Cass County, Illinois

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox U.S. county Cass County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 13,042.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Its county seat is Virginia.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It is the home of the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area.

History

Cass County was formed in 1837 out of Morgan County. It was named for Lewis Cass,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> a general in the War of 1812, Governor of the Michigan Territory, and United States Secretary of State in 1860. Cass was serving as Andrew Jackson's Secretary of War just before the County was named.

Cass County at the time of its creation.

Cass County at the time of its creation.
In 1845, the county's border was adjusted southward, enlarging it to its current size.

In 1845, the county's border was adjusted southward, enlarging it to its current size.

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (2.1%) is water.<ref name=CD/>

Climate and weather

Template:Climate chart In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Virginia have ranged from a low of Template:Convert in January to a high of Template:Convert in July, although a record low of Template:Convert was recorded in February 1934 and a record high of Template:Convert was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from Template:Convert in January to Template:Convert in May.<ref name=WX/>

Demographics

Template:US Census population Template:Stack As of the 2010 United States census, there were 13,642 people, 5,270 households, and 3,561 families residing in the county.<ref name=DP1>Template:Cite web</ref> The population density was Template:Convert. There were 5,836 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert.<ref name=CD>Template:Cite web</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 86.3% white, 3.1% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 8.7% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 16.8% of the population.<ref name=DP1/> In terms of ancestry, 22.6% were German, 21.0% were American, 10.6% were Irish, and 9.5% were English.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Of the 5,270 households, 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.1% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.4% were non-families, and 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.06. The median age was 38.7 years.<ref name=DP1/>

The median income for a household in the county was $41,544 and the median income for a family was $51,624. Males had a median income of $37,267 versus $26,634 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,825. About 10.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.2% of those under age 18 and 9.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Politics

Typically for German-settled western Central Illinois, Cass County opposed the Civil War and became solidly Democratic for the next six decades. Only hatred of Woodrow Wilson’s policies towards Germany following World War I drove the county into Republican hands in the 1920 landslide. Between 1924 and 2008, the county was something of a bellwether, missing the national winner only in the very close 1960 election and the heavily drought- and farm crisis-influenced election of 1988. In the 2010s, the county has become reliably Republican in US presidential elections. Cass County is located in Illinois's 18th Congressional District and is currently represented by Republican Darin LaHood. For the Illinois House of Representatives, the county is located in the 93rd district and is currently represented by Republican Norine Hammond. The county is located in the 47th district of the Illinois Senate, and is currently represented by Republican Jil Tracy.

Education

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A C Central Community Unit School District 262
Beardstown Community Unit School District 15
Virginia Community Unit School District 64

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Communities

Community	Community type	Population	Total Area	Water Area	Land Area	Pop. Density
Arenzville	village	367	0.77	0.00	0.77	480
Ashland	village	1,218	0.75	0.00	0.75	1,624
Beardstown	city	5,951	3.65	0.03	3.62	1,620.41
Virginia (seat)	city	1,514	1.27	0.06	1.21	1,254.35
Chandlerville	village	527	0.79	0.00	0.79	670
Cass County	county	13,042	384	7.9	376	34