Hamilton County, Illinois

Not to be confused with Hamilton, Illinois.

Hamilton County
County
Hamilton County Courthouse in McLeansboro
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°05′N88°32′W / 38.08°N 88.54°W / 38.08; -88.54
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Founded	1821
Named for	Alexander Hamilton
Seat	McLeansboro
Largest city	McLeansboro
Area
• Total	436 sq mi (1,130 km2)
• Land	435 sq mi (1,130 km2)
• Water	1.2 sq mi (3 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,993
• Density	18/sq mi (7.1/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	12th
Website	www.hamiltoncountyillinois.com

Hamilton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 census, its population was 7,993. ^[1] Its county seat is McLeansboro. ^[2] It is located in the southern portion of the state, known locally as "Little Egypt".

History

Hamilton County was formed out of White County in 1821. It is named for Alexander Hamilton, Revolutionary War hero and the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. ^[3]

• 
  Hamilton County at the time of its creation in 1821

On March 18, 1925, the infamous Tri-State Tornado tore across the county, destroying dozens of homes and farms in Flannigan, Twigg, Mayberry, and Crook townships, and killing 37 people.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 436 square miles (1,130 km²), of which 435 square miles (1,130 km²) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km²) (0.3%) is water. ^[4]

Climate and weather

McLeansboro, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.2     39 20     2.8     45 24     4.5     55 34     4.6     66 43     4.7     76 53     3.9     85 62     3.5     89 66     3     88 63     2.9     81 55     3     70 43     4.5     56 35     3.6     44 25 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel [5]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     80     4 −7     70     7 −4     113     13 1     117     19 6     119     24 12     98     29 17     88     32 19     75     31 17     73     27 13     75     21 6     115     13 2     91     7 −4 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of McLeansboro have ranged from a low of 20 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 89 °F (32 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1930 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.76 inches (70 mm) in February to 4.67 inches (119 mm) in May. ^[5]

Transit

• Rides Mass Transit District

Major highways

• Illinois Route 14
• Illinois Route 142
• Illinois Route 242

Adjacent counties

• Wayne County - north
• White County - east
• Gallatin County - southeast
• Saline County - south
• Franklin County - west
• Jefferson County - northwest

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	2,616		—
1840	3,945		50.8%
1850	6,362		61.3%
1860	9,915		55.8%
1870	13,014		31.3%
1880	16,712		28.4%
1890	17,800		6.5%
1900	20,197		13.5%
1910	18,227		−9.8%
1920	15,920		−12.7%
1930	12,995		−18.4%
1940	13,454		3.5%
1950	12,256		−8.9%
1960	10,010		−18.3%
1970	8,665		−13.4%
1980	9,172		5.9%
1990	8,499		−7.3%
2000	8,621		1.4%
2010	8,457		−1.9%
2020	7,993		−5.5%
2023 (est.)	7,911	[6]	−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010-2013 [1]

2000 census age pyramid for Hamilton County

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 8,457 people, 3,489 households, and 2,376 families residing in the county. ^[11] The population density was 19.5 inhabitants per square mile (7.5/km²). There were 4,104 housing units at an average density of 9.4 per square mile (3.6/km²). ^[4] The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. ^[11] In terms of ancestry, 33.1% were German, 20.7% were Irish, 11.4% were English, and 10.3% were American. ^[12]

Of the 3,489 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.9% were non-families, and 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 43.1 years. ^[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $35,032 and the median income for a family was $50,878. Males had a median income of $45,245 versus $23,491 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,602. About 8.2% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over. ^[13]

Communities

City

• McLeansboro

Incorporated town

• Belle Prairie City

Villages

• Broughton
• Dahlgren
• Macedonia (partly in Franklin County)

Unincorporated communities

• Aden
• Blairsville (Flannigan's Store)
• Braden
• Dale
• Delafield
• Piopolis
• Rural Hill
• Tuckers Corners
• West Rural Hill

Townships

Hamilton County is divided into twelve townships:

• Beaver Creek
• Crook
• Crouch
• Dahlgren
• Flannigan
• Knights Prairie
• Mayberry
• McLeansboro
• South Crouch
• South Flannigan
• South Twigg
• Twigg

Politics

Like most of Southern-leaning Southern Illinois, Hamilton County was heavily Democratic before the Civil War, and unlike such counties as Johnson, Pope and Massac, it did not turn Republican after the war. Not until 1920, when isolationist sentiments turned many voters against the party of Woodrow Wilson, did Hamilton County vote Republican, and Herbert Hoover was to carry the county in 1928 due to anti-Catholic sentiment against Al Smith.

From 1940 onwards, when Wendell Willkie carried the county due to opposition to involvement in World War II, Hamilton has become increasingly Republican. Although Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Bill Clinton in 1992 all gained absolute majorities for the Democratic Party (with Michael Dukakis losing the county by just four votes in 1988), a rapid swing to the Republicans has taken place since 1992. This trend matches all traditionally Democratic parts of the Upland South. ^[14]

United States presidential election results for Hamilton County, Illinois ^[15]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,385	80.71%	739	17.62%	70	1.67%
2020	3,432	79.39%	824	19.06%	67	1.55%
2016	3,206	77.14%	802	19.30%	148	3.56%
2012	2,566	65.11%	1,269	32.20%	106	2.69%
2008	2,353	54.93%	1,796	41.92%	135	3.15%
2004	2,653	58.77%	1,814	40.19%	47	1.04%
2000	2,519	54.92%	1,943	42.36%	125	2.73%
1996	1,677	37.19%	2,242	49.72%	590	13.08%
1992	1,521	30.58%	2,582	51.91%	871	17.51%
1988	2,622	49.89%	2,618	49.81%	16	0.30%
1984	3,074	57.50%	2,251	42.11%	21	0.39%
1980	3,254	59.64%	1,990	36.47%	212	3.89%
1976	2,433	44.25%	3,036	55.22%	29	0.53%
1972	3,282	61.94%	2,006	37.86%	11	0.21%
1968	2,912	52.82%	1,951	35.39%	650	11.79%
1964	2,561	44.98%	3,133	55.02%	0	0.00%
1960	3,804	58.94%	2,639	40.89%	11	0.17%
1956	3,675	57.75%	2,685	42.19%	4	0.06%
1952	4,047	60.25%	2,662	39.63%	8	0.12%
1948	2,887	50.93%	2,750	48.51%	32	0.56%
1944	3,582	54.68%	2,914	44.48%	55	0.84%
1940	4,005	51.69%	3,691	47.64%	52	0.67%
1936	3,321	44.07%	4,152	55.10%	62	0.82%
1932	2,513	37.98%	4,059	61.34%	45	0.68%
1928	3,275	51.08%	3,037	47.36%	100	1.56%
1924	2,659	44.02%	3,168	52.44%	214	3.54%
1920	3,220	54.71%	2,591	44.02%	75	1.27%
1916	3,239	46.26%	3,644	52.05%	118	1.69%
1912	1,242	31.33%	1,920	48.44%	802	20.23%
1908	1,809	44.26%	2,128	52.07%	150	3.67%
1904	1,894	45.65%	2,049	49.39%	206	4.97%
1900	1,911	42.95%	2,467	55.45%	71	1.60%
1896	1,767	41.92%	2,408	57.13%	40	0.95%
1892	1,505	39.80%	2,061	54.51%	215	5.69%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Hamilton County, Illinois

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  147.
4. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
5. "Monthly Averages for McLeansboro, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
11. "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 11, 2015.
12. "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 11, 2015.
13. "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 11, 2015.
14. Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times , April 24, 2014
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 4, 2018.

External links

• Hamilton County Illinois
• McLeansboro.com
• Hamilton County Community Unit District No.10 Schools
• Hamilton County Historical Society
• Hamilton County Foxes Football

38°05′N88°32′W / 38.08°N 88.54°W / 38.08; -88.54