Cass County, Illinois

Last updated

Cass County
County
Cass County Courthouse, Virginia.jpg
Cass County Courthouse
Map of Illinois highlighting Cass County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois in United States.svg
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°59′N90°15′W / 39.98°N 90.25°W / 39.98; -90.25
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Illinois.svg Illinois
Founded1837
Named after Lewis Cass
Seat Virginia
Largest city Beardstown
Area
 • Total
384 sq mi (990 km2)
 • Land376 sq mi (970 km2)
 • Water7.9 sq mi (20 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
13,042
 • Estimate 
(2024)
12,713 Decrease2.svg [1]
 • Density34/sq mi (13/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 15th
Website co.cass.il.us

Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 13,042. [2] Its county seat is Virginia. [3] It is the home of the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area.

Contents

History

Cass County was formed in 1837 out of Morgan County. It was named for Lewis Cass, [4] a general in the War of 1812, Governor of the Michigan Territory, and United States Secretary of State in 1860. Cass was serving as Andrew Jackson's Secretary of War just before the County was named.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 384 square miles (990 km2), of which 376 square miles (970 km2) is land and 7.9 square miles (20 km2) (2.1%) is water. [5]

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Rivers

Major highways

Climate and weather

Virginia, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
1.4
 
 
34
15
 
 
1.7
 
 
40
19
 
 
3.2
 
 
52
29
 
 
3.8
 
 
64
39
 
 
4.9
 
 
74
49
 
 
4.4
 
 
83
59
 
 
3.9
 
 
87
63
 
 
3.4
 
 
85
60
 
 
3.5
 
 
79
52
 
 
2.6
 
 
68
41
 
 
3.5
 
 
52
31
 
 
2.5
 
 
39
20
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel [7]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
34
 
 
1
−9
 
 
43
 
 
4
−7
 
 
81
 
 
11
−2
 
 
96
 
 
18
4
 
 
123
 
 
23
9
 
 
111
 
 
28
15
 
 
98
 
 
31
17
 
 
85
 
 
29
16
 
 
88
 
 
26
11
 
 
66
 
 
20
5
 
 
88
 
 
11
−1
 
 
65
 
 
4
−7
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Virginia have ranged from a low of 15 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −28 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of 114 °F (46 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.35 inches (34 mm) in January to 4.86 inches (123 mm) in May. [7]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840 2,981—
1850 7,253143.3%
1860 11,32556.1%
1870 11,5802.3%
1880 14,49325.2%
1890 15,96310.1%
1900 17,2227.9%
1910 17,3720.9%
1920 17,8963.0%
1930 16,537−7.6%
1940 16,425−0.7%
1950 15,097−8.1%
1960 14,539−3.7%
1970 14,219−2.2%
1980 15,0846.1%
1990 13,437−10.9%
2000 13,6951.9%
2010 13,642−0.4%
2020 13,042−4.4%
2023 (est.)12,596 [8] −3.4%
US Decennial Census [9]
1790-1960 [10] 1900-1990 [11]
1990-2000 [12] 2010 [13]
2000 census age pyramid for Cass County USA Cass County, Illinois age pyramid.svg
2000 census age pyramid for Cass County

2020 census

Cass County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980 [14] Pop 1990 [15] Pop 2000 [16] Pop 2010 [17] Pop 2020 [18] % 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)14,96013,33412,34610,8309,06199.18%99.23%90.15%79.39%69.48%
Black or African American alone (NH)1216393797060.08%0.12%0.28%2.78%5.41%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)1582315360.10%0.06%0.17%0.11%0.28%
Asian alone (NH)182338431170.12%0.17%0.28%0.32%0.90%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x [19] x [20] 3133xx0.02%0.01%0.25%
Other race alone (NH)1075100.01%0.00%0.05%0.04%0.08%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x [21] x [22] 7778290xx0.56%0.57%2.22%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)78561,1622,2912,7890.52%0.42%8.48%16.79%21.38%
Total15,08413,43713,69513,64213,042 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 13,642 people, 5,270 households, and 3,561 families residing in the county. [23] The population density was 36.3 inhabitants per square mile (14.0/km2). There were 5,836 housing units at an average density of 15.5 per square mile (6.0/km2). [5] The racial makeup of the county was 86.3% white, 3.1% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 8.7% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 16.8% of the population. [23] In terms of ancestry, 22.6% were German, 21.0% were American, 10.6% were Irish, and 9.5% were English. [24]

Of the 5,270 households, 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were non-families, and 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.7 years. [23]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,544 and the median income for a family was $51,624. Males had a median income of $37,267 versus $26,634 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,825. About 10.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over. [25]

Politics

Typically for German-settled western Central Illinois, Cass County opposed the Civil War and became solidly Democratic for the next six decades. Only hatred of Woodrow Wilson’s policies towards Germany following World War I drove the county into Republican hands in the 1920 landslide. Between 1924 and 2008, the county was something of a bellwether, missing the national winner only in the very close 1960 election and the heavily drought- and farm crisis-influenced election of 1988. In the 2010s, the county has become reliably Republican in US presidential elections. Cass County is located in Illinois's 18th Congressional District and is currently represented by Republican Darin LaHood. For the Illinois House of Representatives, the county is located in the 93rd district and is currently represented by Republican Norine Hammond. The county is located in the 47th district of the Illinois Senate, and is currently represented by Republican Jil Tracy.

United States presidential election results for Cass County, Illinois [26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1892 1,53338.95%2,20355.97%2005.08%
1896 1,94643.59%2,47055.33%481.08%
1900 1,84640.72%2,62657.93%611.35%
1904 1,82746.80%1,90648.82%1714.38%
1908 1,87842.46%2,43455.03%1112.51%
1912 71917.14%2,22352.99%1,25329.87%
1916 3,19339.51%4,48555.49%4045.00%
1920 3,95654.06%2,86139.10%5016.85%
1924 3,13941.23%2,90938.21%1,56520.56%
1928 4,00953.50%3,46146.18%240.32%
1932 2,74532.27%5,66966.64%931.09%
1936 3,20935.30%5,78663.65%951.05%
1940 4,49047.68%4,85451.55%720.76%
1944 3,64148.00%3,90951.54%350.46%
1948 3,39146.99%3,77652.32%500.69%
1952 4,15254.88%3,40545.01%80.11%
1956 4,12554.97%3,36844.88%110.15%
1960 4,01552.04%3,69247.85%80.10%
1964 2,83639.06%4,42460.94%00.00%
1968 3,41147.78%3,30246.25%4265.97%
1972 4,41461.14%2,80338.83%20.03%
1976 3,52449.33%3,58950.24%310.43%
1980 3,96558.57%2,54337.56%2623.87%
1984 3,43553.68%2,93745.90%270.42%
1988 2,91646.53%3,31652.91%350.56%
1992 2,16233.53%3,20049.64%1,08516.83%
1996 2,21439.07%2,83450.01%61910.92%
2000 2,96850.31%2,78947.28%1422.41%
2004 3,16355.49%2,49243.72%450.79%
2008 2,61748.18%2,69049.52%1252.30%
2012 2,70755.49%2,05342.09%1182.42%
2016 3,21662.76%1,62131.64%2875.60%
2020 3,62568.06%1,61530.32%861.61%
2024 3,71270.83%1,43827.44%911.74%

Education

Communities

Community
Community
type		PopulationTotal
Area		Water
Area		Land
Area		Pop.
Density
Arenzville village3670.770.000.77480
Ashland village1,2180.750.000.751,624
Beardstown city5,9513.650.033.621,620.41
Virginia (seat)city1,5141.270.061.211,254.35
Chandlerville village5270.790.000.79670
Cass Countycounty13,0423847.937634

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

Townships

See also

References

  1. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020–2024". United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. March 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Cass County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 71.
  5. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  6. ↑ Little Sangamon River, Cass County IL Google Maps (accessed 28 December 2018)
  7. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Virginia IL". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  9. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  13. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  14. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois- Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 16 (p. 18-28) - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 29-39)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  15. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Orogin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  16. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Cass County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  17. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cass County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  18. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Cass County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  19. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  20. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  21. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  22. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  23. 1 2 3 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  24. ↑ "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  25. ↑ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  26. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 30, 2018.

39°59′N90°15′W / 39.98°N 90.25°W / 39.98; -90.25

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.