Jersey County, Illinois

Jersey County, Illinois
The Jersey County Courthouse in Jerseyville
Map of Illinois highlighting Jersey County
Location in the state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location in the U.S.
Founded February 28, 1839
Named for New Jersey
Seat Jerseyville
Largest city Jerseyville
Area
 • Total 377 sq mi (976 km2)
 • Land 369 sq mi (956 km2)
 • Water 7.9 sq mi (20 km2), 2.1%
Population
 • (2010) 22,985
 • Density 62/sq mi (24/km²)
Congressional district 13th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.jerseycounty-il.us

Jersey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 22,985.[1] The county seat is Jerseyville.[2]

Jersey County is included in the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Jersey County lies just northeast of where the great Mississippi and Illinois rivers meet. It is the former home of the Kickapoo, Menomini, Potawatomi, and Illiniwek Confederation American Indians. The first European explorers to visit the area, Father Marquette and Louis Jolliet, arrived in 1673,[3] where they encountered the fearsome painting of the Piasa bird. The present day Pere Marquette State Park, located near Grafton, is named in Father Marquette's honor, and a monument to him is located at the park.

Jersey County was founded on February 28, 1839, and was formed out of Greene County. The county was named for the state of New Jersey,[4] from which many of the early settlers emigrated - which was itself named for the Channel Island of Jersey in Great Britain. The area quickly evolved into several small agricultural communities. As the area soon began to flourish, a county government was established and a courthouse was built in Jerseyville, the county seat. The present courthouse is a magnificent architectural structure that was built in 1893.

Recent history

Today, while the county maintains its agricultural base, it is also within commuting distance of jobs and industry in St. Louis, Missouri and the surrounding area. A large portion of the population works outside of Jersey County and benefits from being "Near the crowd, but not in it.", the official slogan of the Jersey County Business Association's advertising campaign. The bordering rivers play an important part in Jersey County's economy by supporting agricultural producers and agribusiness, and by creating a strong tourist market. Education, manufacturing, and retail are among the county's largest industries.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 377 square miles (980 km2), of which 369 square miles (960 km2) is land and 7.9 square miles (20 km2) (2.1%) is water.[5] Jersey County is bordered by three bodies of water: the Mississippi River to the south, the Illinois River to the west, and Macoupin Creek to the northwest.

Climate

Jerseyville, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.9
 
 
35
17
 
 
2
 
 
41
22
 
 
3.5
 
 
53
32
 
 
4.1
 
 
64
42
 
 
4
 
 
74
52
 
 
3.7
 
 
83
61
 
 
3.5
 
 
88
66
 
 
2.9
 
 
86
63
 
 
3.2
 
 
79
55
 
 
2.9
 
 
68
43
 
 
3.8
 
 
53
34
 
 
2.8
 
 
40
23
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[6]

Typically, the county's climate reflects most Midwest areas, located in the transitional zone between the humid continental climate type and the humid subtropical climate type (Köppen Dfa and Cfa, respectively), with neither large mountains nor large bodies of water to moderate its temperature. Spring is the wettest season and produces severe weather ranging from tornadoes to snow or ice storms. Summers are hot and humid, and the humidity often makes the heat index rise to temperatures feeling well above 100 °F (38 °C). Fall is mild with lower humidity and can produce intermittent bouts of heavy rainfall with the first snow flurries usually forming in late November. Winters can be cold at times with periodic light snow and temperatures below freezing.

In recent years, average temperatures in Jerseyville have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July. The record low temperature of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and the record high temperature of 112 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranges from 1.92 inches (49 mm) in January to 4.14 inches (105 mm) in April.[6]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

State protected areas

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18404,535—
18507,35462.2%
186012,05163.9%
187015,05424.9%
188015,5423.2%
189014,810−4.7%
190014,612−1.3%
191013,954−4.5%
192012,682−9.1%
193012,556−1.0%
194013,6368.6%
195015,26411.9%
196017,02311.5%
197018,4928.6%
198020,53811.1%
199020,5390.0%
200021,6685.5%
201022,9856.1%
Est. 201322,641−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]
2000 census age pyramid for Jersey County

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 21,668 people, 8,096 households, and 5,861 families residing in the county. The population density was 59 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 8,918 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.13% White, 0.53% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.75% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 39.2% were of German, 14.5% American, 11.2% Irish and 11.1% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.3% spoke English and 1.1% Spanish as their first language.

There were 8,096 households, out of which 34.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.05.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 9.90% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 22.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,065, and the median income for a family was $49,666. Males had a median income of $38,771 versus $23,086 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,581. About 5.30% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.70% of those under age 18 and 5.70% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Unified school districts

High schools

Colleges and universities

Government

Past Presidential Elections Results
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2012 60.64% 6,039 36.82% 3,667 2.54% 253
2008 50.20% 5,329 47.50% 5,042 2.10% 212
2004 53.62% 5,435 45.35% 4,597 1.03% 105
2000 49.92% 4,699 46.27% 4,355 3.81% 359

Local

The Democratic Party controls politics at the local level in Jersey County by a majority. Democrats currently hold ten of the elected positions in the county, while Republicans currently hold six positions.

Jersey County is governed by a twelve member board. Board members are elected from four county districts, three members from each district.

Other elected officials include:

State

Jersey County is divided into two legislative districts in the Illinois House of Representatives:

The county is also divided into two legislative districts in the Illinois Senate:

Federal

Jersey County is included in Illinois's 13th congressional district and is currently represented by Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Communities

Incorporated communities in Jersey County

Cities

Villages

Town

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Jersey County is divided into eleven townships:

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Jersey County description & history, retrieved August 24, 2007
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 169.
  5. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Monthly Averages for Jerseyville, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.

External links

 Greene County
Calhoun County Macoupin County
   Jersey County, Illinois  
St. Charles County, Missouri Madison County

Coordinates: 39°05′N 90°22′W / 39.09°N 90.36°W