Sangamon County, Illinois

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Sangamon County, Illinois
Seal of Sangamon County, Illinois
Seal
Map of Illinois highlighting Sangamon County
Location in the state of Illinois
Map of the U.S. highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location in the U.S.
Founded 1821
Seat Springfield
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water
877.02 sq mi (2,271 km²)
868.30 sq mi (2,249 km²)
8.72 sq mi (23 km²), 0.99%
Population
 - (2010)
 - Density
197,465
218/sq mi (84/km²)
Website www.co.sangamon.il.us

Sangamon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 197,465, which is an increase of 4.5% from 188,951 in 2000.[1] Its county seat is Springfield, the state capital.

The Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area includes Sangamon and Menard counties.

Contents

Geography [edit]

According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 877.02 square miles (2,271.5 km2), of which 868.30 square miles (2,248.9 km2) (or 99.01%) is land and 8.72 square miles (22.6 km2) (or 0.99%) is water.[2]

Major highways [edit]

Townships [edit]

Auburn, Ball, Buffalo Hart, Capital, Cartwright, Chatham, Clear Lake, Cooper, Cotton Hill, Curran, Divernon, Fancy Creek, Gardner, Illiopolis, Island Grove, Lanesville, Loami, Maxwell, Mechanicsburg, New Berlin, Pawnee, Rochester, Springfield, Talkington, Williams, Woodside

Adjacent counties [edit]

See also: List of counties bordering eight counties

Protected areas [edit]

Federal Protected Areas [edit]

State Protected Areas [edit]

History [edit]

Sangamon County was formed in 1821 out of Madison and Bond counties. The county was named for the Sangamon River, which runs through it. The origin of the name of the river is unknown; among several explanations is the theory that is comes from the Pottawatomie word Sain-guee-mon (pronounced "sang gä mun") meaning "where there is plenty to eat."[3]

Prior to being elected President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln represented Sangamon County in the Illinois Legislature. Lincoln, along with several other legislators, was instrumental in securing the Sangamon County seat, Springfield, as the state's capital. Sangamon County was also among the area represented by Lincoln when he served in the US House of Representatives. Another legislator who represented Sangamon County was Colonel Edmund Dick Taylor, also known as "Father of the Greenback". The prominent financiers and industrialists Jacob Bunn and John Whitfield Bunn were based in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, as well as in Chicago, during the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The careers of these men and the people with whom they collaborated helped to shape much of the history and development of Sangamon County, Illinois.

  • Sangamon County from the time of its creation to 1823

  • Sangamon County between 1823 and 1825

  • Sangamon County between 1825 and 1839

  • Sangamon in 1839, when the creation of Logan and Menard Counties reduced it to its present borders

Demographics [edit]

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1900 71,593
—
1910 91,024 27.1%
1920 100,262 10.1%
1930 111,733 11.4%
1940 117,912 5.5%
1950 131,484 11.5%
1960 146,539 11.5%
1970 161,335 10.1%
1980 176,089 9.1%
1990 178,386 1.3%
2000 188,951 5.9%
2010 197,465 4.5%
IL Counties 1900-1990

As of the census of 2008,[4] there were 194,925 people, 78,722 households, and 49,909 families residing in the county. The population density was 218 people per square mile (84/km²). There were 85,459 housing units at an average density of 98 per square mile (38/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 87.42% White, 9.65% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.10% Asian American, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 1.21% from two or more races. 1.06% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.8% were of German, 13.0% Irish, 11.3% English, 9.9% American and 6.2% Italian ancestry.

There were 78,722 households out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.20% were married couples living together, 11.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.60% were non-families. 31.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 29.70% from 25 to 44, 23.70% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,957, and the median income for a family was $53,900. Males had a median income of $37,696 versus $28,814 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,173. About 6.50% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Government [edit]

Sangamon County is governed by a 29 member board. Each member of the board is elected from a separate district.[5]

Other elected officials include:

  • Clerk of the Circuit Court
  • Treasurer
  • Sheriff
  • County Clerk
  • Coroner
  • Recorder
  • Auditor
  • State's Attorney
  • Superintendent of Schools[5]

Cities and towns [edit]

Unincorporated communities [edit]

Townships [edit]

Sangamon County is divided into these townships:

Climate and weather [edit]

Springfield, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
1.6
 
33
17
 
 
1.8
 
39
22
 
 
3.2
 
51
32
 
 
3.4
 
63
42
 
 
4.1
 
74
53
 
 
3.8
 
83
62
 
 
3.5
 
87
66
 
 
3.4
 
85
64
 
 
2.8
 
79
55
 
 
2.6
 
67
44
 
 
2.9
 
51
34
 
 
2.5
 
38
23
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[6]

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Springfield have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of 112 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.62 inches (41 mm) in January to 4.06 inches (103 mm) in May.[6]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Sangamon County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-11-05. 
  2. ^ "Census 2010 U.S. Gazetteer Files: Counties". United States Census. Retrieved 2011-11-05. 
  3. ^ Callary, Edward. 2009. Place Names of Illinois. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, p. 310.
  4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
  5. ^ a b "History and Overview". Springfield, Illinois: County of Sangamon, Illinois. Retrieved 4 December 2011. 
  6. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Springfield, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 

External links [edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Sangamon County, Illinois
Menard County and Logan County
Morgan County and Cass County Macon County
  Sangamon County, Illinois  
Montgomery County and Macoupin County Christian County
Municipalities and communities of Sangamon County, Illinois, United States
Cities
Villages
Townships
Unincorporated
communities
Footnotes

‡This city also has portions in adjacent county or counties
Springfield (capital)
Topics
Regions
Cities,
towns
and villages
Counties

Coordinates: 39°46′N 89°40′W / 39.76°N 89.66°W / 39.76; -89.66

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