Named for Nathaniel Macon Congressional district 13th Website www.co.macon.il.us Population 109,278 (2013) County seat Decatur | Largest city Decatur Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5 Founded 1829 Unemployment rate 5.9% (Apr 2015) | |
 | ||
Destinations Decatur, Forsyth, Mt. Zion Colleges and Universities Millikin University, Richland Community College, Mr John's School of Cosmetol Points of interest Scovill Zoo, Children's Museum of Illinois, Spitler Woods State Nat, Fairview Park, Nelson Park | ||
Macon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 110,768. Its county seat is Decatur.
Contents
- Map of Macon County IL USA
- History
- Geography
- Climate and weather
- Major highways
- Adjacent counties
- Demographics
- Cities
- Census designated place
- Other unincorporated communities
- References
Map of Macon County, IL, USA
Macon County comprises the Decatur, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Macon County was formed on January 19, 1829 out of Shelby County. It was named for Nathaniel Macon, who served as a Colonel in the Revolutionary War. Macon later served as senator from North Carolina until his resignation in 1828. In 1830, future President Abraham Lincoln and his family moved to Macon County.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 586 square miles (1,520 km2), of which 581 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 5.2 square miles (13 km2) (0.9%) is water.
Macon County is primarily flat, as is most of the state and all of the surrounding counties, the result of geological activity during the Pleistocene epoch. During the Illinoian Stage of the Pleistocene, the Laurentide ice sheet covered roughly 85 percent of Illinois, including all of present-day Macon County. The subsequent thaw of the region and retreat of the ice sheet left central Illinois with the characteristic flat topography which it is known for today.
Because of its central location, Macon County is often referred to as "The Heart of Illinois."
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Decatur have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °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 1905 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.95 inches (50 mm) in February to 4.54 inches (115 mm) in July.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
Demographics
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 110,768 people, 45,855 households, and 29,326 families residing in the county. The population density was 190.8 inhabitants per square mile (73.7/km2). There were 50,475 housing units at an average density of 86.9 per square mile (33.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 79.3% white, 16.3% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.7% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 21.7% were German, 17.0% were American, 12.9% were Irish, and 10.8% were English.
Of the 45,855 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.0% were non-families, and 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 40.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,337 and the median income for a family was $57,570. Males had a median income of $48,570 versus $31,568 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,726. About 10.3% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.