Clark County, Illinois

Coordinates: 39°20′N 87°47′W / 39.33°N 87.79°W / 39.33; -87.79
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Clark County
Clark County Courthouse in Marshall
Map of Illinois highlighting Clark County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°20′N 87°47′W / 39.33°N 87.79°W / 39.33; -87.79
Country United States
State Illinois
Founded1819
Named forGeorge Rogers Clark
SeatMarshall
Largest cityMarshall
Area
 • Total505 sq mi (1,310 km2)
 • Land501 sq mi (1,300 km2)
 • Water3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total15,455
 • Density31/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.clarkcountyil.org

Clark County is a county located in the southeastern part of U.S. state of Illinois, along the Indiana state line. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,455.[1] Its county seat is Marshall.[2] The county was named for George Rogers Clark, an officer who served in the American Revolution.[3]

History[edit]

Clark County was formed in 1819 out of Crawford County. At the time of its formation, Clark County included about a third of Illinois, and extended as far north as the present state of Wisconsin. In 1821 the northern part of Clark County became part of the newly created Pike County on January 31, and the newly created Fayette County took the western part of Clark County on February 14. Edgar County was created from the northern part of Clark County on January 3, 1823. The creation of Coles County occupied additional land from western Clark County, effective December 25, 1830.[4] The boundaries of Clark County have been unchanged since.

Clark County was named for George Rogers Clark[5] (older brother of William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition), an officer of the army of Virginia that captured the Northwest Territory from the British during the Revolutionary War.

The county seat was located in Darwin Township in 1823. A county-wide referendum was held In 1839 to determine whether Auburn or Marshall would be designated as the new seat. Marshall won the election and has remained the county seat since then.[6]

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 505 square miles (1,310 km2), of which 501 square miles (1,300 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.7%) is water.[7] Part of the county's eastern border is defined by the Wabash River. The North Fork of the Embarras River and Hurricane Creek are the main streams in western Clark County. Other than the Wabash River, Big Creek is the major stream in the eastern part of the county.[8]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Transit[edit]

Major highways[edit]

Climate and weather[edit]

Marshall, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[9]
Metric conversion
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Marshall have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1930 and a record high of 109 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.23 inches (57 mm) in January to 4.43 inches (113 mm) in July.[9]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1820931
18303,940323.2%
18407,45389.2%
18509,53227.9%
186014,98757.2%
187018,70924.8%
188021,89417.0%
189021,8990.0%
190024,0339.7%
191023,517−2.1%
192021,165−10.0%
193017,872−15.6%
194018,8425.4%
195017,362−7.9%
196016,546−4.7%
197016,216−2.0%
198016,9134.3%
199015,921−5.9%
200017,0086.8%
201016,335−4.0%
202015,455−5.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010[14]
2000 census age pyramid for Clark County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 16,335 people, 6,782 households, and 4,593 families residing in the county.[15] The population density was 32.6 inhabitants per square mile (12.6/km2). There were 7,772 housing units at an average density of 15.5 per square mile (6.0/km2).[7] The racial makeup of the county was 98.1% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 27.4% were German, 14.2% were Irish, 14.2% were English, and 10.8% were American.[16]

Of the 6,782 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.5% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.3% were non-families, and 27.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 42.3 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $43,597 and the median income for a family was $52,689. Males had a median income of $39,385 versus $27,426 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,173. About 7.6% of families and 10.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Education[edit]

There are three school districts in Clark County (Marshall, Martinsville and Casey-Westfield) with a total enrollment (2004) of 3,014 students. Each district has one high school (grades 9–12) and one junior high school (grades 7–8). Marshall has two elementary schools and the other districts have one each.

See List of school districts in Clark County

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Village[edit]

Census designated places[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Townships[edit]

Clark County is divided into fifteen townships:

Former Settlement[edit]

Politics[edit]

In its early days, Clark County favored the Democratic Party, not supporting a Republican presidential candidate until Theodore Roosevelt’s 1904 landslide. Since 1920, it has been a strongly Republican county: the last Democrat to win a majority being Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and only Bill Clinton by plurality in 1992 has won the county since.

United States presidential election results for Clark County, Illinois[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 6,226 74.39% 1,993 23.81% 150 1.79%
2016 5,622 70.91% 1,877 23.68% 429 5.41%
2012 5,144 65.23% 2,591 32.86% 151 1.91%
2008 4,409 53.04% 3,742 45.02% 161 1.94%
2004 5,082 63.47% 2,877 35.93% 48 0.60%
2000 4,398 58.55% 2,932 39.03% 182 2.42%
1996 3,409 47.22% 2,995 41.48% 816 11.30%
1992 3,175 39.79% 3,338 41.83% 1,466 18.37%
1988 4,508 57.71% 3,275 41.93% 28 0.36%
1984 5,318 63.45% 3,032 36.17% 32 0.38%
1980 5,476 63.19% 2,855 32.94% 335 3.87%
1976 4,506 52.26% 4,071 47.22% 45 0.52%
1972 5,706 65.74% 2,965 34.16% 9 0.10%
1968 4,809 56.08% 2,813 32.80% 953 11.11%
1964 4,403 49.66% 4,464 50.34% 0 0.00%
1960 5,319 57.36% 3,949 42.59% 5 0.05%
1956 5,451 60.74% 3,519 39.21% 4 0.04%
1952 5,700 61.12% 3,621 38.83% 5 0.05%
1948 4,477 53.92% 3,714 44.73% 112 1.35%
1944 5,373 59.41% 3,619 40.02% 52 0.57%
1940 5,976 55.15% 4,807 44.36% 53 0.49%
1936 5,426 47.96% 5,836 51.58% 52 0.46%
1932 4,148 41.98% 5,659 57.27% 74 0.75%
1928 5,632 60.64% 3,621 38.99% 35 0.38%
1924 4,731 51.55% 4,203 45.79% 244 2.66%
1920 5,312 55.35% 4,181 43.57% 104 1.08%
1916 4,936 47.25% 5,311 50.84% 199 1.91%
1912 1,897 34.17% 2,517 45.34% 1,138 20.50%
1908 3,158 51.26% 2,793 45.33% 210 3.41%
1904 2,886 52.70% 2,271 41.47% 319 5.83%
1900 2,929 47.78% 3,009 49.09% 192 3.13%
1896 2,888 47.66% 3,103 51.20% 69 1.14%
1892 2,181 41.88% 2,244 43.09% 783 15.03%

See also[edit]

Sources[edit]

  • Perrin, William Henry, ed.. History of Crawford and Clark Counties, Illinois Chicago, Illinois. O. L. Baskin & Co. (1883).

References[edit]

Specific
  1. ^ "Clark County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 8, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Perrin, p. 237
  4. ^ "Illinois County Boundaries 1790 - Present." Hebert, Michael H. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  5. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 82.
  6. ^ "Welcome to Clark County, Illinois, Genealogy and History." Retrieved June 10, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  8. ^ Perrin, p.210.
  9. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Marshall, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
  15. ^ 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 11, 2015.
  16. ^ "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 11, 2015.
  17. ^ "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 11, 2015.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved October 30, 2018.
General

External links[edit]

39°20′N 87°47′W / 39.33°N 87.79°W / 39.33; -87.79