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Washington County, Illinois

Coordinates: 38°21′08″N 89°24′38″W / 38.35222°N 89.41056°W / 38.35222; -89.41056
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Not to be confused with Washington, Illinois.

Washington County
County
Washington County Courthouse in Nashville
Washington County Courthouse in Nashville
Official seal of Washington County
Seal
Map of Illinois highlighting Washington County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°21′N 89°25′W / 38.35°N 89.42°W / 38.35; -89.42
Country United States
State Illinois
FoundedJanuary 2, 1818
Named forGeorge Washington
SeatNashville
Largest cityNashville
Area
 • Total564 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Land563 sq mi (1,460 km2)
 • Water1.3 sq mi (3 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total13,761
 • Estimate 
(2023)
13,536 Decrease
 • Density24/sq mi (9.4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.washingtonco.illinois.gov

Washington County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 13,761.[1] Its county seat is Nashville.[2] It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "Little Egypt".

History

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Washington County was formed on January 2, 1818, out of St. Clair County. It was named for George Washington. Despite its relative proximity to the Illinois suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, the county is not considered part of the St. Louis metropolitan area, also known as the Metro-East. In 1813, the Lively Massacre occurred near Little Crooked Creek. In 1959, the state established the Washington County State Recreation Area.[3] Washington County was initially settled by immigrants from Kentucky who moved northward out of that state in the early 1800s. In the late 1800s there were (relatively) large numbers of immigrants who settled in Washington County, and by the early 1900s there were large numbers of first-generation immigrants still living in Washington County. They primarily came from the four countries of Germany, Poland, Ireland and England.[4]

  • Washington County from its 1818 creation to 1824
    Washington County from its 1818 creation to 1824
  • Washington County in 1824, reduced to its current borders by the creation of Clinton County
    Washington County in 1824, reduced to its current borders by the creation of Clinton County

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 564 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 563 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2) (0.2%) is water.[5] There are many lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks in this area, including the Kaskaskia River, which is the county's northern border.

Climate and weather

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Nashville, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[6]
Metric conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in Nashville have ranged from a low of 22 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −21 °F (−29 °C) was recorded in December 1989 and a record high of 106 °F (41 °C) was recorded in July 1980. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.18 inches (55 mm) in January to 4.10 inches (104 mm) in May.[6] On November 17, 2013, an EF4 tornado swept through the area, destroying homes and causing two fatalities.

Public transit

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Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18201,517—
18301,67510.4%
18404,810187.2%
18506,95344.6%
186013,73197.5%
187017,59928.2%
188021,11220.0%
189019,262−8.8%
190019,5261.4%
191018,759−3.9%
192018,035−3.9%
193016,286−9.7%
194015,801−3.0%
195014,460−8.5%
196013,569−6.2%
197013,7801.6%
198015,47212.3%
199014,965−3.3%
200015,1481.2%
201014,716−2.9%
202013,761−6.5%
2023 (est.)13,536[7]−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010[12]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,716 people, 5,926 households, and 4,112 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 26.2 inhabitants per square mile (10.1/km2). There were 6,534 housing units at an average density of 11.6 per square mile (4.5/km2).[5] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 53.6% were German, 14.0% were Polish, 13.1% were Irish, 7.7% were English, and 6.1% were American.[14]

Of the 5,926 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 7.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 42.3 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $51,440 and the median income for a family was $64,171. Males had a median income of $44,272 versus $30,683 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,846. About 5.5% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Education

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The county is served by six school districts:[16]

Communities

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Cities

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Villages

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Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Washington County is divided into these townships:

Politics

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Washington is a rural conservative county in Southern Illinois that has always trended Republican in presidential elections. The only Democrat to win a majority of the county's ballots since the Civil War was Franklin D. Roosevelt in his 1932 landslide. Historically, the county was dominated by organized labor and family farms. The area tends to be economically and socially conservative.

United States presidential election results for Washington County, Illinois[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 6,115 77.20% 1,641 20.72% 165 2.08%
2016 5,571 74.90% 1,448 19.47% 419 5.63%
2012 4,792 64.45% 2,450 32.95% 193 2.60%
2008 4,473 56.39% 3,342 42.13% 117 1.48%
2004 5,072 62.59% 2,986 36.85% 46 0.57%
2000 4,353 60.98% 2,638 36.96% 147 2.06%
1996 3,339 48.20% 2,744 39.61% 844 12.18%
1992 3,003 39.75% 2,986 39.52% 1,566 20.73%
1988 4,127 60.04% 2,689 39.12% 58 0.84%
1984 5,129 68.24% 2,363 31.44% 24 0.32%
1980 5,354 68.98% 2,158 27.80% 250 3.22%
1976 4,485 57.18% 3,222 41.08% 137 1.75%
1972 5,179 68.85% 2,327 30.94% 16 0.21%
1968 4,793 63.32% 2,093 27.65% 683 9.02%
1964 3,840 51.13% 3,670 48.87% 0 0.00%
1960 5,053 61.95% 3,093 37.92% 11 0.13%
1956 5,299 65.14% 2,820 34.67% 16 0.20%
1952 5,546 66.17% 2,824 33.70% 11 0.13%
1948 4,544 61.99% 2,737 37.34% 49 0.67%
1944 5,428 66.31% 2,723 33.26% 35 0.43%
1940 5,701 61.82% 3,479 37.73% 42 0.46%
1936 4,540 51.20% 4,119 46.45% 209 2.36%
1932 3,076 38.81% 4,696 59.25% 154 1.94%
1928 3,638 55.90% 2,848 43.76% 22 0.34%
1924 3,444 56.43% 1,717 28.13% 942 15.44%
1920 4,519 70.76% 1,102 17.26% 765 11.98%
1916 4,657 60.95% 2,794 36.57% 190 2.49%
1912 1,058 24.99% 1,654 39.06% 1,522 35.95%
1908 2,355 53.87% 1,830 41.86% 187 4.28%
1904 2,374 57.30% 1,504 36.30% 265 6.40%
1900 2,351 51.81% 2,081 45.86% 106 2.34%
1896 2,351 53.30% 1,979 44.87% 81 1.84%
1892 1,956 47.35% 1,868 45.22% 307 7.43%

Media

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WNSV in Nashville is the only radio station in the county.

The two weekly newspapers in the county are The Nashville News, located in Nashville, and The Okawville Times, which is based in Okawville.

See also

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References

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Specific
  1. ^ "Washington County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "About". www.dnr.illinois.gov. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  4. ^ History of Washington County, Illinois: With Illustrations Descriptive of Its Scenery, and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers by McDonough
  5. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Nashville, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  12. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on September 6, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  14. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  15. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  16. ^ Education, Illinois State Board of. "Illinois Public School Districts by County" (XLS). Retrieved May 28, 2009. [dead link]
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
General
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38°21′08″N 89°24′38″W / 38.35222°N 89.41056°W / 38.35222; -89.41056

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