Marion County, Illinois

Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 39,437.[1] Its county seat is Salem.[2]

Not to be confused with Marion, Illinois.

Marion County
U.S. county
Marion County Courthouse in Salem
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°39′N 88°55′W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Founded	1823
Named for	Francis Marion
Seat	Salem
Largest city	Centralia
Area
• Total	576 sq mi (1,490 km^2)
• Land	572 sq mi (1,480 km^2)
• Water	3.7 sq mi (10 km^2)  0.6%
Population  (2010)
• Total	39,437
• Estimate  (2018)	37,620
• Density	68/sq mi (26/km^2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	15th

Marion County comprises the Centralia, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL Combined Statistical Area.

History

Marion County was organized on 24 January 1823 from portions of Jefferson and Fayette counties. It was named in honor of Revolutionary War Gen. Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox".[3]

• 
  Marion County at the time of its creation in 1823

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,490 km²), of which 572 square miles (1,480 km²) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km²) (0.6%) is water.[4]

The southwest corner of Marion County is the intersection of the Baseline with the Third Principal Meridian, the point of origin for the third survey of the Northwest Territory under the Land Ordinance of 1785. The origin is marked with a boulder south of Centralia just off U.S. 51.

Climate and weather

Salem, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.5     37 18     2.5     43 22     4     54 33     4     65 44     4.4     75 54     4.2     84 63     3.9     88 68     3.4     87 66     3.2     80 57     3.1     69 45     4.1     54 34     3.3     42 24 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel[5]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     62     3 −8     64     6 −6     101     12 1     102     18 7     111     24 12     105     29 17     99     31 20     87     31 19     82     27 14     79     21 7     105     12 1     83     6 −4 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Salem 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 −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1983. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.46 inches (62 mm) in January to 4.37 inches (111 mm) in May.[5]

Major highways

• Interstate 57
• U.S. Route 50
• U.S. Route 51
• Illinois Route 37
• Illinois Route 161

Adjacent counties

• Fayette County - north
• Clay County - east
• Wayne County - southeast
• Jefferson County - south
• Washington County - southwest
• Clinton County - west

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	2,125		—
1840	4,742		123.2%
1850	6,720		41.7%
1860	12,739		89.6%
1870	20,622		61.9%
1880	23,686		14.9%
1890	24,341		2.8%
1900	30,446		25.1%
1910	35,094		15.3%
1920	37,497		6.8%
1930	35,635		−5.0%
1940	47,989		34.7%
1950	41,700		−13.1%
1960	39,349		−5.6%
1970	38,986		−0.9%
1980	43,523		11.6%
1990	41,561		−4.5%
2000	41,691		0.3%
2010	39,437		−5.4%
Est. 2018	37,620	[6]	−4.6%
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 39,437 people, 16,148 households, and 10,746 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was 68.9 inhabitants per square mile (26.6/km²). There were 18,296 housing units at an average density of 32.0 per square mile (12.4/km²).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 93.1% white, 3.9% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 27.5% were German, 15.8% were Irish, 13.6% were English, and 10.8% were American.[12]

Of the 16,148 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.5% were non-families, and 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 41.4 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,974 and the median income for a family was $50,518. Males had a median income of $41,428 versus $28,042 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,493. About 12.2% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Communities

Cities

• Centralia
• Kinmundy
• Salem
• Wamac

Villages

• Alma
• Central City
• Iuka
• Junction City
• Kell
• Odin
• Patoka
• Sandoval
• Vernon
• Walnut Hill

Census-designated places

• Cartter
• Fairman
• Finney Heights
• Glen Ridge
• Helm
• Slap Out
• Suburban

Townships

Marion County is divided into seventeen townships:

• Alma
• Carrigan
• Centralia
• Foster
• Haines
• Iuka
• Kinmundy
• Meacham
• Odin
• Omega
• Patoka
• Raccoon
• Romine
• Salem
• Sandoval
• Stevenson
• Tonti

Politics

Initially a strongly Democratic anti-Yankee county, Marion County has undergone two transitions. Between 1912 and 2004 it was a perfect bellwether apart from the Catholicism-influenced 1960 election when substantial anti-Catholic voting by its largely southern white population caused it to support Republican Richard Nixon. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, strong opposition to the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues has transformed the county into a powerfully Republican one,[14] with Hillary Clinton receiving a vote share over twelve percent smaller than any pre-2010 Democratic presidential nominee.

Presidential elections results

Presidential elections results[15]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2016	69.4% 11,859	25.6% 4,369	5.1% 870
2012	58.5% 9,248	39.4% 6,225	2.2% 347
2008	49.9% 8,691	47.9% 8,345	2.2% 374
2004	54.7% 9,413	44.7% 7,694	0.7% 117
2000	49.5% 8,240	48.4% 8,068	2.1% 355
1996	38.1% 5,999	49.4% 7,792	12.5% 1,972
1992	30.5% 5,764	51.2% 9,669	18.3% 3,450
1988	50.1% 8,695	49.5% 8,592	0.5% 86
1984	59.7% 11,300	40.1% 7,599	0.2% 46
1980	58.7% 10,969	37.4% 6,990	3.9% 719
1976	46.6% 8,729	52.5% 9,834	0.8% 157
1972	60.6% 10,755	39.3% 6,968	0.2% 31
1968	46.1% 8,134	43.8% 7,737	10.1% 1,778
1964	36.4% 7,060	63.7% 12,363
1960	54.9% 11,121	45.0% 9,116	0.1% 13
1956	55.8% 10,813	44.1% 8,551	0.1% 21
1952	53.6% 10,804	46.3% 9,317	0.1% 19
1948	46.2% 7,798	52.6% 8,878	1.2% 208
1944	47.9% 9,408	51.3% 10,079	0.8% 153
1940	42.7% 10,461	56.4% 13,807	0.9% 208
1936	42.8% 8,321	55.6% 10,820	1.6% 305
1932	36.1% 6,276	62.1% 10,791	1.8% 313
1928	60.5% 9,110	38.7% 5,823	0.8% 119
1924	44.0% 5,889	35.6% 4,768	20.4% 2,724
1920	52.1% 6,620	34.2% 4,351	13.7% 1,744
1916	43.0% 6,438	52.7% 7,892	4.3% 646
1912	20.1% 1,586	44.3% 3,493	35.6% 2,813
1908	43.1% 3,435	50.2% 4,001	6.6% 527
1904	47.3% 3,190	36.9% 2,490	15.9% 1,071
1900	43.9% 3,221	53.5% 3,928	2.6% 191
1896	42.3% 2,870	56.6% 3,835	1.1% 77
1892	39.9% 2,324	46.5% 2,709	13.6% 794

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, Illinois

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 200.
4. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
5. "Monthly Averages for Salem, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Archived from the original on May 29, 2017. Retrieved November 6, 2019.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
11. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
12. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
13. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
14. Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’ Archived 2017-07-28 at the Wayback Machine, New York Times, April 24, 2014
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.