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Christian County, Illinois facts for kids

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Christian County
Christian County Courthouse in Taylorville
Christian County Courthouse in Taylorville
Map of Illinois highlighting Christian County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Illinois
Founded 1839
Named for Christian County, Kentucky
Seat Taylorville
Largest city Taylorville
Area
 • Total 716 sq mi (1,850 km2)
 • Land 709 sq mi (1,840 km2)
 • Water 6.3 sq mi (16 km2)  0.9%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 34,800
 • Estimate 
(2019)
32,304
 • Density 48.60/sq mi (18.77/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 13th

Christian County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,800. Its county seat is Taylorville. Christian County comprises the Taylorville, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Springfield-Jacksonville-Lincoln, IL Combined Statistical Area.

History

Christian County was formed February 15, 1839 out of Sangamon, Montgomery and Shelby counties. It was named for Christian County, Kentucky.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 716 square miles (1,850 km2), of which 709 square miles (1,840 km2) is land and 6.3 square miles (16 km2) (0.9%) is water. The county is bounded on the north by Sangamon River, and intersected by the south fork of that stream.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • US 51.svg US Route 51
  • Illinois 16.svg Illinois Route 16
  • Illinois 29.svg Illinois Route 29
  • Illinois 48.svg Illinois Route 48
  • Illinois 104.svg Illinois Route 104

Climate and weather

Weather chart for Taylorville, Illinois
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
1.8
 
32
16
 
 
1.8
 
39
21
 
 
3
 
50
31
 
 
3.5
 
63
41
 
 
3.8
 
74
52
 
 
3.7
 
83
61
 
 
3.7
 
86
65
 
 
2.8
 
85
63
 
 
2.8
 
79
54
 
 
2.3
 
67
42
 
 
3.6
 
51
33
 
 
2.4
 
38
22
temperatures in °F
precipitation totals in inches
source: The Weather Channel

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Taylorville 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 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in August 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.78 inches (45 mm) in January to 3.77 inches (96 mm) in May.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 1,878
1850 3,203 70.6%
1860 10,492 227.6%
1870 20,363 94.1%
1880 28,227 38.6%
1890 30,531 8.2%
1900 32,790 7.4%
1910 34,594 5.5%
1920 38,458 11.2%
1930 37,538 −2.4%
1940 38,564 2.7%
1950 38,816 0.7%
1960 37,207 −4.1%
1970 35,948 −3.4%
1980 36,446 1.4%
1990 34,418 −5.6%
2000 35,372 2.8%
2010 34,800 −1.6%
2019 (est.) 32,304 −7.2%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2013
USA Christian County, Illinois age pyramid
2000 census age pyramid for Christian County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 34,800 people, 14,055 households, and 9,211 families residing in the county. The population density was 49.1 inhabitants per square mile (19.0/km2). There were 15,563 housing units at an average density of 21.9 per square mile (8.5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.6% white, 1.4% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 21.9% were German, 12.7% were Irish, 10.6% were American, and 9.9% were English.

Of the 14,055 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.5% were non-families, and 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 41.6 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,712 and the median income for a family was $52,680. Males had a median income of $42,897 versus $30,027 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,519. About 12.7% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.6% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Map of Christian County, Illinois

Cities

Villages

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated places

Townships

Christian County is divided into these seventeen townships:

  • Assumption
  • Bear Creek
  • Buckhart
  • Greenwood
  • Johnson
  • King
  • Locust
  • May
  • Mosquito
  • Mount Auburn
  • Pana
  • Prairieton
  • Ricks
  • Rosamond
  • South Fork
  • Stonington
  • Taylorville

Notable people

  • Jon Corzine, Former governor of New Jersey, former resident of Willey Station.
  • Roy A. Corzine (1882-1957), Illinois state representative and farmer, was born in Stonington.
  • Harry Forrester, member of the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame and Quincy University Hall of Fame.
  • Brant Hansen, Christian radio host and author, graduated from high school in Assumption.
  • Frank P. Sadler (1872–1931), Illinois state senator and lawyer, lived on a farm near Grove City.
  • John Wesley Fribley (1906–2002), state senate (1934–1952), born in Pana

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Christian (Illinois) para niños

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