Richland County, Illinois source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richland_County,_Illinois

Richland County, Illinois
Richland County Courthouse in Olney.jpg
Richland County Courthouse in Olney
Map of Illinois highlighting Richland County
Location in the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location in the U.S.
Founded February 24, 1841
Seat Olney
Largest city Olney
Area
 • Total 362 sq mi (938 km2)
 • Land 3,560 sq mi (9,220 km2)
 • Water 1.9 sq mi (5 km2), 0.5%
Population
 • (2010) 16,233
 • Density 45/sq mi (17/km²)
Congressional district 15th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5

Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 16,233.[1] Its county seat is Olney.[2]

History[edit]

Richland County was established on February 24, 1841, out of portions of East part of Clay and West part of Lawrence counties.

  • Richland County at the time of its creation in 1841

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 362 square miles (940 km2), of which 360 square miles (930 km2) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) (0.5%) is water.[3]

Climate and weather[edit]

Olney, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
2.8
 
 
36
19
 
 
2.7
 
 
42
23
 
 
4.4
 
 
54
32
 
 
4.4
 
 
65
42
 
 
4.8
 
 
75
52
 
 
4.1
 
 
84
62
 
 
4.1
 
 
88
66
 
 
3.6
 
 
86
63
 
 
3.1
 
 
80
55
 
 
3.3
 
 
69
44
 
 
4.4
 
 
54
34
 
 
3.7
 
 
41
24
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[4]

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Olney have ranged from a low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in February 1951 and a record high of 112 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.73 inches (69 mm) in February to 4.76 inches (121 mm) in May.[4]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1850 4,012 —
1860 9,711 142.0%
1870 12,803 31.8%
1880 15,545 21.4%
1890 15,019 −3.4%
1900 16,391 9.1%
1910 15,970 −2.6%
1920 14,044 −12.1%
1930 14,053 0.1%
1940 17,137 21.9%
1950 16,889 −1.4%
1960 16,299 −3.5%
1970 16,829 3.3%
1980 17,587 4.5%
1990 16,545 −5.9%
2000 16,149 −2.4%
2010 16,233 0.5%
Est. 2016 15,930 [5] −1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 16,233 people, 6,726 households, and 4,438 families residing in the county.[10] The population density was 45.1 inhabitants per square mile (17.4/km2). There were 7,513 housing units at an average density of 20.9 per square mile (8.1/km2).[3] The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 0.7% Asian, 0.5% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 29.6% were German, 11.7% were American, 11.4% were English, and 9.2% were Irish.[11]

Of the 6,726 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.0% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 42.1 years.[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,917 and the median income for a family was $53,853. Males had a median income of $41,058 versus $31,296 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,874. About 9.5% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.[12] Richland is the top ranked most affordable county in Illinois to buy a car and is on average $932 less expensive than other Illinois counties.[13]

Communities[edit]

City[edit]

Villages[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Townships[edit]

Richland County is divided into nine townships:

Notable people[edit]

  • Alexander W. Swanitz (1851-1915), civil engineer who participated in the construction of railroads in various parts of the country
  • Dial D. Ryder (1938-2011), gun smith

Politics[edit]

Presidential Elections Results[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 75.0% 5,739 20.7% 1,584 4.3% 326
2012 65.3% 4,756 32.4% 2,362 2.3% 164
2008 56.4% 4,329 41.5% 3,181 2.1% 163
2004 66.5% 5,153 32.6% 2,529 0.9% 67
2000 63.5% 4,718 33.5% 2,491 2.9% 219
1996 46.0% 3,137 39.3% 2,679 14.7% 999
1992 37.9% 3,053 40.8% 3,286 21.4% 1,722
1988 59.6% 4,264 40.0% 2,863 0.4% 26
1984 72.0% 5,665 27.7% 2,182 0.3% 27
1980 64.5% 5,241 30.3% 2,463 5.2% 422
1976 55.0% 4,434 43.3% 3,485 1.7% 138
1972 68.4% 5,558 31.4% 2,553 0.2% 14
1968 58.8% 4,781 30.7% 2,495 10.6% 861
1964 47.9% 3,901 52.1% 4,239 0.0% 0
1960 63.8% 5,329 36.1% 3,015 0.1% 9
1956 68.1% 5,304 31.9% 2,485 0.1% 5
1952 68.4% 5,569 31.5% 2,565 0.1% 5
1948 60.6% 3,884 38.0% 2,438 1.4% 91
1944 60.9% 4,577 38.0% 2,858 1.1% 79
1940 53.2% 5,022 45.9% 4,335 0.9% 89
1936 47.6% 4,040 50.3% 4,268 2.2% 184
1932 38.5% 2,765 60.1% 4,318 1.4% 99
1928 61.0% 4,042 38.5% 2,550 0.5% 31
1924 50.1% 3,082 44.7% 2,749 5.3% 324
1920 57.1% 3,026 41.0% 2,174 2.0% 104
1916 45.1% 2,992 51.7% 3,431 3.2% 213
1912 21.8% 811 48.4% 1,800 29.8% 1,109
1908 44.1% 1,684 50.8% 1,938 5.1% 194
1904 48.2% 1,778 43.5% 1,604 8.3% 307
1900 45.6% 1,793 51.9% 2,042 2.5% 99
1896 44.6% 1,693 54.3% 2,062 1.2% 45
1892 43.4% 1,500 44.6% 1,542 12.1% 418

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  3. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  4. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Olney, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
  5. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017. 
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2014. 
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 8, 2014. 
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014. 
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014. 
  10. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  11. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  12. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  13. ^ "Used Car Market in Chicago, IL". Autolist. Retrieved 2017-02-06. 
  14. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS

Coordinates: 38°43′N 88°05′W / 38.71°N 88.09°W / 38.71; -88.09