Pike County, Illinois

Pike County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. It is located between the Mississippi River and the Illinois River in western Illinois. According to the 2020 United States Census, it had a population of 14,739.[1] Its county seat is Pittsfield.[2]

Pike County
County
Pike County Courthouse, Pittsfield
Pike County Courthouse, Pittsfield
Map of Illinois highlighting Pike County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°37′N 90°53′W
Country United States
State Illinois
FoundedJanuary 31, 1821
Named forZebulon Pike
SeatPittsfield
Largest cityPittsfield
Area
 • Total849 sq mi (2,200 km2)
 • Land831 sq mi (2,150 km2)
 • Water18 sq mi (50 km2)  2.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,739
 • Density17/sq mi (6.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district15th
Websitewww.pikecountyil.org

History

Pike County was formed in January 1821 out of Madison County. It was named in honor of Zebulon Pike, leader of the Pike Expedition in 1806 to map out the south and west portions of the Louisiana Purchase. Pike served at the Battle of Tippecanoe, and was killed in 1813 in the War of 1812.

Prior to the coming of the first European settler to the future Pike County, French traders, hunters, and travelers passed through the native forests and prairies. Originally Pike County began on the south junction of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. The east boundary was the Illinois River north to the Kankakee River to the Indiana State line on north to Wisconsin territorial line and then west to the Mississippi River to the original point at the south end. The first county seat was Cole's Grove, a post town, in what later became Calhoun County. The Gazetteer of Illinois and Missouri, published in 1822, mentioned Chicago as "a village of Pike County" containing 12 or 15 houses and about 60 or 70 inhabitants.

The New Philadelphia Town Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005, designated a National Historic Landmark in 2009, and established as a National Park in 2022. Founded by Frank McWorter, an early free black settler in Pike County, it was the first town founded by a black man in the United States. McWorter had invested in land there sight unseen after purchasing the first few members of his family out of slavery. In 1836 he founded the town of New Philadelphia, near Barry. He was elected mayor and lived there the rest of his life. With the sale of land, he made enough money to purchase the freedom of his children. After the railroad bypassed the town, its growth slowed and it was eventually abandoned in the 20th century. The town site is now an archaeological site.

In the early 21st century, Pike County acquired notability as a whitetail deer hunting center, especially for bowhunting.

  • Pike County from the time of its creation to 1823
    Pike County from the time of its creation to 1823
  • Pike County between 1823 and 1825, including unorganized territory temporarily attached to it
    Pike County between 1823 and 1825, including unorganized territory temporarily attached to it[3]
  • Pike County in 1825, reduced to its present borders
    Pike County in 1825, reduced to its present borders

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 849 square miles (2,200 km2), of which 831 square miles (2,150 km2) is land and 18 square miles (47 km2) (2.1%) is water.[4]

Pike County is located on the highlands between the Illinois River, which forms its eastern border, and the Mississippi River, which borders Missouri. It has two interstate highways, I-72, with bridges spanning both rivers to enter the county, and I-172 which extends about 300 feet (91 m) into the county to its intersection with I-72.

Climate and weather
Pittsfield, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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3.4
 
 
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source:The Weather Channel[5]
Metric conversion
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77
 
 
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19
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86
 
 
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Pittsfield have ranged from a low of 15 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of 115 °F (46 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.74 inches (44 mm) in January to 4.11 inches (104 mm) in May.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Pike County is one of the few US counties to border as many as nine counties. Illinois has two – Pike and LaSalle.

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18302,396—
184011,728389.5%
185018,81960.5%
186027,24944.8%
187030,76812.9%
188033,7519.7%
189031,000−8.2%
190031,5951.9%
191028,622−9.4%
192026,866−6.1%
193024,357−9.3%
194025,3404.0%
195022,155−12.6%
196020,552−7.2%
197019,185−6.7%
198018,896−1.5%
199017,577−7.0%
200017,384−1.1%
201016,430−5.5%
202014,739−10.3%
US Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010[10]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 16,430 people, 6,639 households, and 4,527 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was 19.8 inhabitants per square mile (7.6/km2). There were 7,951 housing units at an average density of 9.6 per square mile (3.7/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 96.9% white, 1.7% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 26.3% were German, 16.8% were American, 15.1% were English, and 13.4% were Irish.[12]

Of the 6,639 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.8% were non-families, and 27.8% 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 42.5 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $40,205 and the median income for a family was $50,426. Males had a median income of $39,071 versus $26,835 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,996. About 11.3% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.[13]

Politics

Pike County was reliably Democratic from 1892 through 1948; only 2 Republican Party nominees carried the county vote during that period. However, it was a national bellwether in every presidential election from 1912 to 2004 aside from 1924 & 1988. Since 2000, the county has become a Republican stronghold, with Donald Trump winning it in the 2016 presidential election by a margin of 57.6 points. The county is located in Illinois's 18th Congressional District and is currently represented by Republican Davin LaHood. For the Illinois House of Representatives, the county is located in the 100th district and is currently represented by Republican C.D. Davidsmeyer. The county is located in the 50th district of the Illinois Senate, and is currently represented by Republican William McCann.

United States presidential election results for Pike County, Illinois[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 6,332 79.50% 1,484 18.63% 149 1.87%
2016 5,754 76.41% 1,413 18.76% 363 4.82%
2012 4,860 66.56% 2,278 31.20% 164 2.25%
2008 4,457 58.31% 3,024 39.57% 162 2.12%
2004 5,032 63.06% 2,849 35.70% 99 1.24%
2000 4,706 58.01% 3,198 39.42% 208 2.56%
1996 3,225 40.56% 3,604 45.32% 1,123 14.12%
1992 3,342 36.98% 4,016 44.44% 1,679 18.58%
1988 3,965 46.11% 4,614 53.66% 20 0.23%
1984 5,295 57.03% 3,965 42.70% 25 0.27%
1980 5,301 56.63% 3,695 39.47% 365 3.90%
1976 4,975 49.21% 5,006 49.52% 129 1.28%
1972 5,940 60.23% 3,883 39.37% 40 0.41%
1968 5,035 50.66% 4,191 42.17% 713 7.17%
1964 4,113 38.48% 6,576 61.52% 0 0.00%
1960 5,965 52.16% 5,461 47.75% 10 0.09%
1956 5,920 52.31% 5,382 47.55% 16 0.14%
1952 6,382 54.97% 5,219 44.95% 10 0.09%
1948 4,722 45.00% 5,674 54.07% 98 0.93%
1944 5,633 48.85% 5,833 50.58% 66 0.57%
1940 6,619 45.83% 7,676 53.15% 146 1.01%
1936 5,589 40.00% 8,187 58.59% 198 1.42%
1932 4,181 33.58% 8,013 64.35% 258 2.07%
1928 6,705 61.88% 4,008 36.99% 123 1.14%
1924 4,989 45.59% 5,424 49.57% 530 4.84%
1920 5,564 54.12% 4,279 41.62% 437 4.25%
1916 5,293 41.35% 7,005 54.73% 501 3.91%
1912 1,169 17.65% 3,371 50.90% 2,083 31.45%
1908 2,932 40.36% 3,859 53.12% 474 6.52%
1904 3,007 44.42% 3,112 45.97% 650 9.60%
1900 3,045 38.01% 4,715 58.85% 252 3.15%
1896 3,111 36.26% 5,329 62.12% 139 1.62%
1892 2,751 36.62% 3,494 46.51% 1,268 16.88%

Communities

Settlements
Settlement Population[15] Type Townships
Barry 1,318 City Barry
Baylis 200 Village New Salem
Detroit 83 Village Detroit
El Dara 78 Village Derry
Florence 17 Village Detroit
Griggsville 1,226 City Griggsville
Hull 461 Village Kinderhook
Kinderhook 216 Village Barry, Kinderhook
Milton 271 Village Montezuma
Nebo 340 Village Spring Creek
New Canton 359 Town Pleasant Vale
New Salem 136 Village New Salem
Pearl 138 Village Pearl
Perry 397 Village Perry
Pittsfield† 4,576 City Newburg, Pittsfield
Pleasant Hill 966 Village Pleasant Hill
Rockport 67 CDP Atlas
Time 29 Village Hardin
Valley City 13 Village Flint

† - County Seat

Townships
Township Population[15] Housing Units[15] Total Area[15] Land Area[15] Water Area[15]
Atlas 563 321 67.88 sq mi (175.8 km2) 63.71 sq mi (165.0 km2) 4.17 sq mi (10.8 km2)
Barry 1,675 791 38.51 sq mi (99.7 km2) 38.50 sq mi (99.7 km2) 0.01 sq mi (0.026 km2)
Chambersburg 241 89 29.63 sq mi (76.7 km2) 29.09 sq mi (75.3 km2) 0.54 sq mi (1.4 km2)
Cincinnati 31 54 26.73 sq mi (69.2 km2) 23.82 sq mi (61.7 km2) 2.91 sq mi (7.5 km2)
Derry 247 115 37.40 sq mi (96.9 km2) 37.40 sq mi (96.9 km2) 0.00 sq mi (0 km2)
Detroit 312 163 26.98 sq mi (69.9 km2) 26.24 sq mi (68.0 km2) 0.74 sq mi (1.9 km2)
Fairmount 188 109 37.62 sq mi (97.4 km2) 37.62 sq mi (97.4 km2) 0.00 sq mi (0 km2)
Flint 96 47 16.17 sq mi (41.9 km2) 15.31 sq mi (39.7 km2) 0.86 sq mi (2.2 km2)
Griggsville 1,430 671 37.64 sq mi (97.5 km2) 37.64 sq mi (97.5 km2) 0.00 sq mi (0 km2)
Hadley 262 130 36.86 sq mi (95.5 km2) 36.84 sq mi (95.4 km2) 0.02 sq mi (0.052 km2)
Hardin 212 105 37.41 sq mi (96.9 km2) 37.39 sq mi (96.8 km2) 0.02 sq mi (0.052 km2)
Kinderhook 840 422 37.91 sq mi (98.2 km2) 37.86 sq mi (98.1 km2) 0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Levee 47 39 25.03 sq mi (64.8 km2) 22.02 sq mi (57.0 km2) 3.01 sq mi (7.8 km2)
Martinsburg 419 186 37.74 sq mi (97.7 km2) 37.74 sq mi (97.7 km2) 0.00 sq mi (0 km2)
Montezuma 540 254 34.45 sq mi (89.2 km2) 33.75 sq mi (87.4 km2) 0.70 sq mi (1.8 km2)
Newburg 949 428 37.55 sq mi (97.3 km2) 37.21 sq mi (96.4 km2) 0.35 sq mi (0.91 km2)
New Salem 573 276 38.21 sq mi (99.0 km2) 38.21 sq mi (99.0 km2) 0.00 sq mi (0 km2)
Pearl 282 193 25.26 sq mi (65.4 km2) 24.63 sq mi (63.8 km2) 0.63 sq mi (1.6 km2)
Perry 594 310 37.22 sq mi (96.4 km2) 37.21 sq mi (96.4 km2) 0.01 sq mi (0.026 km2)
Pittsfield 4,477 1,982 37.86 sq mi (98.1 km2) 37.81 sq mi (97.9 km2) 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2)
Pleasant Hill 1,259 631 37.60 sq mi (97.4 km2) 37.56 sq mi (97.3 km2) 0.04 sq mi (0.10 km2)
Pleasant Vale 563 321 67.88 sq mi (175.8 km2) 63.71 sq mi (165.0 km2) 4.17 sq mi (10.8 km2)
Ross 573 286 38.98 sq mi (101.0 km2) 38.97 sq mi (100.9 km2) 0.01 sq mi (0.026 km2)
Spring Creek 591 295 37.41 sq mi (96.9 km2) 37.40 sq mi (96.9 km2) 0.01 sq mi (0.026 km2)

    Unincorporated communities

    Ghost towns

    See also

    References
    1. "Pike County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
    2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
    3. White, Jesse. Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties. State of Illinois, March 2010. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved September 26, 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
    4. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
    5. "Monthly Averages for Pittsfield IL". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
    6. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
    7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
    8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
    9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
    10. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
    11. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
    12. "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
    13. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
    14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018.
    15. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place -- 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved May 28, 2013.
    16. "New Philadelphia, Illinois, Historical Landscapes". faculty.las.illinois.edu.

    39.62°N 90.89°W / 39.62; -90.89

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