Named for Albert Gallatin Congressional district 15th Area 849.5 km² Population 5,415 (2013) Unemployment rate 5.6% (Apr 2015) | Largest city Shawneetown Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5 Founded 1812 County seat Shawneetown | |
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Cities Shawneetown, Ridgway, Old Shawneetown, Equality Rivers Wabash River, Saline River, Little Wabash River | ||
Gallatin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 5,589, making it the fifth-least populous county in Illinois. Its county seat is Shawneetown. It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "Little Egypt".
Contents
- Map of Gallatin County IL USA
- History
- Geography
- Climate and weather
- Major highways
- Adjacent counties
- National protected area
- Government
- 2010
- 2000
- City
- Villages
- References
Map of Gallatin County, IL, USA
Being located at the mouth of the Wabash River, Gallatin County, along with neighboring Posey County, Indiana, and Union County, Kentucky form the tri-point of the Illinois-Indiana-Kentucky Tri-State Area.
History
Salt production served as the state's first major industry in the early 19th century. Saltworks developed first by Native Americans and the French at the Great Salt Spring on the south side of the Saline River about five miles downstream from Equality. Beginning in 1803, salt works developed also at Half Moon Lick southwest of Equality on the north side of the Saline River. Today Half Moon Lick is on private land, but the Great Salt Springs are located on public lands in the Shawnee National Forest about one mile west of the Saline River bridge across Illinois Route 1 on Salt Well Road.
The county was organized in 1812, having been formed from Randolph County. The county was named for Albert Gallatin, who was Secretary of the Treasury at the time. At that time the bank at Shawneetown was the only bank in Illinois. It was the one later associated with the John Marshall House, which has been rebuilt and serves as museum for the Gallatin County Historical Society. It is not to be confused with the larger State Bank of Illinois building that is now a state historic site about a block away in what is now Old Shawneetown
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 328 square miles (850 km2), of which 323 square miles (840 km2) is land and 5.1 square miles (13 km2) (1.6%) is water.
The Wabash and Ohio rivers join in the northeastern part of the county. The Saline River is a major drainage in the county, and it feeds into the Ohio River.
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Shawneetown have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in August 2007. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.22 inches (82 mm) in October to 5.02 inches (128 mm) in May.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
National protected area
Government
Gallatin County government is led by a five-member county board. In addition, the county is divided into ten townships.
2010
Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:
2000
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,589 people, 2,403 households, and 1,556 families residing in the county. The population density was 17.3 inhabitants per square mile (6.7/km2). There were 2,746 housing units at an average density of 8.5 per square mile (3.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.9% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.2% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.6% were German, 22.9% were Irish, 10.7% were English, and 7.0% were American.
Of the 2,403 households, 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.6% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.2% were non-families, and 31.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 44.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,003 and the median income for a family was $48,892. Males had a median income of $38,801 versus $22,425 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,537. About 12.4% of families and 18.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 14.9% of those age 65 or over.