Douglas County
Douglas County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the population was 19,980. The county seat is Tuscola.

History

Douglas County was formed in 1859 out of Coles County. It was named in honor of Stephen A. Douglas, who was elected to the United States Senate in 1858, following the Lincoln-Douglas Debates.

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  The creation of Douglas and Ford Counties in 1859 resulted in Illinois’ current county map.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 417 square miles (1,080 km²), of which 417 square miles (1,080 km²) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km²) (0.1%) is water.

Climate and weather

Arthur, Illinois
Climate chart
J F M A M J J A S O N D 2.3 34 18 2.1 41 23 3.1 53 33 3.8 66 42 4 76 53 4.2 85 62 4.6 88 66 3.7 86 64 3.1 80 56 2.9 68 45 3.7 52 35 3.1 39 24 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Tuscola have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in December 1989 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.12 inches (54 mm) in February to 4.64 inches (118 mm) in July.

Adjacent counties

• Champaign County – north
• Vermilion County – northeast
• Edgar County – east
• Coles County – south
• Moultrie County – west
• Piatt County – northwest

Major highways

• Interstate 57
• US Route 36
• US Route 45
• Illinois Route 49
• Illinois Route 130
• Illinois Route 133

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1860	7,140		—
1870	13,484		88.9%
1880	15,853		17.6%
1890	17,669		11.5%
1900	19,097		8.1%
1910	19,591		2.6%
1920	19,604		0.1%
1930	17,914		−8.6%
1940	17,590		−1.8%
1950	16,706		−5.0%
1960	19,243		15.2%
1970	18,997		−1.3%
1980	19,774		4.1%
1990	19,464		−1.6%
2000	19,922		2.4%
2010	19,980		0.3%
Est. 2016	19,630		−1.8%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2014

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 19,980 people, 7,720 households, and 5,377 families residing in the county. The population density was 48.0 inhabitants per square mile (18.5/km²). There were 8,390 housing units at an average density of 20.1 per square mile (7.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 2.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 29.6% were German, 12.6% were American, 12.1% were English, and 10.7% were Irish.

Of the 7,720 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.3% were non-families, and 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 38.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,941 and the median income for a family was $60,352. Males had a median income of $41,318 versus $28,731 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,438. About 7.1% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities

• Arcola
• Newman
• Tuscola
• Villa Grove

Villages

• Arthur
• Atwood
• Camargo
• Garrett
• Hindsboro

Unincorporated communities

• Hugo
• Kemp

Townships

Douglas County is divided into nine townships:

Politics

Presidential Elections Results

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2016	69.5% 5,698	23.8% 1,949	6.7% 548
2012	67.3% 5,334	30.7% 2,430	2.0% 157
2008	59.7% 5,005	38.5% 3,228	1.7% 146
2004	66.8% 5,702	32.4% 2,767	0.8% 71
2000	58.1% 4,734	39.4% 3,215	2.5% 203
1996	46.7% 3,272	42.1% 2,955	11.2% 786
1992	40.0% 3,309	40.4% 3,341	19.6% 1,626
1988	57.6% 4,378	41.9% 3,184	0.5% 36
1984	66.1% 5,691	33.5% 2,886	0.3% 27
1980	64.3% 5,330	30.9% 2,564	4.8% 400
1976	54.4% 4,635	44.9% 3,826	0.7% 61
1972	68.7% 5,840	31.2% 2,656	0.1% 10
1968	59.3% 5,058	33.1% 2,824	7.7% 655
1964	47.4% 4,223	52.7% 4,695
1960	62.0% 5,761	38.0% 3,532	0.1% 6
1956	66.7% 5,559	33.3% 2,774	0.1% 6
1952	67.1% 5,530	32.8% 2,706	0.1% 5
1948	58.7% 4,181	40.6% 2,893	0.8% 55
1944	58.3% 4,684	41.4% 3,323	0.4% 28
1940	54.3% 5,451	45.0% 4,513	0.7% 67
1936	47.5% 4,606	51.9% 5,029	0.6% 59
1932	37.7% 3,108	60.2% 4,954	2.1% 174
1928	68.2% 4,890	31.2% 2,239	0.6% 42
1924	55.7% 4,046	31.8% 2,315	12.5% 909
1920	65.2% 4,885	30.8% 2,308	4.0% 298
1916	52.2% 4,564	43.1% 3,768	4.8% 416
1912	31.0% 1,386	36.6% 1,633	32.5% 1,448
1908	55.3% 2,656	39.9% 1,917	4.7% 227
1904	54.8% 2,518	36.7% 1,685	8.5% 392
1900	55.5% 2,733	42.7% 2,106	1.8% 89
1896	54.8% 2,666	44.0% 2,140	1.3% 61
1892	50.5% 2,246	44.9% 1,999	4.6% 204

Douglas is a powerfully Republican county. Apart from a narrow plurality of thirty-two votes to Bill Clinton in 1992, it has voted Republican in every Presidential election since 1968, and in all both five overall since 1880. Despite its long-time Republican leanings, Hillary Clinton’s 2016 performance of gaining a mere 23.8 percent of the county’s vote stands over six percent worse than any Democrat since the Civil War.

Moultrie County

Moultrie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 14,846. Its county seat is Sullivan. The name is pronounced as in “mole tree”, unlike the pronunciation of its namesake, South Carolinian William Moultrie.

History

Moultrie County was formed in 1843 out of Shelby and Macon counties. It is named for South Carolina General, and later Governor, William Moultrie. General Moultrie defended Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina from British attack in 1776. The site was later renamed Fort Moultrie. Nearby Jasper County was named for Sgt. William Jasper, another hero of the defense of Sullivan’s Island.

The official flag of the county is the Moultrie Flag, which was flown over the new fortress on Sullivan’s Island, when Moultrie defended it, and was designed by Moultrie, himself. It went on to become iconic of liberty in the South.

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  Moultrie County at the time of its creation in 1843

• 

  Moultrie Flag, the official flag of the county

• 

  The Moultrie Flag being raised by Sergeant William Jasper

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 344 square miles (890 km²), of which 336 square miles (870 km²) is land and 8.5 square miles (22 km²) (2.5%) is water.

Climate and weather

Sullivan, Illinois
Climate chart
J F M A M J J A S O N D 2 34 19 1.9 41 24 3.3 52 33 3.7 65 43 4 75 53 4.1 83 62 4 87 66 3.3 85 63 3.1 80 56 3.1 68 45 3.9 52 35 3 39 24 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Sullivan have ranged from a low of 19 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1915 and a record high of 111 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.89 inches (48 mm) in February to 4.05 inches (103 mm) in June.

Major highways

• U.S. Route 36
• Illinois Route 16
• Illinois Route 32
• Illinois Route 121
• Illinois Route 133

Adjacent counties

• Piatt County – north
• Douglas County – east
• Coles County – east
• Shelby County – south
• Macon County – northwest

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	3,234		—
1860	6,385		97.4%
1870	10,385		62.6%
1880	13,699		31.9%
1890	14,481		5.7%
1900	15,224		5.1%
1910	14,630		−3.9%
1920	14,839		1.4%
1930	13,247		−10.7%
1940	13,477		1.7%
1950	13,171		−2.3%
1960	13,635		3.5%
1970	13,263		−2.7%
1980	14,546		9.7%
1990	13,930		−4.2%
2000	14,287		2.6%
2010	14,846		3.9%
Est. 2016	14,827		−0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,846 people, 5,758 households, and 4,053 families residing in the county. The population density was 44.2 inhabitants per square mile (17.1/km²). There were 6,260 housing units at an average density of 18.6 per square mile (7.2/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.5% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.8% were German, 12.0% were Irish, 11.4% were American, and 10.9% were English.

Of the 5,758 households, 31.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.6% were married couples living together, 8.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.6% were non-families, and 25.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 40.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,364 and the median income for a family was $54,494. Males had a median income of $42,581 versus $26,799 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,954. About 6.2% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.2% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Sullivan

Villages

• Allenville
• Arthur
• Bethany
• Dalton City
• Gays
• Lovington

Townships

Education

• Sullivan Community Unit School District 300
• Okaw Valley Community Unit School District 302

Presidential Elections Results^[13]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third Parties
2016	70.9% 4,455	23.6% 1,481	5.5% 347
2012	62.3% 3,784	35.3% 2,144	2.4% 147
2008	55.3% 3,471	42.5% 2,668	2.1% 134
2004	62.3% 4,028	36.9% 2,388	0.8% 50
2000	53.4% 3,058	44.2% 2,529	2.4% 138
1996	40.3% 2,199	48.2% 2,629	11.4% 623
1992	31.9% 2,065	47.3% 3,056	20.8% 1,344
1988	51.0% 3,167	48.5% 3,013	0.5% 32
1984	59.2% 3,593	40.5% 2,458	0.4% 21
1980	56.7% 3,495	37.9% 2,332	5.4% 334
1976	45.4% 2,803	54.0% 3,332	0.6% 34
1972	57.1% 3,143	42.7% 2,350	0.3% 14
1968	50.5% 3,094	39.9% 2,447	9.6% 586
1964	40.0% 2,493	60.0% 3,733	0.0% 0
1960	54.9% 3,752	45.1% 3,079	0.0% 0
1956	57.7% 3,756	42.2% 2,751	0.1% 8
1952	59.1% 3,880	40.8% 2,675	0.1% 8
1948	49.4% 3,043	49.3% 3,037	1.3% 81
1944	52.3% 3,180	46.9% 2,853	0.8% 46
1940	49.3% 3,636	50.1% 3,696	0.6% 41
1936	42.4% 3,074	56.7% 4,110	0.9% 65
1932	35.4% 2,353	63.5% 4,219	1.1% 74
1928	60.3% 3,310	39.5% 2,168	0.2% 10
1924	53.1% 3,001	42.5% 2,403	4.4% 248
1920	55.8% 3,279	42.7% 2,513	1.5% 89
1916	45.0% 2,933	51.7% 3,370	3.4% 222
1912	26.7% 853	47.0% 1,501	26.4% 842
1908	48.4% 1,704	48.2% 1,695	3.4% 119
1904	50.6% 1,719	43.3% 1,470	6.1% 208
1900	45.9% 1,728	52.4% 1,975	1.7% 65
1896	44.8% 1,711	54.4% 2,077	0.8% 32
1892	39.2% 1,287	50.8% 1,670	10.0% 329