Puneet Varma (Editor)

Christian County, Illinois

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Largest city
  
Taylorville

Time zone
  
Central: UTC-6/-5

Founded
  
1839

County seat
  
Taylorville

Congressional district
  
13th

Area
  
1,854 km²

Population
  
34,298 (2013)

Unemployment rate
  
5.4% (Apr 2015)

Christian County, Illinois wwwusgwarchivesnetmapsillinoisil1875CHRISTIAJPG

Named for
  
Christian County, Kentucky

Cities
  
Taylorville, Pana, Morrisonville, Kincaid, Edinburg

Rivers
  
Mosquito Creek, Opossum Creek, Willow Branch

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.

Contents

Map of Christian County, IL, USA

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

  • Macon County (northeast)
  • Shelby County (southeast)
  • Montgomery County (southwest)
  • Sangamon County (northwest)
  • Major highways

  • US Route 51
  • Illinois Route 16
  • Illinois Route 29
  • Illinois Route 48
  • Illinois Route 104
  • Climate and weather

    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

    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.

    Cities

  • Assumption
  • Pana
  • Taylorville
  • Census-designated places

  • Langleyville
  • Townships

    Christian County is divided into these seventeen townships:

    Notable people

  • Harry Forrester - member of the Illinois Basketball Hall of Fame and Quincy University Hall of Fame.
  • Jon Corzine - Former governor of New Jersey, former resident of Willey Station.
  • References

    Christian County, Illinois Wikipedia