Sangamon County, Illinois

"Sangamon" redirects here. For other uses, see Sangamon (disambiguation).
Sangamon County, Illinois

Seal
Map of Illinois highlighting Sangamon County
Location in the state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location in the U.S.
Founded 1821
Named for Sangamon River
Seat Springfield
Largest city Springfield
Area
 • Total 877 sq mi (2,271 km2)
 • Land 868 sq mi (2,248 km2)
 • Water 8.7 sq mi (23 km2), 1.0%
Population
 • (2010) 197,465
 • Density 227/sq mi (88/km²)
Congressional districts 13th, 18th
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 had a population of 197,465.[1] Its county seat is Springfield,[2] the state capital.

Sangamon County is included in the Springfield, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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] Published histories of neighboring Menard County (formed from Sangamon County) suggest that the name was first given to the river by the French explorers of the late 17th century as they passed through the region. The river was named to honor "St. Gamo", or Saint Gamo, an 8th-century French Benedictine monk. The French pronunciation "San-Gamo" is the legacy.

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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 877 square miles (2,270 km2), of which 868 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 8.7 square miles (23 km2) (1.0%) is water.[4]

Climate and weather

Springfield, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
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[5]

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.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

State protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
183012,960—
184014,71613.5%
185019,22830.7%
186032,27467.8%
187046,35243.6%
188052,89414.1%
189061,19515.7%
190071,59317.0%
191091,02427.1%
1920100,26210.1%
1930111,73311.4%
1940117,9125.5%
1950131,48411.5%
1960146,53911.5%
1970161,33510.1%
1980176,0899.1%
1990178,3861.3%
2000188,9515.9%
2010197,4654.5%
Est. 2014198,997[6]0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 197,465 people, 82,986 households, and 51,376 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was 227.4 inhabitants per square mile (87.8/km2). There were 89,901 housing units at an average density of 103.5 per square mile (40.0/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 83.6% white, 11.8% black or African American, 1.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 29.4% were German, 14.8% were Irish, 12.1% were English, 9.5% were American, and 6.3% were Italian.[12]

Of the 82,986 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.1% were non-families, and 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 39.2 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $52,232 and the median income for a family was $66,917. Males had a median income of $48,324 versus $36,691 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,394. About 9.9% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Government

Sangamon County is governed by a 29-member board. Each member of the board is elected from a separate district.[14]

Other elected officials include:[15]

Office Representative Party Residence Took Office
Auditor Andy Goleman Republican Divernon 2015 (appointed)
Clerk of the Circuit Court Paul Palazzolo Republican Springfield 2015 (appointed)
Coroner Cinda Edwards Republican Springfield 2011 (appointed)
County Clerk Don Gray Republican Springfield 2015 (appointed)
Recorder Josh Langfelder Democratic Springfield 2008 (elected)
Regional Superintendent of Schools Jeff Vose Republican Springfield 2010 (appointed)
Sheriff Wes Barr Republican Cantrall 2014 (elected)
State's Attorney John Milhiser Republican Springfield 2010 (appointed)
Treasurer Thomas Cavanagh Republican Springfield 2002 (appointed)

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Sangamon County is divided into these townships:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Callary, Edward. 2009. Place Names of Illinois. Champaign: University of Illinois Press, p. 310.
  4. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  5. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Springfield, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2014". Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  12. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  13. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  14. ↑ "History and Overview". Springfield, Illinois: County of Sangamon, Illinois. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  15. ↑ http://www.sangamoncountyclerk.com/Elected-Officials/County.aspx

External links

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

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