Pope County, Illinois

Pope County is the southeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 3,763,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Illinois. Its county seat is Golconda.[2] The county was organized in 1816 from portions of Gallatin and Johnson counties and named after Nathaniel Pope, a politician and jurist from the Illinois Territory and State of Illinois.

Pope County
County
Pope County Courthouse in Golconda
Pope County Courthouse in Golconda
Map of Illinois highlighting Pope County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°25′N 88°34′W
Country United States
State Illinois
Founded1816
Named forNathaniel Pope
SeatGolconda
Largest cityGolconda
Area
 • Total374 sq mi (970 km2)
 • Land369 sq mi (960 km2)
 • Water5.5 sq mi (14 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total3,763 Decrease
 • Density10/sq mi (4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district12th
Websitewww.popeco.net

History

The first permanent settlement in future Pope County was established in 1798 at the modern-day site of Golconda, then a part of the Northwest Territory which operated as a ferry point across the Ohio River. The county was formed in 1816 from portions of Gallatin and Johnson Counties.

  • Pope County from the time of its creation in 1816 to 1839
    Pope County from the time of its creation in 1816 to 1839
  • Pope County between 1839 and 1843
    Pope County between 1839 and 1843
  • Pope County between 1843 and 1847
    Pope County between 1843 and 1847
  • In 1847, Pope's border with Hardin County was adjusted, bringing both to their present borders
    In 1847, Pope's border with Hardin County was adjusted, bringing both to their present borders
Nathaniel Pope, a politician and jurist from the Illinois Territory and State of Illinois was the Pope County namesake.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 374 square miles (970 km2), of which 369 square miles (960 km2) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km2) (1.5%) is water.[3]

The entire county is hilly and during rainy weather rivulets cascade down the hills in the park forming waterfalls of varying sizes and heights. The county contains Dixon Springs State Park, one of many state parks in the Illinois Shawnee Hills, and is part of the Shawnee National Forest. It is bordered to the south and east by the Ohio River, which marks the state's border with Kentucky.

Climate and weather
Golconda, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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3.5
 
 
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source:The Weather Channel[4]
Metric conversion
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88
 
 
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21
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112
 
 
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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 Golconda have ranged from a low of 21 °F (−6 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −22 °F (−30 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in August 2007. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 3.22 inches (82 mm) in October to 5.02 inches (128 mm) in May.[4]

Transit

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18202,610—
18303,31627.0%
18404,09423.5%
18503,975−2.9%
18606,74269.6%
187011,43769.6%
188013,25615.9%
189014,0165.7%
190013,585−3.1%
191011,215−17.4%
19209,625−14.2%
19307,996−16.9%
19407,9990.0%
19505,779−27.8%
19604,061−29.7%
19703,857−5.0%
19804,40414.2%
19904,373−0.7%
20004,4130.9%
20104,4701.3%
20203,763−15.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010-2017[1]

As of the 2010 census, there were 4,470 people, 1,829 households, and 1,209 families living in the county.[9] The population density was 12.1 inhabitants per square mile (4.7/km2). There were 2,491 housing units at an average density of 6.8 per square mile (2.6/km2).[3] The racial makeup of the county was 91.7% white, 6.0% black or African American, 0.6% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.[9] In terms of ancestry, 31.8% were German, 19.1% were Irish, 11.4% were English, and 5.4% were American.[10]

Of the 1,829 households, 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 7.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.9% were non-families, and 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.72. The median age was 46.6 years.[9]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,672 and the median income for a family was $51,500. Males had a median income of $45,865 versus $28,519 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,134. About 6.6% of families and 12.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.4% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.[11]

Politics

In its early days Pope County, being strongly Southern in its culture and opposed to Northern Illinois, was powerfully Democratic, giving a majority to that party in every pre-war Presidential election.

However, during the Civil War, under the influence of Congressman John A. Logan, this region of dubious initial loyalty was to provide a number of Union soldiers rivalled on a per capita basis only by a few fiercely Unionist counties in Appalachia.[12][13]

Stephen A. Douglas in 1860 remains the last Democrat to win a majority of the county's vote, although Bill Clinton won pluralities in both 1992 and 1996 due to Ross Perot siphoning votes from Republican opponents George Bush senior and Bob Dole. Hillary Clinton in 2016 fared extremely poorly, carrying fewer than eighteen percent of Pope County's votes.[14]

United States presidential election results for Pope County, Illinois[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 1,722 79.14% 433 19.90% 21 0.97%
2016 1,678 78.34% 375 17.51% 89 4.15%
2012 1,512 68.05% 650 29.25% 60 2.70%
2008 1,343 60.20% 845 37.88% 43 1.93%
2004 1,500 61.58% 918 37.68% 18 0.74%
2000 1,346 57.77% 927 39.79% 57 2.45%
1996 850 41.38% 915 44.55% 289 14.07%
1992 951 39.44% 1,063 44.09% 397 16.47%
1988 1,202 54.44% 996 45.11% 10 0.45%
1984 1,545 62.00% 940 37.72% 7 0.28%
1980 1,501 61.14% 880 35.85% 74 3.01%
1976 1,187 52.18% 1,070 47.03% 18 0.79%
1972 1,440 64.92% 773 34.85% 5 0.23%
1968 1,307 57.63% 732 32.28% 229 10.10%
1964 1,329 54.33% 1,117 45.67% 0 0.00%
1960 1,689 63.38% 971 36.44% 5 0.19%
1956 1,842 66.62% 922 33.35% 1 0.04%
1952 1,947 67.53% 933 32.36% 3 0.10%
1948 1,764 65.43% 916 33.98% 16 0.59%
1944 2,305 72.99% 813 25.74% 40 1.27%
1940 2,914 65.78% 1,499 33.84% 17 0.38%
1936 2,787 61.28% 1,728 37.99% 33 0.73%
1932 2,011 53.89% 1,697 45.47% 24 0.64%
1928 2,004 74.06% 679 25.09% 23 0.85%
1924 2,161 66.51% 978 30.10% 110 3.39%
1920 2,486 77.42% 687 21.40% 38 1.18%
1916 2,924 70.14% 1,158 27.78% 87 2.09%
1912 1,099 45.81% 664 27.68% 636 26.51%
1908 1,706 67.75% 748 29.71% 64 2.54%
1904 1,744 68.58% 676 26.58% 123 4.84%
1900 1,817 66.02% 908 32.99% 27 0.98%
1896 1,852 62.95% 1,074 36.51% 16 0.54%
1892 1,629 58.49% 816 29.30% 340 12.21%

Communities

City

Village

Unincorporated communities

Notable people
  • James Lusk Alcorn (1816-1894), born near Golconda, American Civil War general in the Confederate Army
  • John R. Hodge (1893-1963), born in Golconda; Military Governor of South Korea preceding the Korean War and Commanding General of the U.S. Third Army
  • C. L. McCormick (1919-1987), born in McCormick, Illinois state representative and businessman
  • Green B. Raum (1820-1909), born in Golconda, American Civil War general in the Union Army
  • James A. Rose (1850-1912), born in Golconda, Illinois Secretary of State
  • Mason Ramsey (2006-), born in Golconda, star of viral video “Walmart Kid Singing” and country singer

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  4. "Monthly Averages for Golconda, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  9. "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.
  10. "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.
  11. "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.
  12. Wells, Damon; Stephen Douglas: The Last Years, 1857–1861, p. 285 ISBN 0292776357
  13. Copeland, James E.; ‘Where Were the Kentucky Unionists and Secessionists’; The Register of the Kentucky Historical Society, volume 71, no. 4 (October, 1973), pp. 344-363
  14. Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times, April 24, 2014
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2018.

37.41°N 88.57°W / 37.41; -88.57

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