Stark County, Illinois

Last updated

Stark County
County
Wyoming CB&Q depot.jpg
Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Depot (Wyoming, Illinois)
Map of Illinois highlighting Stark County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois in United States.svg
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°05′N89°47′W / 41.09°N 89.79°W / 41.09; -89.79
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Illinois.svg Illinois
Founded1839
Named after John Stark
Seat Toulon
Largest city Wyoming
Area
 • Total
288 sq mi (750 km2)
 • Land288 sq mi (750 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
5,400
 • Estimate 
(2024)
5,272 Decrease2.svg [1]
 • Density19/sq mi (7.2/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 16th
Website www.starkco.illinois.gov

Stark County is a county in Illinois, United States. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 5,400. [2] Its county seat is Toulon. [3] Stark County is part of the Peoria, Illinois, metropolitan area.

Contents

History

Stark County was formed in 1839 out of Knox and Putnam counties. It was named for General Colonel John Stark, who served in the American Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He became known as the "Hero of Bennington" for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 288 square miles (750 km2), of which 288 square miles (750 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.1%) is water. [4]

Climate and weather

Toulon, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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Source: The Weather Channel [5]
Metric conversion
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Toulon have ranged from a low of 10 °F (−12 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1983. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.41 inches (36 mm) in February to 4.46 inches (113 mm) in June. [5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1840 1,573—
1850 3,710135.9%
1860 9,004142.7%
1870 10,75119.4%
1880 11,2074.2%
1890 9,982−10.9%
1900 10,1862.0%
1910 10,098−0.9%
1920 9,693−4.0%
1930 9,184−5.3%
1940 8,881−3.3%
1950 8,721−1.8%
1960 8,152−6.5%
1970 7,510−7.9%
1980 7,389−1.6%
1990 6,534−11.6%
2000 6,332−3.1%
2010 5,994−5.3%
2020 5,400−9.9%
2023 (est.)5,218 [6] −3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9]
1990-2000 [10] 2010 [11]

2020 census

Stark 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)7,3286,4706,2135,8265,07099.17%99.02%98.12%97.20%93.89%
Black or African American alone (NH)45428170.05%0.08%0.06%0.47%0.31%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)11810980.15%0.12%0.16%0.15%0.15%
Asian alone (NH)10211219230.14%0.32%0.19%0.32%0.43%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x [17] x [18] 000xx0.00%0.00%0.00%
Other race alone (NH)100150.01%0.00%0.00%0.02%0.09%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x [19] x [20] 3952145xx0.62%0.87%2.69%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)353054591320.47%0.46%0.85%0.98%2.44%
Total7,3896,5346,3325,9945,400 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 census, there were 5,994 people, 2,425 households, and 1,673 families residing in the county. [21] The population density was 20.8 inhabitants per square mile (8.0/km2). There were 2,674 housing units at an average density of 9.3 per square mile (3.6/km2). [4] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. [21] In terms of ancestry, 33.5% were German, 15.5% were Irish, 13.8% were English, 10.8% were American, and 9.8% were Swedish. [22]

Of the 2,425 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.6% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.0% were non-families, and 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.93. The median age was 43.8 years. [21]

The median income for a household in the county was $49,195 and the median income for a family was $62,681. Males had a median income of $44,931 versus $29,621 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,311. About 7.6% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.0% of those under age 18 and 4.8% of those age 65 or over. [23]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Stark County is divided into these townships:

Politics

United States presidential election results for Stark County, Illinois [24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 1,98371.72%72526.22%572.06%
2020 2,00469.44%81528.24%672.32%
2016 1,77864.82%75127.38%2147.80%
2012 1,52857.40%1,09541.13%391.47%
2008 1,51351.83%1,35746.49%491.68%
2004 1,84160.14%1,18938.84%311.01%
2000 1,69456.67%1,21140.52%842.81%
1996 1,27844.62%1,26244.06%32411.31%
1992 1,38441.30%1,33639.87%63118.83%
1988 1,84158.39%1,27440.41%381.21%
1984 2,22867.15%1,07232.31%180.54%
1980 2,35869.76%80623.85%2166.39%
1976 2,19163.34%1,14633.13%1223.53%
1972 2,52971.44%99328.05%180.51%
1968 2,29262.54%1,12830.78%2456.68%
1964 2,11754.38%1,77645.62%00.00%
1960 2,92567.80%1,38332.06%60.14%
1956 3,24174.32%1,11825.64%20.05%
1952 3,39875.51%1,10024.44%20.04%
1948 2,53768.44%1,16331.37%70.19%
1944 3,05068.42%1,40131.43%70.16%
1940 3,39364.94%1,81834.79%140.27%
1936 2,69654.38%2,22044.78%420.85%
1932 2,11946.75%2,36952.26%450.99%
1928 2,96669.09%1,30630.42%210.49%
1924 2,69871.07%78420.65%3148.27%
1920 2,75079.57%66119.13%451.30%
1916 2,88766.57%1,39032.05%601.38%
1912 54923.46%66928.59%1,12247.95%
1908 1,63566.27%73829.91%943.81%
1904 1,76471.27%57423.19%1375.54%
1900 1,66561.37%93934.61%1094.02%
1896 1,63660.04%1,03037.80%592.17%
1892 1,24050.76%82433.73%37915.51%

Since the American Civil War, Stark County has been heavily Republican, like most of Yankee-influenced Northern Illinois. The only Democratic presidential nominee to carry Stark County in the past 150 years has been Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932, although Bob Dole won by just sixteen votes against Bill Clinton in 1996, and Progressive Theodore Roosevelt won the county in 1912 when the Republican Party was mortally divided between Roosevelt and conservative incumbent William Howard Taft.

See also

References

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates text from Stark County and Its Pioneers, by Shallenberger, Eliza Hall, a publication from 1876, now in the public domain in the United States.

  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. ↑ "Stark County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. 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.
  5. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Toulon, 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 8, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  11. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  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 – Stark 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) – Stark 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) – Stark 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 "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.
  22. ↑ "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.
  23. ↑ "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.
  24. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 12, 2018.

41°05′N89°47′W / 41.09°N 89.79°W / 41.09; -89.79

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