Pike County, Illinois
Pike County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population is 17,384. Its county seat is Pittsfield, Illinois6.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 2,199 km² (849 mi²). 2,150 km² (830 mi²) of it is land and 48 km² (19 mi²) of it (2.19%) is water.
History
Pike County was formed in 1821 out of Madison County. It was named in honor of Zebulon Pike, leader of the Pike expedition in 1806 to map out the south and west portions of the Louisiana Purchase. Pike served at the Battle of Tippecanoe, and was killed in 1813 in the War of 1812.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 17,384 people, 6,876 households, and 4,778 families residing in the county. The population density was 8/km² (21/mi²). There were 8,011 housing units at an average density of 4/km² (10/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.38% White, 1.50% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 6,876 households out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 27.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county the population was spread out with 24.10% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 23.20% from 45 to 64, and 19.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,127, and the median income for a family was $38,583. Males had a median income of $27,687 versus $18,440 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,946. About 9.80% of families and 12.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.70% of those under age 18 and 11.40% of those age 65 or over.
Cities and towns
- Barry
- Baylis
- Detroit
- El Dara
- Florence
- Griggsville
- Hull
- Kinderhook
- Milton
- Nebo
- New Canton
- New Salem
- Pearl
- Perry
- Pittsfield
- Pleasant Hill
- Straut (Ghost Town)
- Time
- Valley City
Trivia
Pike County, Illinois, is one of the few counties in the United States to border its namesake in another state--in this case, Pike County, Missouri. Illinois has another such county--Vermilion County, which borders Vermillion County, Indiana (note that they are spelled differently).
