Brown County, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Brown County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Illinois
. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 6,937, which is a decrease of 0.2% from 6,950 in 2000. Its county seat
is Mount Sterling
. Siloam Springs State Park
is located partly in this county.
, who defeated the British at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor
in 1813.
flows along part of the county's eastern border.
:
As of the census
of 2000, there were 6,950 people, 2,108 households, and 1,380 families residing in the county. The population density
was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 2,456 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.29% White
, 18.20% Black
or African American
, 0.09% Native American
, 0.13% Asian
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
, 0.68% from other races
, and 0.55% from two or more races. 3.93% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 31.7% were of German
, 22.2% American
, 16.3% English
and 12.8% Irish
ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.4% spoke English
and 3.3% Spanish
as their first language.
There were 2,108 households out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples
living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.50% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county the population was spread out with 17.80% under the age of 18, 12.60% from 18 to 24, 37.50% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 174.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 194.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,445, and the median income for a family was $43,207. Males had a median income of $24,888 versus $20,558 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $14,629. About 4.80% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.
The Illinois state prison, Western Illinois Correctional Center, located south east of Mount Sterling, has an average daily population of 2,066. The all male population and racial makeup of the prison is so large, compared to the rest of the county, that it skews the census demographic data. This is evidenced by the lopsided age pyramid.http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/facilities/information.asp?instchoice=wil
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 6,937, which is a decrease of 0.2% from 6,950 in 2000. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Mount Sterling
Mount Sterling, Illinois
Mount Sterling is a city in Brown County, Illinois, USA. The population was 2,070 at the 2000 census. It is also the county seat.-Geography:Mount Sterling is located at ....
. Siloam Springs State Park
Siloam Springs State Park
Siloam Springs State Park is an Illinois state park on in Adams and Brown counties, Illinois, United States....
is located partly in this county.
History
Brown County was formed out of Schuyler County in 1839. It is named in honor of Gen. Jacob BrownJacob Brown
Jacob Jennings Brown was an American army officer in the War of 1812. His successes on the northern border during that war made him a hero. In 1821 he was appointed commanding general of the U.S. Army and held that post until his death.-Early life:Born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Jacob Jennings...
, who defeated the British at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor
Battle of Sackett's Harbor
The Second Battle of Sacket's Harbor or simply the Battle of Sacket's Harbor, took place on 29 May 1813, during the War of 1812. A British force was transported across Lake Ontario and attempted to capture the town, which was the principal dockyard and base for the American naval squadron on the lake...
in 1813.
Geography
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 307.2 square miles (795.6 km²), of which 305.61 square miles (791.5 km²) (or 99.48%) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km²) (or 0.52%) is water. The Illinois RiverIllinois River
The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the State of Illinois. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, with a drainage basin of . This river was important among Native Americans and early French traders as the principal water route...
flows along part of the county's eastern border.
Adjacent counties
- Schuyler County - north
- Cass County - east
- Morgan County - southeast
- Pike CountyPike County, IllinoisPike County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 16,430, which is a decrease of 5.5% from 17,384 in 2000...
- south - Adams CountyAdams County, IllinoisAdams County is the westernmost county of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 67,103, which is a decrease of 1.7% from 68,277 in 2000...
- west
Major highways
-
US Route 24 -
Illinois Route 99Illinois Route 99Illinois Route 99 is a north–south state road in western Illinois. It runs from Illinois Route 104 across the Illinois River and Meredosia, north to Illinois Route 101 in Brooklyn . This is a distance of .- Route description :... -
Illinois Route 107Illinois Route 107Illinois Route 107 is a north–south state highway in western Illinois. It runs from the northern terminus of U.S. Route 54 between Pittsfield and Griggsville north to Illinois Route 99 in Mt. Sterling. This is a distance of .- Route description :...
Cities and towns
- Mound StationMound Station, IllinoisMound Station is a village in Brown County, Illinois, United States. The population was 127 at the 2000 census.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land....
- Mount SterlingMount Sterling, IllinoisMount Sterling is a city in Brown County, Illinois, USA. The population was 2,070 at the 2000 census. It is also the county seat.-Geography:Mount Sterling is located at ....
- RipleyRipley, IllinoisRipley is a village in Brown County, Illinois, along La Moine River. The population was 103 according to the year 2000 census.-Geography:Ripley is located at ....
- VersaillesVersailles, IllinoisVersailles is a village in Brown County, Illinois, United States. The population was 567 at the 2000 census. The city's name is pronounced differently from the French city of the same name: "ver-".-Geography:...
Townships
Brown County is divided into these nine townshipsCivil township
A civil township is a widely used unit of local government in the United States, subordinate to, and geographic divisions of, a county. Specific responsibilities and the degree of autonomy vary based on each state. Civil townships are distinct from survey townships, but in states that have both,...
:
|
Mount Sterling Township, Brown County, Illinois Mount Sterling Township is one of nine townships in Brown County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,562.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Mount Sterling Township covers an area of ; of this, or 0.16 percent is water.-Unincorporated towns:*... Pea Ridge Township, Brown County, Illinois Pea Ridge Township is one of nine townships in Brown County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 188.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Pea Ridge Township covers an area of .-Unincorporated towns:* Damon... Ripley Township, Brown County, Illinois Ripley Township is one of nine townships in Brown County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 121.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Ripley Township covers an area of .-Political districts:... Versailles Township, Brown County, Illinois Versailles Township is one of nine townships in Brown County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 849.-Geography:According to the United States Census Bureau, Versailles Township covers an area of ; of this, or 1.71 percent is water.... |
School districts
- Brown County Community Unit School District 1Brown County Community Unit School District 1Brown County Community Unit School District 1 is a unified school district located in Mount Sterling, the county seat of Brown County, Illinois; it was created out of sixty-seven individual school districts and one parochial school....
- Meredosia-Chambersburg Community Unit School District 11
- Southeastern Community Unit School District 337
Political districts
- Illinois' 18th congressional districtIllinois' 18th congressional districtThe 18th Congressional District of Illinois covers central and western Illinois, including the cities of Jacksonville, Peoria, and Springfield. It is represented by Aaron Schock.-Voting:-2008:...
- State House District 93
- State Senate District 47
Demographics
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 6,950 people, 2,108 households, and 1,380 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 2,456 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.29% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 18.20% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.09% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.13% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.07% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.68% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.55% from two or more races. 3.93% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 31.7% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 22.2% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, 16.3% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
and 12.8% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.4% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and 3.3% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
as their first language.
There were 2,108 households out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.50% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county the population was spread out with 17.80% under the age of 18, 12.60% from 18 to 24, 37.50% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 174.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 194.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,445, and the median income for a family was $43,207. Males had a median income of $24,888 versus $20,558 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $14,629. About 4.80% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.
The Illinois state prison, Western Illinois Correctional Center, located south east of Mount Sterling, has an average daily population of 2,066. The all male population and racial makeup of the prison is so large, compared to the rest of the county, that it skews the census demographic data. This is evidenced by the lopsided age pyramid.http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/facilities/information.asp?instchoice=wil
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Mount Sterling have ranged from a low of 15 °F (-9.4 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (30.6 °C) in July, although a record low of -26 °F was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.55 inches (3.9 cm) in January to 5.14 inches (13.1 cm) in May.See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Brown County, Illinois