Fort Towson

Richland County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States census, it had a population of 15,813.[1] Its county seat is Olney.[2][3]: County Seats 

History

Richland County was established in 1841 out of portions of East part of Clay and West part of Lawrence counties.[4] It was named for Richland County, Ohio, where many of the early settlers migrated from.[3]: Origin of the name of the county 

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 362 square miles (940 km2), of which 360 square miles (930 km2) is land[5]: Population tab, Population Density sub-tab  and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km2) (0.5%) is water.[6]

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Olney have ranged from a low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in February 1951 and a record high of 112 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.73 inches (69 mm) in February to 4.76 inches (121 mm) in May.[7]

Transit

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18504,012
18609,711142.0%
187012,80331.8%
188015,54521.4%
189015,019−3.4%
190016,3919.1%
191015,970−2.6%
192014,044−12.1%
193014,0530.1%
194017,13721.9%
195016,889−1.4%
196016,299−3.5%
197016,8293.3%
198017,5874.5%
199016,545−5.9%
200016,149−2.4%
201016,2330.5%
202015,813−2.6%
2021 (est.)15,796[1]−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2013[12] 2020[5]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 16,233 people, 6,726 households, and 4,438 families residing in the county.[13] By 2020, the population had decreased to 15,813 people.[5]: Population tab, Population Density sub-tab  The 2010 population density was 45.1 inhabitants per square mile (17.4/km2), which decreased to 43.1 inhabitants per square mile (16.6/km2) in the 2020 census.[5]: Population tab, Population Density sub-tab  In 2010, there were 7,513 housing units, compared to 7,364 in 2020,[5]: Housing tab, Occupied Units sub-tab  at an average density of 20.9 per square mile (8.1/km2).[6] The 2010 racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white (94.2%, 2020Decrease), 0.7% Asian (0.8%, 2020Increase), 0.5% black or African American (same, 2020), 0.2% American Indian (same, 2020), 0.4% (0.5%, 2020Increase) from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races (3.7%, 2020Increase).[5]: for 2020—Race alone tab, all sub-tabs  Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% (1.7%, 2020Increase) of the population.[5]: Hispanic Origin tab, Hispanic or Latino sub-tab [13] In terms of ancestry, 29.6% were German, 11.7% were American, 11.4% were English, and 9.2% were Irish.[14]

Of the 6,726 households, 28.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.0% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 42.1 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,917 and the median income for a family was $53,853. Males had a median income of $41,058 versus $31,296 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,874. About 9.5% of families and 13.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.1% of those under age 18 and 11.9% of those age 65 or over.[15] Richland is the top ranked most affordable county in Illinois to buy a car and is on average $932 less expensive than other Illinois counties.[16]

Communities

City

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Richland County is divided into nine townships:[3]: Township Names 

Notable people

  • Alexander W. Swanitz (1851–1915), civil engineer who participated in the construction of railroads in various parts of the country
  • Dial D. Ryder (1938–2011), gun smith

Politics

Government

Elected officials[17]
Office Office holder
County Board Chairman Dennis Graves (R)
County Board Member - District 1 Brian VanBlaricum (R)
County Board Member - District 2 Dennis Graves (R)
County Board Member - District 3 Shawn Rose (R)
County Board Member - District 4 Cynthia Given (D)
County Board Member - District 5 Morgan Henton (R)
County Board Member - District 6 Travis Paddock (R)
County Board Member - District 7 Steve Schonert (R)
County Clerk Amanda Troyer (R)
County Circuit Clerk Zach Holder (R)
County Treasurer Mike Hahn (R)
County Assessor Tim Hahn (R)
Coroner Steve Patterson (R)
States Attorney John Clark (R)
County Sheriff Andy Hires (R)
United States presidential election results for Richland County, Illinois[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 6,089 75.39% 1,830 22.66% 158 1.96%
2016 5,739 74.59% 1,584 20.59% 371 4.82%
2012 4,756 65.31% 2,362 32.44% 164 2.25%
2008 4,329 56.42% 3,181 41.46% 163 2.12%
2004 5,153 66.50% 2,529 32.64% 67 0.86%
2000 4,718 63.52% 2,491 33.54% 219 2.95%
1996 3,137 46.03% 2,679 39.31% 999 14.66%
1992 3,053 37.87% 3,286 40.76% 1,722 21.36%
1988 4,264 59.61% 2,863 40.03% 26 0.36%
1984 5,665 71.95% 2,182 27.71% 27 0.34%
1980 5,241 64.50% 2,463 30.31% 422 5.19%
1976 4,434 55.03% 3,485 43.25% 138 1.71%
1972 5,558 68.41% 2,553 31.42% 14 0.17%
1968 4,781 58.76% 2,495 30.66% 861 10.58%
1964 3,901 47.92% 4,239 52.08% 0 0.00%
1960 5,329 63.80% 3,015 36.09% 9 0.11%
1956 5,304 68.05% 2,485 31.88% 5 0.06%
1952 5,569 68.42% 2,565 31.51% 5 0.06%
1948 3,884 60.56% 2,438 38.02% 91 1.42%
1944 4,577 60.91% 2,858 38.04% 79 1.05%
1940 5,022 53.17% 4,335 45.89% 89 0.94%
1936 4,040 47.57% 4,268 50.26% 184 2.17%
1932 2,765 38.50% 4,318 60.12% 99 1.38%
1928 4,042 61.03% 2,550 38.50% 31 0.47%
1924 3,082 50.07% 2,749 44.66% 324 5.26%
1920 3,026 57.05% 2,174 40.99% 104 1.96%
1916 2,992 45.09% 3,431 51.70% 213 3.21%
1912 811 21.80% 1,800 48.39% 1,109 29.81%
1908 1,684 44.13% 1,938 50.79% 194 5.08%
1904 1,778 48.20% 1,604 43.48% 307 8.32%
1900 1,793 45.58% 2,042 51.91% 99 2.52%
1896 1,693 44.55% 2,062 54.26% 45 1.18%
1892 1,500 43.35% 1,542 44.57% 418 12.08%

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c "Richland County". Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) System. Office of the Illinois Secretary of State. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  4. ^ Morrison, Kate. "The Church". Historical Sketch of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Olney, Illinois, 1841–1909. p. 5 – via Internet Archive.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g "2020 Census Demographic Data Map Viewer". Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  7. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Olney, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  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 August 26, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "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. ^ "Used Car Market in Chicago, IL". Autolist. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  17. ^ "The City of Olney, Illinois". www.ci.olney.il.us. City of Olney. Retrieved February 27, 2021.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

38°43′N 88°05′W / 38.71°N 88.09°W / 38.71; -88.09