Christian County, Illinois#Micropolitan Statistical Area

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Christian County

| state = Illinois

| ex image = File:Christian County Courthouse, Taylorville.jpg

| ex image cap = Christian County Courthouse in Taylorville

| seal =

| founded = 1839

| seat wl = Taylorville

| largest city wl = Taylorville

| area_total_sq_mi = 716

| area_land_sq_mi = 709

| area_water_sq_mi = 6.3

| area percentage = 0.9

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 34032

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 33228 {{loss}}

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Central

| footnotes =

| web = https://www.christiancountyil.gov/

| district = 15th

| named for = Christian County, Kentucky

}}

Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,032.{{cite web|title=Christian County, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Christian_County,_Illinois?g=050XX00US17021|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=June 8, 2023}} Its county seat is Taylorville.{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}

History

Christian County was formed February 15, 1839, out of Sangamon, Montgomery and Shelby counties. It was named for Christian County, Kentucky. It was originally named Dane County and was called Dane County until 1840.

{{Citation

| last =Adams

| first =James N. (compiler)

| year =1989

| publication-date =1989

| editor-last =Keller

| editor-first =William E.

| title =Illinois Place Names

| publication-place =Springfield

| publisher =Illinois State Historical Society

| pages =[https://archive.org/details/illinoisplacenam00adam/page/575 575]

| isbn =0-912226-24-2

| url-access =registration

| url =https://archive.org/details/illinoisplacenam00adam/page/575

}}

File:Christian County Illinois 1839.png|Christian County at its creation in 1839

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|716|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|709|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|6.3|sqmi}} (0.9%) is water.

The county is bounded on the north by Sangamon River, and intersected by the south fork of that stream.{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Christian (counties)|display=Christian. II. A central county of Illinois}}

=Adjacent counties=

Macon County (northeast)
Shelby County (southeast)
Montgomery County (southwest)
Sangamon County (northwest)

=Major highways=

Climate and weather

{{climate chart

|Taylorville, Illinois

|16|32|1.78

|21|39|1.78

|31|50|3.01

|41|63|3.48

|52|74|3.77

|61|83|3.66

|65|86|3.68

|63|85|2.76

|54|79|2.83

|42|67|2.34

|33|51|3.57

|22|38|2.43

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL1152

|title=Monthly Averages for Taylorville, Illinois

|access-date=January 27, 2011

|publisher=The Weather Channel

}}}}

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Taylorville have ranged from a low of {{convert|16|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|86|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-23|°F}} was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of {{convert|104|°F}} was recorded in August 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|1.78|in}} in January to {{convert|3.77|in}} in May.

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1840= 1878

|1850= 3203

|1860= 10492

|1870= 20363

|1880= 28227

|1890= 30531

|1900= 32790

|1910= 34594

|1920= 38458

|1930= 37538

|1940= 38564

|1950= 38816

|1960= 37207

|1970= 35948

|1980= 36446

|1990= 34418

|2000= 35372

|2010= 34800

|2020= 34032

|estyear=2023

|estimate=33228

|estref={{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014}}
1790-1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 4, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}} 1900-1990{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014}}
1990-2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014}} 2010{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17021.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606150528/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17021.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011|url-status=dead}}

}}

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 34,800 people, 14,055 households, and 9,211 families residing in the county.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17021

|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data

|access-date=July 11, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010855/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17021

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The population density was {{convert|49.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 15,563 housing units at an average density of {{convert|21.9|/sqmi}}.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17021

|access-date=July 11, 2015

|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212203202/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17021

|archive-date=February 12, 2020

|url-status=dead

}} The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 1.4% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 21.9% were German, 12.7% were Irish, 10.6% were American, and 9.9% were English.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17021

|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=July 11, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014332/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17021

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Of the 14,055 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 41.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,712 and the median income for a family was $52,680. Males had a median income of $42,897 versus $30,027 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,519. About 12.7% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web

|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17021

|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates

|access-date=July 11, 2015

|publisher=United States Census Bureau

|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011319/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17021

|archive-date=February 13, 2020

|url-status=dead

}}

Communities

Image:Map of Christian County Illinois.png

=Cities=

=Villages=

=Census-designated places=

Langleyville

=Other unincorporated places=

=Townships=

Christian County is divided into these seventeen townships:

Notable people

Jon Corzine, former governor of New Jersey, former resident of Willey Station.
Roy A. Corzine (1882-1957), Illinois state representative and farmer, was born in Stonington.
Harry Forrester, member of the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame and Quincy University Hall of Fame.
Brant Hansen, Christian radio host and author, graduated from high school in Assumption.
Tom Candy Ponting (1824-1916), cattleman who drove the first herd of cattle from Texas to New York City
Frank P. Sadler (1872–1931), Illinois state senator and lawyer, lived on a farm near Grove City.
John Wesley Fribley (1906–2002), state senate (1934–1952), born in Pana
Yvonne Craig (1937–2015) was born in Taylorville, Illinois. American actress renowned for her role as Barbara Gordon/Batgirl in the 1960s television series Batman.

Politics

Like most of German-settled Central Illinois, Christian County was solidly Democratic until Woodrow Wilson’s response to German defeat in World War I turned the county over to the Republican Party in its 1920, 1924 and 1928 landslides. The county remained Democratic-leaning through the rest of the twentieth century, only voting Republican in landslide wins. However, since 2000 Christian County has become reliably Republican.

{{PresHead|place=Christian County, Illinois|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=October 30, 2018}}}}

References

;Specific

;General

[https://web.archive.org/web/20070310144543/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/edgar.html United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles]
[http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/ United States Board on Geographic Names (GNIS)]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20081205020547/http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ United States National Atlas]

{{Geographic location

|Centre = Christian County, Illinois

|North =

|Northeast = Macon County

|East =

|Southeast = Shelby County

|South =

|Southwest = Montgomery County

|West =

|Northwest = Sangamon County

}}

{{Coord|39.55|-89.28|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990}}