Montgomery County, Illinois

Not to be confused with Montgomery, Illinois.

Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 28,288.^[1] Its county seat is Hillsboro.^[2][3]

Montgomery County
County
Montgomery County Courthouse, Hillsboro
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°14′N 89°29′W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Founded	1821
Named for	Richard Montgomery
Seat	Hillsboro
Largest city	Litchfield
Area
• Total	710 sq mi (1,800 km2)
• Land	704 sq mi (1,820 km2)
• Water	6.0 sq mi (16 km2)  0.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	28,288
• Density	40/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district	15th
Website	www.montgomeryco.com

History

Montgomery County was formed in 1821 out of Bond and Madison counties. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada.^[4] Perrin's 1882 History of Montgomery County relates that the county was named in honor of Gen. Montgomery, but goes on to say that "others are dubious as to whence it received its name."

• 
  Montgomery County from the time of its creation to 1827
• 
  Montgomery County between 1827 and 1839
• 
  Montgomery in 1839, reduced to its present borders

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 710 square miles (1,800 km²), of which 704 square miles (1,820 km²) is land and 6.0 square miles (16 km²) (0.8%) is water.^[5]

Climate and weather

Hillsboro, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.2     37 21     2     44 26     3.6     56 35     4.2     68 45     4.3     78 55     4.1     87 64     3.5     91 68     3.5     89 66     3.2     82 58     2.9     71 47     3.8     55 37     3     42 26 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F █ Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel[6]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     55     3 −6     51     7 −3     90     13 2     106     20 7     109     26 13     103     31 18     88     33 20     90     32 19     80     28 14     74     22 8     97     13 3     76     6 −3 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Hillsboro have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 91 °F (33 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of 114 °F (46 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.00 inches (51 mm) in February to 4.31 inches (109 mm) in May.^[6]

Adjacent counties

• Sangamon County - north
• Christian County - northeast
• Shelby County - east
• Fayette County - southeast
• Bond County - south
• Madison County - southwest
• Macoupin County - west

Transportation

Major highways

• Interstate 55
• Illinois Route 16
• Illinois Route 48
• Illinois Route 108
• Illinois Route 127
• Illinois Route 185

Airports

Litchfield Municipal Airport is located in Montgomery County, two nautical miles (3.7 km) southwest of the central business district of Litchfield, Illinois.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1830	2,953		—
1840	4,490		52.0%
1850	6,277		39.8%
1860	13,979		122.7%
1870	25,314		81.1%
1880	28,078		10.9%
1890	30,003		6.9%
1900	30,836		2.8%
1910	35,311		14.5%
1920	41,403		17.3%
1930	35,278		−14.8%
1940	34,499		−2.2%
1950	32,460		−5.9%
1960	31,244		−3.7%
1970	30,260		−3.1%
1980	31,686		4.7%
1990	30,728		−3.0%
2000	30,652		−0.2%
2010	30,104		−1.8%
2020	28,288		−6.0%
2023 (est.)	27,663	[7]	−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010[12]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 30,104 people, 11,652 households, and 7,806 families living in the county.^[13] The population density was 42.8 inhabitants per square mile (16.5/km²). There were 13,080 housing units at an average density of 18.6 per square mile (7.2/km²).^[5] The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% white, 3.2% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population.^[13] In terms of ancestry, 27.8% were German, 11.2% were Irish, 10.1% were English, and 9.8% were American.^[14]

Of the 11,652 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.0% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 41.9 years.^[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $40,864 and the median income for a family was $56,945. Males had a median income of $40,749 versus $29,426 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,700. About 10.9% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.^[15]

Communities

Cities

• Coffeen
• Hillsboro
• Litchfield
• Nokomis
• Witt

Villages

• Butler
• Coalton
• Donnellson
• Farmersville
• Fillmore
• Harvel
• Irving
• Ohlman
• Panama
• Raymond
• Schram City
• Taylor Springs
• Waggoner
• Walshville
• Wenonah

Unincorporated communities

• Chapman
• Honey Bend
• Van Burensburg
• Zanesville
• Zenobia

Townships

• Audubon Township
• Bois D'Arc Township
• Butler Grove Township
• East Fork Township
• Fillmore Township
• Grisham Township
• Harvel Township
• Hillsboro Township
• Irving Township
• Nokomis Township
• North Litchfield Township
• Pitman Township
• Raymond Township
• Rountree Township
• South Litchfield Township
• Walshville Township
• Witt Township
• Zanesville Township

Former Townships

• South Fillmore Township

Notable people

• Donald T. Barry, nurse, businessman, and politician
• Avery Bourne, member of the Illinois House of Representatives
• Buddy Cole, jazz musician and composer
• Mortimer A. Cullen, politician in New York
• Harry Forrester, basketball and baseball coach
• Otto Funk (1868–1934), violinist
• John A. Graham, member of the Illinois Senate
• Glen Hobbie, baseball player
• Matt Hughes, UFC fighter
• Calvin Hultman, member of the Iowa House of Representatives
• Harold Osborn, track athlete
• Ray Richmond, baseball pitcher
• Red Ruffing, baseball player
• Walter Short, military officer

Politics

United States presidential election results for Montgomery County, Illinois^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	9,544	69.36%	3,905	28.38%	312	2.27%
2016	8,630	66.50%	3,504	27.00%	844	6.50%
2012	6,776	55.60%	5,058	41.50%	354	2.90%
2008	6,150	47.64%	6,491	50.28%	268	2.08%
2004	6,851	52.99%	5,979	46.24%	100	0.77%
2000	6,226	47.55%	6,542	49.97%	325	2.48%
1996	4,770	37.76%	6,338	50.18%	1,523	12.06%
1992	4,407	29.70%	7,424	50.04%	3,006	20.26%
1988	6,388	46.43%	7,293	53.01%	78	0.57%
1984	8,191	56.08%	6,360	43.55%	54	0.37%
1980	8,947	58.04%	5,721	37.11%	747	4.85%
1976	7,379	46.56%	8,322	52.51%	147	0.93%
1972	9,025	56.71%	6,858	43.10%	30	0.19%
1968	7,547	46.19%	7,318	44.79%	1,474	9.02%
1964	6,425	37.78%	10,581	62.22%	0	0.00%
1960	9,178	50.97%	8,815	48.95%	14	0.08%
1956	9,945	56.36%	7,692	43.59%	8	0.05%
1952	10,014	54.95%	8,195	44.97%	16	0.09%
1948	8,348	50.73%	7,902	48.02%	205	1.25%
1944	8,989	52.74%	7,855	46.08%	201	1.18%
1940	10,497	51.65%	9,654	47.50%	174	0.86%
1936	8,140	42.92%	10,132	53.43%	692	3.65%
1932	5,945	34.71%	10,456	61.05%	725	4.23%
1928	8,999	54.29%	7,392	44.60%	184	1.11%
1924	8,022	47.26%	5,622	33.12%	3,331	19.62%
1920	7,429	52.92%	4,756	33.88%	1,854	13.21%
1916	7,065	44.65%	7,903	49.94%	856	5.41%
1912	1,476	18.20%	3,705	45.69%	2,928	36.11%
1908	3,782	45.64%	3,909	47.17%	596	7.19%
1904	3,489	47.98%	3,181	43.74%	602	8.28%
1900	3,583	45.43%	4,078	51.71%	225	2.85%
1896	3,622	46.02%	4,117	52.31%	132	1.68%
1892	2,935	41.01%	3,707	51.80%	515	7.20%

See also

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

References

1. "Montgomery County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
2. "Hillsboro Illinois". City of Hillsboro. Retrieved February 15, 2012.
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
4. Allan H. Keith, Historical Stories: About Greenville and Bond County, IL. Consulted on August 15, 2007.
5. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
6. "Monthly Averages for Hillsboro, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
7. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
13. "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.
14. "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.
15. "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.
16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

External links

• Official website
• Historical Society of Montgomery County Illinois

39.23°N 89.48°W / 39.23; -89.48