Moultrie County, Illinois

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Moultrie County, Illinois
Moultrie County Courthouse, western side from south.jpg
Map of Illinois highlighting Moultrie County
Location in the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location in the U.S.
Founded1843
Named forWilliam Moultrie
SeatSullivan
Largest citySullivan
Area
 • Total344 sq mi (891 km2)
 • Land336 sq mi (870 km2)
 • Water8.5 sq mi (22 km2), 2.5%
Population
 • (2010)14,846
 • Density44/sq mi (17/km2)
Congressional district15th
Time zoneCentral: UTC−6/−5
Websitewww.moultriecountyil.com

Moultrie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 14,846.[1] Its county seat is Sullivan.[2] The name is pronounced as in "mole tree", unlike the pronunciation of its namesake, South Carolinian Revolutionary War hero William Moultrie.

History[edit]

Moultrie County was formed in 1843 out of 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, himself. 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.

  • Moultrie County at the time of its creation in 1843

  • Moultrie Flag, the official flag of the county

  • The Moultrie Flag being raised by Sergeant William Jasper

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. 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.[3]

Climate and weather[edit]

Sullivan, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
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[4]

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.[4]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18503,234—
18606,38597.4%
187010,38562.6%
188013,69931.9%
189014,4815.7%
190015,2245.1%
191014,630−3.9%
192014,8391.4%
193013,247−10.7%
194013,4771.7%
195013,171−2.3%
196013,6353.5%
197013,263−2.7%
198014,5469.7%
199013,930−4.2%
200014,2872.6%
201014,8463.9%
Est. 201614,827[5]−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,846 people, 5,758 households, and 4,053 families residing in the county.[10] 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).[3] 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.[10] In terms of ancestry, 23.8% were German, 12.0% were Irish, 11.4% were American, and 10.9% were English.[11]

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.[10]

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.[12]

Communities[edit]

Map of Moultrie County, Illinois

City[edit]

Villages[edit]

Unincorporated Communities[edit]

Townships[edit]

Education[edit]

Moultrie County is served by three school districts.

Politics[edit]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 70.9% 4,455 23.6% 1,481 5.5% 347
2012 62.3% 3,784 35.3% 2,144 2.4% 147
2008 55.3% 3,471 42.5% 2,668 2.1% 134
2004 62.3% 4,028 36.9% 2,388 0.8% 50
2000 53.4% 3,058 44.2% 2,529 2.4% 138
1996 40.3% 2,199 48.2% 2,629 11.4% 623
1992 31.9% 2,065 47.3% 3,056 20.8% 1,344
1988 51.0% 3,167 48.5% 3,013 0.5% 32
1984 59.2% 3,593 40.5% 2,458 0.4% 21
1980 56.7% 3,495 37.9% 2,332 5.4% 334
1976 45.4% 2,803 54.0% 3,332 0.6% 34
1972 57.1% 3,143 42.7% 2,350 0.3% 14
1968 50.5% 3,094 39.9% 2,447 9.6% 586
1964 40.0% 2,493 60.0% 3,733 0.0% 0
1960 54.9% 3,752 45.1% 3,079 0.0% 0
1956 57.7% 3,756 42.2% 2,751 0.1% 8
1952 59.1% 3,880 40.8% 2,675 0.1% 8
1948 49.4% 3,043 49.3% 3,037 1.3% 81
1944 52.3% 3,180 46.9% 2,853 0.8% 46
1940 49.3% 3,636 50.1% 3,696 0.6% 41
1936 42.4% 3,074 56.7% 4,110 0.9% 65
1932 35.4% 2,353 63.5% 4,219 1.1% 74
1928 60.3% 3,310 39.5% 2,168 0.2% 10
1924 53.1% 3,001 42.5% 2,403 4.4% 248
1920 55.8% 3,279 42.7% 2,513 1.5% 89
1916 45.0% 2,933 51.7% 3,370 3.4% 222
1912 26.7% 853 47.0% 1,501 26.4% 842
1908 48.4% 1,704 48.2% 1,695 3.4% 119
1904 50.6% 1,719 43.3% 1,470 6.1% 208
1900 45.9% 1,728 52.4% 1,975 1.7% 65
1896 44.8% 1,711 54.4% 2,077 0.8% 32
1892 39.2% 1,287 50.8% 1,670 10.0% 329

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  4. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Sullivan, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  5. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States 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". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  10. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  11. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  12. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 31 March 2018.

Coordinates: 39°38′N 88°37′W / 39.64°N 88.62°W / 39.64; -88.62

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