Pulaski County, Illinois

Pulaski County
County
Pulaski County Courthouse in Mound City
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°14′N89°08′W / 37.23°N 89.13°W / 37.23; -89.13
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Founded	1843
Named for	Casimir Pulaski
Seat	Mound City
Largest city	Mounds
Area
• Total	203 sq mi (530 km2)
• Land	199 sq mi (520 km2)
• Water	4.0 sq mi (10 km2)  2.0%
Population  (2020)
• Total	5,193
• Estimate  (2023)	4,911
• Density	26/sq mi (9.9/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	12th
Website	www.pulaskicountyil.net

Pulaski County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 5,193. ^[1] Its county seat is Mound City. ^[2] Its largest city is Mounds. It is located along the Ohio River in the southwestern portion of the state, known locally as "Little Egypt".

History

Pulaski County was formed on March 3, 1843, out of parts of Alexander and Johnson counties. It was named in honor of Casimir Pułaski who was killed at the siege of Savannah in the Revolutionary War. ^[3]

• 
  Pulaski County at the time of its creation in 1843

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 203 square miles (530 km²), of which 199 square miles (520 km²) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km²) (2.0%) is water. ^[4] It is the third-smallest county in Illinois by area.

Climate and weather

Mound City, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     3.2     41 26     3.6     48 30     4.4     58 39     4.7     69 50     4.8     78 59     4.2     86 67     4.4     90 71     3.6     87 69     3     81 61     3.4     71 49     4.4     57 39     4.2     46 30 █ 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     82     5 −3     90     9 −1     112     14 4     120     21 10     121     26 15     105     30 19     111     32 22     92     31 21     77     27 16     87     22 9     112     14 4     106     8 −1 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Mound City have ranged from a low of 26 °F (−3 °C) in January to a high of 90 °F (32 °C) in July, although a record low of −12 °F (−24 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in June 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.04 inches (77 mm) in September to 4.76 inches (121 mm) in May. ^[5]

Major highways

• Interstate 57, which has been listed as a speed trap. ^[6]
• U.S. Highway 51
• Illinois Route 37
• Illinois Route 169

Adjacent counties

• Union County (north)
• Johnson County (northeast)
• Massac County (east)
• Ballard County, Kentucky (southeast)
• Alexander County (west)

National protected area

• Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	2,265		—
1860	3,943		74.1%
1870	8,752		122.0%
1880	9,507		8.6%
1890	11,355		19.4%
1900	14,554		28.2%
1910	15,650		7.5%
1920	14,629		−6.5%
1930	14,834		1.4%
1940	15,875		7.0%
1950	13,639		−14.1%
1960	10,490		−23.1%
1970	8,741		−16.7%
1980	8,840		1.1%
1990	7,523		−14.9%
2000	7,348		−2.3%
2010	6,161		−16.2%
2020	5,193		−15.7%
2023 (est.)	4,911	[7]	−5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10] 1990-2000 [11] 2010-2020 [12] 2020 [1]

As of the 2010 census, there were 6,161 people, 2,642 households, and 1,658 families living in the county. ^[13] The population density was 30.9 inhabitants per square mile (11.9/km²). There were 3,155 housing units at an average density of 15.8 per square mile (6.1/km²). ^[4] The racial makeup of the county was 64.4% white, 32.4% black or African American, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population. ^[13] In terms of ancestry, 15.1% were German, 6.8% were Irish, 6.6% were English, and 6.6% were American. ^[14]

Of the 2,642 households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.2% were non-families, and 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 43.2 years. ^[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $31,173 and the median income for a family was $39,699. Males had a median income of $36,915 versus $29,007 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,444. About 16.7% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 32.0% of those under age 18 and 18.0% of those age 65 or over. ^[15]

Communities

Cities

• Mound City
• Mounds

Villages

• Karnak
• New Grand Chain (usually referred to as "Grand Chain")
• Olmsted
• Pulaski
• Ullin

Unincorporated communities

• America
• Perks
• Spencer Heights
• Villa Ridge
• Wetaug

Politics

Pulaski County was often a swing county at the presidential level, but has voted for the Republican candidates for U.S. president since 2012.

This trend in Pulaski County has begun to affect down-ballot races as well. In the 2020 Senate election, longtime Democratic Senator Dick Durbin lost the county for the first time in his career, after winning it in his four prior elections. ^[16]

United States presidential election results for Pulaski County, Illinois ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	1,699	64.58%	891	33.87%	41	1.56%
2016	1,675	61.24%	962	35.17%	98	3.58%
2012	1,564	51.93%	1,389	46.12%	59	1.96%
2008	1,593	48.72%	1,638	50.09%	39	1.19%
2004	1,720	55.34%	1,372	44.14%	16	0.51%
2000	1,430	47.41%	1,518	50.33%	68	2.25%
1996	1,036	36.82%	1,524	54.16%	254	9.03%
1992	1,169	32.94%	1,987	55.99%	393	11.07%
1988	1,666	47.90%	1,793	51.55%	19	0.55%
1984	1,923	52.48%	1,724	47.05%	17	0.46%
1980	2,083	50.82%	1,955	47.69%	61	1.49%
1976	1,836	42.26%	2,489	57.28%	20	0.46%
1972	2,485	59.27%	1,683	40.14%	25	0.60%
1968	1,741	37.59%	2,076	44.82%	815	17.59%
1964	1,716	33.99%	3,332	66.01%	0	0.00%
1960	2,621	52.83%	2,322	46.81%	18	0.36%
1956	2,966	56.74%	2,246	42.97%	15	0.29%
1952	3,447	58.88%	2,397	40.95%	10	0.17%
1948	2,658	52.81%	2,344	46.57%	31	0.62%
1944	3,248	58.02%	2,311	41.28%	39	0.70%
1940	4,589	56.76%	3,456	42.75%	40	0.49%
1936	3,774	49.37%	3,804	49.76%	67	0.88%
1932	3,225	47.95%	3,446	51.23%	55	0.82%
1928	3,319	65.18%	1,726	33.90%	47	0.92%
1924	3,355	61.57%	1,700	31.20%	394	7.23%
1920	4,002	62.85%	2,276	35.74%	90	1.41%
1916	3,863	62.72%	2,159	35.05%	137	2.22%
1912	1,632	51.27%	978	30.73%	573	18.00%
1908	2,185	65.24%	1,080	32.25%	84	2.51%
1904	2,180	70.71%	792	25.69%	111	3.60%
1900	2,039	64.79%	1,077	34.22%	31	0.99%
1896	2,081	63.97%	1,152	35.41%	20	0.61%
1892	1,662	63.22%	897	34.12%	70	2.66%

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pulaski County

Notes

1. "2020 Census Data". data.census.gov.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Callary, Edward (2009). Place Names of Illinois. Urbana and Chicago, Illinois: University of Illinois Press. p. 287.
4. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
5. "Monthly Averages for Mound City, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
6. "I-57 Pulaski County Illinois Speed Traps | The National Speed Trap Exchange". www.speedtrap.org. Archived from the original on April 7, 2012.
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 8, 2014.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 22, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
13. "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.
14. "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.
15. "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.
16. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 12, 2018.

References

• Perrin, William Henry, ed. (1883). History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois. Chicago: O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publishers.

37°14′N89°08′W / 37.23°N 89.13°W / 37.23; -89.13