²). There were 29,386 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.10% White, 3.07% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.31% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 48.4% were of German, 22.4% English and 8.6% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.2% spoke English and 1.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 26,860 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.20% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.00% were non-families. 28.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.90% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 22.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 92.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $34,784, and the median income for a family was $44,133. Males had a median income of $31,171 versus $21,083 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,894. About 7.40% of families and 10.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.00% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Adams County, positioned in a primarily rural section of Illinois is culturally isolated from other regions in the state, and therefore is more conservative than most of the state's counties. Quincy, the county seat, holds a high number of social conservative catholics[10] and likewise is the home to the campus of Quincy University, a private catholic liberal arts college, and the Western Catholic Union.

In the 2008 Presidential election, the county supported Republican candidate John McCain 61-38% over the state's favorite son, Barack Obama.[11]

Presidential Election Results (Adams County, IL): 1960–present (U.S. winner is represented by (W), IL winner is represented by (I)), Adams County winner is represented by italicized number of votes received in the county
Year Democratic Republican Third party
2012 (W)(I) Obama/Biden 31.5% 9,627 Romney/Ryan 66.7% 20,371
2008 (W)(I) Obama/Biden 38.6% 11,794 McCain/Palin 60.6% 18,711
2004[12] (I) Kerry/Edwards 33% 10,511 (W) G.W. Bush/Cheney 66% 20,834
2000[13] (I) Gore/Lieberman 40.5% 12,197 (W) G.W. Bush/Cheney 57.6% 17,331 Nader 1.2% 371
1996[14] (W)(I) Clinton/Gore 39.9% 11,336 Dole/Kemp 48.7% 13,836 Perot 10.8% 3,069
1992[14] (W)(I) Clinton/Gore 37.2% 11,748 G. Bush/Quayle 42.8% 13,529 Perot 19.5% 6,157
1988[14] Dukakis/Bentsen 46.3% 13,768 (W)(I) G. Bush/Quayle 53.3% 15,831
1984[14] Mondale/Ferraro 33.7% 10,336 (W)(I) Reagan/Mondale 66.0% 20,225
1980[14] Carter/Mondale 33.2% 10,606 (W)(I) Reagan/G. Bush 62.2% 19,842 Anderson 3.8% 1,202
1976[14] (W) Carter/Mondale 39.1% 11,926 (I) Ford/Dole 59.7% 18,189
1972[14] McGovern/Shriver 30.3% 9,055 (W)(I) Nixon/Agnew 69.5% 20,731
1968[14] Humphrey/Muskie 35.9% 11,521 (W)(I) Nixon/Agnew 54.3% 17,444 Wallace 9.7% 3,115
1964[14] (W)(I) L. Johnson/Humphrey 56.7% 18,321 Goldwater/Miller 43.3% 13,993
1960[14] (W)(I) Kennedy/L. Johnson 44.2% 14,827 Nixon/Lodge 55.7% 18,674

Education

Unified school districts

Private schools

Colleges and universities

Attractions

Communities

Adams County, Illinois.

City

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Adams County is divided into twenty-three townships:

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Monthly Averages for Quincy, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  5. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  9. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  10. ↑ http://www.thearda.com/mapsReports/reports/counties/17001_2000.asp
  11. ↑ "Local and National Election Results - Election Center 2008 - Elections & Politics from CNN.com". CNN.
  12. ↑ "CNN.com Election 2004". CNN.
  13. ↑ http://www.uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/statesub.php?year=2000&fips=17001&f=0&off=0&elect=0
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 14.6 14.7 14.8 14.9 http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Adams County, Illinois.
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Adams County (Illinois).
 Hancock County
Marion County, Missouri and Lewis County, Missouri Brown County and Schuyler County
   Adams County, Illinois  
Pike County

Coordinates: 39°59′N 91°11′W / 39.99°N 91.19°W