Moultrie County, Illinois

Last updated

Moultrie County
County
Moultrie County Courthouse, western side from south.jpg
Moultrie County Courthouse in Sullivan
Flag of Fort Moultrie, South Carolina.svg
Flag
Map of Illinois highlighting Moultrie County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois in United States.svg
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°38′N88°37′W / 39.64°N 88.62°W / 39.64; -88.62
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Illinois.svg Illinois
FoundedFebruary 16, 1843
Named after William Moultrie
Seat Sullivan
Largest citySullivan
Area
 • Total
344 sq mi (890 km2)
 • Land336 sq mi (870 km2)
 • Water8.5 sq mi (22 km2)  2.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
14,526
 • Estimate 
(2024)
14,365 Decrease2.svg [1]
 • Density42.8/sq mi (16.5/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 15th
Website www.moultriecountyil.com

Moultrie County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States census, its population was 14,526. [2] Its county seat is Sullivan. [3] The name is pronounced as in "mole tree", unlike the pronunciation of its namesake, the South Carolinian Revolutionary War hero William Moultrie.

Contents

History

Moultrie County was formed in 1843 with areas taken from Shelby and Macon counties. It is named for South Carolina General, and later Governor, William Moultrie. General Moultrie defended Sullivan's Island, South Carolina from British attack in 1776. The site was later renamed Fort Moultrie. Nearby Jasper County was named for Sgt. William Jasper, another hero of the defense of Sullivan's Island.

The official flag of the county is the Moultrie Flag, which was flown over the new fortress on Sullivan's Island, when Moultrie defended it, and was designed by Moultrie. It went on to become iconic of liberty in the South.

When Abraham Kellar of Lovington, John Cook of Marrowbone, and John Fleming of Nelson proposed the formation of a new county from Macon, Shelby, and Coles counties, Macon gave up a strip of “worthless swamp” that is now among the most fertile land in the world, but Shelby and Coles voters refused to give up any land. Finally, Shelby County gave up some of its land to make a zig-zag border with Moultrie County.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 344 square miles (890 km2), of which 336 square miles (870 km2) is land and 8.5 square miles (22 km2) (2.5%) is water. [4]

Climate and weather

Sullivan, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
2
 
 
34
19
 
 
1.9
 
 
41
24
 
 
3.3
 
 
52
33
 
 
3.7
 
 
65
43
 
 
4
 
 
75
53
 
 
4.1
 
 
83
62
 
 
4
 
 
87
66
 
 
3.3
 
 
85
63
 
 
3.1
 
 
80
56
 
 
3.1
 
 
68
45
 
 
3.9
 
 
52
35
 
 
3
 
 
39
24
█ 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
 
 
51
 
 
1
−7
 
 
48
 
 
5
−4
 
 
84
 
 
11
1
 
 
94
 
 
18
6
 
 
101
 
 
24
12
 
 
103
 
 
28
17
 
 
102
 
 
31
19
 
 
83
 
 
29
17
 
 
77
 
 
27
13
 
 
78
 
 
20
7
 
 
98
 
 
11
2
 
 
76
 
 
4
−4
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Sullivan have ranged from a low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1915 and a record high of 111 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.89 inches (48 mm) in February to 4.05 inches (103 mm) in June. [5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1850 3,234—
1860 6,38597.4%
1870 10,38562.6%
1880 13,69931.9%
1890 14,4815.7%
1900 15,2245.1%
1910 14,630−3.9%
1920 14,8391.4%
1930 13,247−10.7%
1940 13,4771.7%
1950 13,171−2.3%
1960 13,6353.5%
1970 13,263−2.7%
1980 14,5469.7%
1990 13,930−4.2%
2000 14,2872.6%
2010 14,8463.9%
2020 14,526−2.2%
2024 (est.)14,365−1.1%
US Decennial Census [6]
1790-1960 [7] 1900-1990 [8]
1990-2000 [9] 2010-2013 [10] 2020 [2] 2024 [11]

2020 census

Moultrie 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 [12] Pop 1990 [13] Pop 2000 [14] Pop 2010 [15] Pop 2020 [16] % 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)14,43213,84914,07814,52413,74799.22%99.42%98.54%97.83%94.64%
Black or African American alone (NH)1182840840.08%0.06%0.20%0.27%0.58%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)12222428260.08%0.16%0.17%0.19%0.18%
Asian alone (NH)13131429490.09%0.09%0.10%0.20%0.34%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x [17] x [18] 700xx0.05%0.00%0.00%
Other race alone (NH)90413250.06%0.00%0.03%0.09%0.17%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x [19] x [20] 6483401xx0.45%0.56%2.76%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)6938681291940.47%0.27%0.48%0.87%1.34%
Total14,54613,93014,28714,84614,526 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,846 people, 5,758 households, and 4,053 families living in the county. [21] The population density was 44.2 inhabitants per square mile (17.1/km2). There were 6,260 housing units at an average density of 18.6 per square mile (7.2/km2). [4] The racial makeup of the county was 98.5% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. [21] In terms of ancestry, 23.8% were German, 12.0% were Irish, 11.4% were American, and 10.9% were English. [22]

Of the 5,758 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.6% were non-families, and 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 40.3 years. [21]

The median income for a household in the county was $46,364 and the median income for a family was $54,494. Males had a median income of $42,581 versus $26,799 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,954. About 6.2% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over. [23]

Communities

Map of Moultrie County, Illinois Map of Moultrie County Illinois.png
Map of Moultrie County, Illinois

City

Villages

Census-designated place

Unincorporated Communities

Townships

Education

Moultrie County is served by three school districts.

Politics

Moultrie County voters have voted for the Republican Party candidate in eight of the last ten national election campaigns.

United States presidential election results for Moultrie County, Illinois [24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1892 1,28739.17%1,67050.82%32910.01%
1896 1,71144.79%2,07754.37%320.84%
1900 1,72845.86%1,97552.42%651.73%
1904 1,71950.60%1,47043.27%2086.12%
1908 1,70448.44%1,69548.18%1193.38%
1912 85326.69%1,50146.96%84226.35%
1916 2,93344.95%3,37051.65%2223.40%
1920 3,27955.76%2,51342.73%891.51%
1924 3,00153.10%2,40342.52%2484.39%
1928 3,31060.31%2,16839.50%100.18%
1932 2,35335.40%4,21963.48%741.11%
1936 3,07442.41%4,11056.70%650.90%
1940 3,63649.32%3,69650.13%410.56%
1944 3,18052.31%2,85346.93%460.76%
1948 3,04349.39%3,03749.29%811.31%
1952 3,88059.12%2,67540.76%80.12%
1956 3,75657.65%2,75142.23%80.12%
1960 3,75254.93%3,07945.07%00.00%
1964 2,49340.04%3,73359.96%00.00%
1968 3,09450.50%2,44739.94%5869.56%
1972 3,14357.07%2,35042.67%140.25%
1976 2,80345.44%3,33254.01%340.55%
1980 3,49556.73%2,33237.85%3345.42%
1984 3,59359.17%2,45840.48%210.35%
1988 3,16750.98%3,01348.50%320.52%
1992 2,06531.94%3,05647.27%1,34420.79%
1996 2,19940.34%2,62948.23%62311.43%
2000 3,05853.41%2,52944.17%1382.41%
2004 4,02862.30%2,38836.93%500.77%
2008 3,47155.33%2,66842.53%1342.14%
2012 3,78462.29%2,14435.29%1472.42%
2016 4,45570.91%1,48123.57%3475.52%
2020 4,96473.48%1,66224.60%1301.92%
2024 4,81673.56%1,61524.67%1161.77%

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. 1 2 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Illinois
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  5. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Sullivan IL". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  6. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  10. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  11. ↑ "QuickFacts: Moultrie County, Illinois". Census.gov. Retrieved May 24, 2022.
  12. ↑ "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 .
  13. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Orogin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  14. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Moultrie County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  15. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Moultrie County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  16. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Moultrie County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  17. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  18. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  19. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  20. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  21. 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 12, 2015.
  22. ↑ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  24. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 31, 2018.

39°38′N88°37′W / 39.64°N 88.62°W / 39.64; -88.62

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.