Jersey County, Illinois

Last updated

Jersey County
Jerseycourt.png
Jersey County Courthouse in Jerseyville
Map of Illinois highlighting Jersey County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois in United States.svg
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°05′N90°22′W / 39.09°N 90.36°W / 39.09; -90.36
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Illinois.svg  Illinois
FoundedFebruary 28, 1839
Named for New Jersey
Seat Jerseyville
Largest cityJerseyville
Area
  Total
377 sq mi (980 km2)
  Land369 sq mi (960 km2)
  Water7.9 sq mi (20 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
21,512
  Density57/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 15th
Website www.jerseycounty-il.us

Jersey County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. At the 2020 census, it had a population of 21,512. [1] The county seat and largest community is Jerseyville, with a population of 8,337 in 2010. [2] The county's smallest incorporated community is Otterville, with a population of 87.

Contents

Jersey County is included in the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Jersey County lies just northeast of where the great Mississippi and Illinois rivers meet. It is the former home of the Kickapoo, Menomini, Potawatomi, and Illiniwek Confederation American Indians. The first European explorers to visit the area, Father Marquette and Louis Jolliet, arrived in 1673, [3] where they encountered the fearsome painting of the Piasa bird. The present day Pere Marquette State Park, located near Grafton, is named in Father Marquette's honor, and a monument to him is located at the park.

Jersey County was founded on February 28, 1839, and was formed out of Greene County. The county was named for the state of New Jersey, [4] from which many of the early settlers emigrated - which was itself named for the Channel Island of Jersey in Great Britain. The area quickly evolved into several small agricultural communities. As the area soon began to flourish, a county government was established and a courthouse was built in Jerseyville, the county seat. The Jersey County Courthouse was designed by architect Henry Elliott who also designed the courthouses in nearby Greene County, Edgar County, Illinois, DeWitt County, Illinois (later demolished in 1987) and Pike County, Illinois. The cornerstone for the courthouse was laid on July 4, 1893. The Romanesque Revival style courthouse is a magnificent architectural structure of limestone quarried from the nearby town of Grafton, Illinois.

Recent history

Today, while the county maintains its agricultural base, it is also within commuting distance of jobs and industry in St. Louis, Missouri and the surrounding area. A large portion of the population works outside of Jersey County and benefits from being "Near the crowd, but not in it.", the official slogan of the Jersey County Business Association's advertising campaign. The bordering rivers play an important part in Jersey County's economy by supporting agricultural producers and agribusiness, and by creating a strong tourist market. Education, manufacturing, and retail are also among the county's largest industries.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 377 square miles (980 km2), of which 369 square miles (960 km2) is land and 7.9 square miles (20 km2) (2.1%) is water. [5] Jersey County is bordered by three bodies of water: the Mississippi River to the south, the Illinois River to the west, and Macoupin Creek to the northwest.

Climate

Jerseyville, 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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4
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

Typically, the county's climate reflects most Midwest areas, located in the transitional zone between the humid continental climate type and the humid subtropical climate type (Köppen Dfa and Cfa, respectively), with neither large mountains nor large bodies of water to moderate its temperature. Spring is the wettest season and produces severe weather ranging from tornadoes to snow or ice storms. Summers are hot and humid, and the humidity often makes the heat index rise to temperatures feeling well above 100 °F (38 °C). Fall is mild with lower humidity and can produce intermittent bouts of heavy rainfall with the first snow flurries usually forming in late November. Winters can be cold at times with periodic light snow and temperatures below freezing.

In recent years, average temperatures in Jerseyville have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July. The record low temperature of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1977 and the record high temperature of 112 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranges from 1.92 inches (49 mm) in January to 4.14 inches (105 mm) in April. [6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

State protected areas

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1840 4,535
1850 7,35462.2%
1860 12,05163.9%
1870 15,05424.9%
1880 15,5423.2%
1890 14,810−4.7%
1900 14,612−1.3%
1910 13,954−4.5%
1920 12,682−9.1%
1930 12,556−1.0%
1940 13,6368.6%
1950 15,26411.9%
1960 17,02311.5%
1970 18,4928.6%
1980 20,53811.1%
1990 20,5390.0%
2000 21,6685.5%
2010 22,9856.1%
2020 21,512−6.4%
2023 (est.)21,091 [7] −2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10]
1990-2000 [11] 2010-2013 [1]
2000 census age pyramid for Jersey County USA Jersey County, Illinois age pyramid.svg
2000 census age pyramid for Jersey County

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 22,985 people, 8,828 households, and 6,228 families residing in the county. [12] The population density was 62.2 inhabitants per square mile (24.0/km2). There were 9,848 housing units at an average density of 26.7 per square mile (10.3/km2). [5] The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. [12] In terms of ancestry, 42.8% were German, 14.7% were Irish, 10.6% were English, and 8.6% were American. [13]

Of the 8,828 households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.5% were non-families, and 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 40.5 years. [12]

The median income for a household in the county was $53,470 and the median income for a family was $64,773. Males had a median income of $48,750 versus $31,789 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,368. About 5.6% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over. [14]

Communities

Incorporated communities in Jersey County Municipality map of Jersey County, Illinois.png
Incorporated communities in Jersey County

Cities

Villages

Town

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Jersey County is divided into eleven townships:

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Jersey County.

county seat

RankPlaceMunicipal typePopulation (2020 Census)
1 Jerseyville City8,336
2 Brighton (partially in Macoupin County )Village2,221
3 Grafton City626
4 Elsah Village519
5 Fieldon Village176
6 Fidelity Village96
7 Otterville Town87

Education

Unified school districts

High schools

Colleges and universities

Government

Local

Jersey County, Illinois
PositionPersonParty
County Board Chairman Gary KruegerRepublican
County Board Majority 11-1Republican
Circuit Clerk Daniel SchetterRepublican
County Clerk Pam WarfordRepublican
Coroner Kevin AyresRepublican
Sheriff Nicholas MannsIndependent
State's Attorney Benjamin L. GoettenDemocratic
Regional Superintendent Michelle MuellerDemocratic
Treasurer Katie Steckel-AbbeyRepublican

The Republican Party holds five of eight countywide elected positions as of 2022 as well as an eleven to one majority on the county board. [15]

Jersey County is part of Regional Office of Education #40 which includes neighboring Macoupin, Calhoun and Greene counties. The office operates a facility in Jerseyville.

State

Jersey County is divided into two legislative districts in the Illinois House of Representatives:

The county is also divided into two legislative districts in the Illinois Senate:

Federal

United States presidential election results for Jersey County, Illinois [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.%No.%No.%
2024 8,68473.95%2,81623.98%2432.07%
2020 8,71272.84%2,96124.76%2872.40%
2016 7,74870.49%2,67924.37%5645.13%
2012 6,03960.38%3,66736.67%2952.95%
2008 5,32950.20%5,04247.50%2442.30%
2004 5,43553.62%4,59745.35%1051.04%
2000 4,69949.92%4,35546.27%3593.81%
1996 3,21136.63%4,27548.77%1,28014.60%
1992 2,93329.06%4,74947.05%2,41123.89%
1988 4,34349.62%4,37650.00%330.38%
1984 5,14657.60%3,76242.11%260.29%
1980 5,26658.61%3,32436.99%3954.40%
1976 4,27347.57%4,62551.49%850.95%
1972 5,16460.70%3,31738.99%260.31%
1968 3,80646.81%3,35041.21%97411.98%
1964 3,04143.59%3,93656.41%00.00%
1960 4,24750.90%4,08748.99%90.11%
1956 4,22055.24%3,41544.70%50.07%
1952 4,03154.03%3,42445.89%60.08%
1948 3,02149.21%3,09250.37%260.42%
1944 3,54654.67%2,91044.87%300.46%
1940 3,95851.44%3,69247.99%440.57%
1936 3,02342.81%3,95556.01%831.18%
1932 2,15735.54%3,80762.73%1051.73%
1928 2,99354.62%2,47345.13%140.26%
1924 2,46044.44%2,72349.19%3536.38%
1920 2,87357.90%1,99940.29%901.81%
1916 2,64445.34%3,05252.34%1352.32%
1912 83829.33%1,57355.06%44615.61%
1908 1,46043.17%1,81853.76%1043.08%
1904 1,53145.30%1,71350.68%1364.02%
1900 1,49640.08%2,14557.46%922.46%
1896 1,64140.22%2,37758.26%621.52%
1892 1,31437.37%2,01157.20%1915.43%

Jersey County's federal political history is fairly typical of “anti-Yankee” Southern Illinois counties.[ citation needed ] It voted solidly Democratic until Warren G. Harding carried the county in his record 1920 landslide. It voted Republican again in Herbert Hoover's landslide of 1928, but otherwise was firmly Democratic until World War II, when opposition to US involvement turned the county to Wendell Willkie and then Thomas E. Dewey. Between 1948 and 2004, Jersey County became something of a bellwether county, voting for every winning presidential candidate except in the Catholicism-influenced 1960 election, and that of 1988 which was heavily influenced by a major Midwestern drought. Disagreement with the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues since the 1990s has caused a powerful swing back to the Republicans in the past quarter-century. [17] As is typical of the Upland South, Hillary Clinton in 2016 did far worse than any previous Democrat, while Joe Biden performed marginally better in the 2020 election.[ citation needed ]

Jersey County is located in Illinois's 15th congressional district and is currently represented by Mary Miller (R-Oakland) in the U.S. House of Representatives. [18]

Notable people

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Calhoun County, Illinois</span> County in Illinois, United States

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grafton, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Grafton is the oldest city in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. It is located near the confluence of the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. As of the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 626. Prior to the Great Flood of 1993, Grafton had enjoyed a stable population of nearly 1,000 residents.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerseyville, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Jerseyville is the largest city in and the county seat of Jersey County, Illinois, United States. At the 2020 census, the city had a total population of 8,337.

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<i>Jersey County Journal</i>

The Jersey County Journal is a weekly newspaper that is distributed free to all residents in Jersey County, Illinois with a postal address. It can also be purchased at multiple locations in the county for a cost of one dollar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elsah Township, Jersey County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

Elsah Township is one of eleven townships in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 2,462 and it contained 1,027 housing units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fidelity Township, Jersey County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

Fidelity Township is one of eleven townships in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 715 and it contained 309 housing units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jersey Township, Jersey County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

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Quarry Township is one of eleven townships in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,174 and it contained 610 housing units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Richwood Township, Jersey County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

Richwood Township is one of eleven townships in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 653 and it contained 302 housing units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ruyle Township, Jersey County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

Ruyle Township is one of eleven townships in Jersey County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 421 and it contained 162 housing units.

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Shipman Township is located in Macoupin County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,433 and it contained 593 housing units.

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 9, 2015. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. Jersey County description & history Archived November 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , retrieved August 24, 2007
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  169.
  5. 1 2 "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. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Jerseyville, 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 6, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  11. "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 6, 2014.
  12. 1 2 3 "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.
  13. "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.
  14. "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.
  15. SEARCH FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS - JERSEY COUNTY CLERK https://www.jerseycountyclerk-il.gov/search/
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 7, 2018.
  17. Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times , April 24, 2014
  18. Edmondson, Catie (June 28, 2022). "In Illinois, MAGA Congresswoman Rallies to Oust Her G.O.P. Colleague". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved November 7, 2022.

39°05′N90°22′W / 39.09°N 90.36°W / 39.09; -90.36