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Douglas County, Illinois

Coordinates: 39°46′N 88°13′W / 39.77°N 88.22°W / 39.77; -88.22
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not to be confused with Douglas, Illinois.
Douglas County, Illinois
County
Douglas County Courthouse and veterans' memorial
Douglas County Courthouse and veterans' memorial
Map of Illinois highlighting Douglas County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Coordinates: 39°46′N 88°13′W / 39.77°N 88.22°W / 39.77; -88.22
Country United States
State Illinois
Founded1859
Named afterStephen A. Douglas
SeatTuscola
Largest cityTuscola
Area
 • Total
417 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Land416 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Water0.6 sq mi (1.6 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
19,740
 • Estimate 
(2024)
19,824 Increase[1]
 • Density47.7/sq mi (18.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district15th
Websitedouglascountyil.gov

Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 19,740.[2] The county seat is Tuscola.[3]

History

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Douglas County was formed in 1859 out of Coles County. It was named for Stephen A. Douglas,[4] who was elected to the United States Senate in 1858, following the Lincoln–Douglas debates.

  • The creation of Douglas and Ford Counties in 1859 resulted in Illinois' current county map.
    The creation of Douglas and Ford Counties in 1859 resulted in Illinois' current county map.

Geography

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The west face of the Douglas County courthouse

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 417 square miles (1,080 km2), of which 416.4 square miles (1,078 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.1%) is water.[5]

Climate and weather

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Tuscola, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
2.3
 
 
34
18
 
 
2.1
 
 
41
23
 
 
3.1
 
 
53
33
 
 
3.8
 
 
66
42
 
 
4
 
 
76
53
 
 
4.2
 
 
85
62
 
 
4.6
 
 
88
66
 
 
3.7
 
 
86
64
 
 
3.1
 
 
80
56
 
 
2.9
 
 
68
45
 
 
3.7
 
 
52
35
 
 
3.1
 
 
39
24
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[6]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
58
 
 
1
−8
 
 
54
 
 
5
−5
 
 
80
 
 
12
1
 
 
98
 
 
19
6
 
 
101
 
 
24
12
 
 
105
 
 
29
17
 
 
118
 
 
31
19
 
 
95
 
 
30
18
 
 
80
 
 
27
13
 
 
73
 
 
20
7
 
 
95
 
 
11
2
 
 
77
 
 
4
−4
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Tuscola have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in December 1989 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.12 inches (54 mm) in February to 4.64 inches (118 mm) in July.[6]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18607,140—
187013,48488.9%
188015,85317.6%
189017,66911.5%
190019,0978.1%
191019,5912.6%
192019,6040.1%
193017,914−8.6%
194017,590−1.8%
195016,706−5.0%
196019,24315.2%
197018,997−1.3%
198019,7744.1%
199019,464−1.6%
200019,9222.4%
201019,9800.3%
202019,740−1.2%
2024 (est.)19,8240.4%
US Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2014[11] 2020[2] 2024[12]
2000 census age pyramid for Douglas County

2020 census

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As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 19,740. The median age was 39.6 years, 24.8% of residents were under the age of 18, and 18.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.1 males age 18 and over.[13]

The racial makeup of the county was 90.5% White, 0.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 3.9% from some other race, and 4.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 7.9% of the population.[14]

25.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 75.0% lived in rural areas.[15]

There were 7,749 households in the county, of which 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.5% were married-couple households, 17.6% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.1% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]

There were 8,469 housing units, of which 8.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.6% were owner-occupied and 25.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.8%.[13]

Racial and ethnic composition

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Douglas County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 1980[16] Pop 1990[17] Pop 2000[18] Pop 2010[19] Pop 2020[20] % 1980 % 1990 % 2000 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 19,491 19,102 18,993 18,427 17,420 98.57% 98.14% 95.34% 92.23% 88.25%
Black or African American alone (NH) 6 15 59 53 67 0.03% 0.08% 0.30% 0.27% 0.34%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 24 18 29 31 28 0.12% 0.09% 0.15% 0.16% 0.14%
Asian alone (NH) 34 37 49 82 103 0.17% 0.19% 0.25% 0.41% 0.52%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) x [21] x [22] 2 0 6 x x 0.01% 0.00% 0.03%
Other race alone (NH) 10 0 1 6 34 0.05% 0.00% 0.01% 0.03% 0.17%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) x [23] x [24] 99 171 517 x x 0.50% 0.86% 2.62%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 209 292 690 1,210 1,565 1.06% 1.50% 3.46% 6.06% 7.93%
Total 19,774 19,464 19,922 19,980 19,740 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States census, there were 19,980 people, 7,720 households, and 5,377 families living in the county.[25] The population density was 48.0 inhabitants per square mile (18.5/km2). There were 8,390 housing units at an average density of 20.1 per square mile (7.8/km2).[5] The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 2.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.1% of the population.[25] In terms of ancestry, 29.6% were German, 12.6% were American, 12.1% were English, and 10.7% were Irish.[26]

Of the 7,720 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.3% were non-families, and 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 38.7 years.[25]

The median income for a household in the county was $46,941 and the median income for a family was $60,352. Males had a median income of $41,318 versus $28,731 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,438. About 7.1% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.[27]

Communities

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Map of Douglas County, Illinois

Cities

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Villages

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Politics

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Douglas is a strongly Republican county. Apart from a narrow plurality of thirty-two votes to Bill Clinton in 1992, it has voted Republican in every Presidential election since 1968, and in all but five overall since 1880. Despite its long-time Republican leanings, Hillary Clinton's 2016 performance of gaining a mere 23.8 percent of the county's vote stands over six percent worse than any Democrat since the Civil War.

United States presidential election results for Douglas County, Illinois[28]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
1892 2,246 50.48% 1,999 44.93% 204 4.59%
1896 2,666 54.78% 2,140 43.97% 61 1.25%
1900 2,733 55.46% 2,106 42.74% 89 1.81%
1904 2,518 54.80% 1,685 36.67% 392 8.53%
1908 2,656 55.33% 1,917 39.94% 227 4.73%
1912 1,386 31.03% 1,633 36.56% 1,448 32.42%
1916 4,564 52.17% 3,768 43.07% 416 4.76%
1920 4,885 65.21% 2,308 30.81% 298 3.98%
1924 4,046 55.65% 2,315 31.84% 909 12.50%
1928 4,890 68.19% 2,239 31.22% 42 0.59%
1932 3,108 37.74% 4,954 60.15% 174 2.11%
1936 4,606 47.51% 5,029 51.88% 59 0.61%
1940 5,451 54.34% 4,513 44.99% 67 0.67%
1944 4,684 58.29% 3,323 41.36% 28 0.35%
1948 4,181 58.65% 2,893 40.58% 55 0.77%
1952 5,530 67.10% 2,706 32.84% 5 0.06%
1956 5,559 66.66% 2,774 33.27% 6 0.07%
1960 5,761 61.95% 3,532 37.98% 6 0.06%
1964 4,223 47.35% 4,695 52.65% 0 0.00%
1968 5,058 59.25% 2,824 33.08% 655 7.67%
1972 5,840 68.66% 2,656 31.23% 10 0.12%
1976 4,635 54.39% 3,826 44.90% 61 0.72%
1980 5,330 64.26% 2,564 30.91% 400 4.82%
1984 5,691 66.14% 2,886 33.54% 27 0.31%
1988 4,378 57.62% 3,184 41.91% 36 0.47%
1992 3,309 39.98% 3,341 40.37% 1,626 19.65%
1996 3,272 46.66% 2,955 42.14% 786 11.21%
2000 4,734 58.07% 3,215 39.44% 203 2.49%
2004 5,702 66.77% 2,767 32.40% 71 0.83%
2008 5,005 59.73% 3,228 38.52% 146 1.74%
2012 5,334 67.34% 2,430 30.68% 157 1.98%
2016 5,698 69.53% 1,949 23.78% 548 6.69%
2020 6,227 71.08% 2,335 26.66% 198 2.26%
2024 6,076 71.92% 2,198 26.02% 174 2.06%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020–2024". United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. March 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  2. ^ a b 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Illinois
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 108.
  5. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Tuscola IL". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  7. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  12. ^ Douglas county, IL Quickfacts Census USA
  13. ^ a b c "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  14. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  15. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 25, 2025.
  16. ^ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois- Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 16 (p. 18-28) - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 29-39)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Orogin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Douglas County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau.
  19. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Douglas County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau.
  20. ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Douglas County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau.
  21. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  22. ^ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  23. ^ not an option in the 1980 Census
  24. ^ not an option in the 1990 Census
  25. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  26. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  27. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  28. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 1, 2018.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Douglas County, Illinois.

39°46′N 88°13′W / 39.77°N 88.22°W / 39.77; -88.22

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