Knox County, Illinois

Knox County, Illinois

Knox County Courthouse
Map of Illinois highlighting Knox County
Location in the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location in the U.S.
Founded 1825
Named for Henry Knox
Seat Galesburg
Largest city Galesburg
Area
 • Total 720 sq mi (1,865 km2)
 • Land 716 sq mi (1,854 km2)
 • Water 3.4 sq mi (9 km2), 0.5%
Population
 • (2010) 52,919
 • Density 74/sq mi (29/km²)
Congressional district 17th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.knoxcountyil.com

Knox County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 52,919.[1] Its county seat is Galesburg.[2]

Knox County comprises the Galesburg, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Knox County was named in honor of Henry Knox, the first US Secretary of War.[3]

The first "Knox County" in what today is Illinois was unrelated to the modern incarnation. In 1790, the land of the Indiana Territory that was to become Illinois was divided into two counties: St. Clair and Knox. The latter included land in what was to become Indiana. When Knox County, Indiana, was formed from this portion of the county in 1809, the Illinois portions were subdivided into counties that were given other names.

The modern Knox County, Illinois, was organized in 1825, from Fulton County, itself a portion of the original St. Clair County.

Like its neighbor to the south, Fulton County, for its Spoon River Drive, Knox County is also known for a similar scenic drive fall festival the first two weekends in October, the Knox County Drive.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 720 square miles (1,900 km2), of which 716 square miles (1,850 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4]

Climate and weather

Galesburg, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
1.4
 
 
29
13
 
 
1.6
 
 
35
19
 
 
2.8
 
 
48
29
 
 
3.8
 
 
61
40
 
 
4
 
 
73
51
 
 
4.2
 
 
81
61
 
 
4.4
 
 
85
65
 
 
4.1
 
 
82
63
 
 
3.5
 
 
75
55
 
 
2.5
 
 
63
43
 
 
2.7
 
 
47
31
 
 
2.3
 
 
33
19
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[5]

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Galesburg have ranged from a low of 13 °F (−11 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1982 and a record high of 102 °F (39 °C) was recorded in July 1983. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.41 inches (36 mm) in January to 4.37 inches (111 mm) in July.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2000 census age pyramid for Knox County
Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1830274—
18407,0602,476.6%
185013,27988.1%
186028,663115.9%
187039,52237.9%
188038,344−3.0%
189038,7521.1%
190043,61212.5%
191046,1595.8%
192046,7271.2%
193051,3369.9%
194052,2501.8%
195054,3664.0%
196061,28012.7%
197061,2800.0%
198061,6070.5%
199056,393−8.5%
200055,836−1.0%
201052,919−5.2%
Est. 201551,441[6]−2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 52,919 people, 21,535 households, and 13,324 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was 73.9 inhabitants per square mile (28.5/km2). There were 24,077 housing units at an average density of 33.6 per square mile (13.0/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 87.5% white, 7.2% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.9% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 23.1% were German, 14.9% were Irish, 11.7% were English, 11.6% were Swedish, and 8.0% were American.[12]

Of the 21,535 households, 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.1% were non-families, and 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 42.0 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,545 and the median income for a family was $51,740. Males had a median income of $42,067 versus $25,380 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,908. About 10.9% of families and 15.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.7% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Knox County is divided into twenty-one townships:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Government Printing Office. p. 177.
  4. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  5. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Galesburg, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
  6. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
  11. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  12. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.
  13. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12.

Further reading

 Mercer County Henry County
Warren County Stark County
   Knox County, Illinois  
Fulton County Peoria County

Coordinates: 40°56′N 90°13′W / 40.93°N 90.21°W / 40.93; -90.21

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