Editing DeWitt County, Illinois

{{Short description|County in Illinois, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = DeWitt County
 | state                = Illinois
 | seal                 = 
 | seallink             = 
 | founded              = 1839
 | seat wl              = Clinton
 | largest city wl      = Clinton
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 405
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 398
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.6
 | area percentage      = 1.9
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 15516
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 15365 {{loss}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = https://www.dewittcountyil.gov/
 | district             = 15th
 | named for            = [[DeWitt Clinton]]
 | ex image             = DeWitt County Courthouse, Clinton.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[DeWitt County Courthouse (Illinois)|DeWitt County Courthouse]] in Clinton
}}

'''DeWitt County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 15,516.<ref>{{cite web|title=De Witt County, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/De_Witt_County,_Illinois?g=050XX00US17039|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 8, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Clinton, Illinois|Clinton]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> The county was formed as De Witt County on March 1, 1839, from [[Macon County, Illinois|Macon]] and [[McLean County, Illinois|McLean counties]]. The county was named in honor of the seventh [[Governor of New York]] State, [[De Witt Clinton]].<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA105 | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=Gannett, Henry | year=1905 | pages=105}}</ref>

DeWitt County is included in [[Bloomington–Normal]], IL [[Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

The [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]] and the [[United States Geological Survey|U.S. Geological Survey]] (USGS) list the county's name as '''De&nbsp;Witt''', although the county uses the name '''DeWitt''' (no space).

==History==
<gallery>
File:DeWitt County Illinois 1839.png|DeWitt County from its creation in 1839 to the splitting off of Piatt County in 1841
File:DeWitt County Illinois 1841.png|DeWitt County from 1841 to 1845
File:DeWitt County Illinois 1845.png|DeWitt County in 1845, when it was reduced to its current size
</gallery>

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|405|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|398|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.6|sqmi}} (1.9%) is water.<ref name="census-density"/>

===Climate and weather===
{{climate chart
|[[Clinton, Illinois]]
|17|35|2.05
|22|41|1.95
|32|53|3.20
|42|65|3.58
|52|76|4.47
|61|85|3.90
|65|88|4.54
|63|86|4.14
|55|80|2.98
|44|68|2.74
|34|52|3.32
|23|39|2.87
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{cite web
  |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0245
  |title=Monthly Averages for Clinton, Illinois
  |access-date=January 27, 2011
  |publisher=The Weather Channel
}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Clinton have ranged from a low of {{convert|17|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|88|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-25|°F}} was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of {{convert|113|°F}} was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|1.95|in}} in February to {{convert|4.54|in}} in July.<ref name="weather"/>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[McLean County, Illinois|McLean County]] - north
* [[Piatt County, Illinois|Piatt County]] - east
* [[Macon County, Illinois|Macon County]] - south
* [[Logan County, Illinois|Logan County]] - west

===Transit===
*[[SHOW Bus]]

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-74.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 74]]
* [[Image:US 51.svg|25px]] [[US Route 51]]
* [[Image:US 150.svg|25px]] [[US Route 150]]
* [[Image:Illinois 10.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 10]]
* [[Image:Illinois 48.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 48]]
* [[Image:Illinois 54.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 54]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 3247
|1850= 5002
|1860= 10820
|1870= 14768
|1880= 17010
|1890= 17011
|1900= 18972
|1910= 18906
|1920= 19252
|1930= 18598
|1940= 18244
|1950= 16894
|1960= 17253
|1970= 16975
|1980= 18108
|1990= 16516
|2000= 16798
|2010= 16561
|2020= 15516
|estyear=2023
|estimate=15365
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 2, 2024}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=July 4, 2014|archive-date=August 11, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811110448/http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17039.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709025910/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17039.html|archive-date=July 9, 2011}}</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[Image:USA De Witt County, Illinois age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|2000 census age pyramid for DeWitt County]]}}

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 16,561&nbsp;people, 6,811&nbsp;households, and 4,618&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17039
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=July 11, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213015517/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17039
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|41.7|PD/sqmi}}. There were 7,521 housing units at an average density of {{convert|18.9|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17039
  |access-date=July 11, 2015
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212200403/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17039
  |archive-date=February 12, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.1% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 31.2% were [[Americans|American]], 21.7% were [[Germans|German]], 15.8% were [[English people|English]], and 12.3% were [[Irish people|Irish]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17039
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 11, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032328/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17039
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 6,811&nbsp;households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.2% were non-families, and 27.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 41.7 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $45,347 and the median income for a family was $56,806. Males had a median income of $41,649 versus $27,729 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,320. About 6.4% of families and 8.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17039
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 11, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031100/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17039
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of DeWitt County Illinois.png|thumb|right|350px|Map of DeWitt County, Illinois]]

===Cities===
* [[Clinton, Illinois|Clinton]] (seat)
* [[Farmer City, Illinois|Farmer City]]

===Villages===
* [[DeWitt, Illinois|DeWitt]]
* [[Kenney, Illinois|Kenney]]
* [[Wapella, Illinois|Wapella]]
* [[Waynesville, Illinois|Waynesville]]
* [[Weldon, Illinois|Weldon]]

===Townships===
DeWitt County is divided into thirteen [[Civil township|townships]]:

{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Barnett Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Barnett]]
* [[Clintonia Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Clintonia]]
* [[Creek Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Creek]]
* [[DeWitt Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|DeWitt]]
* [[Harp Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Harp]]
* [[Nixon Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Nixon]]
* [[Rutledge Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Rutledge]]
* [[Santa Anna Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Santa Anna]]
* [[Texas Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Texas]]
* [[Tunbridge Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Tunbridge]]
* [[Wapella Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Wapella]]
* [[Waynesville Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Waynesville]]
* [[Wilson Township, DeWitt County, Illinois|Wilson]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Birkbeck, Illinois|Birkbeck]]
* [[Bucks, Illinois|Bucks]]
* [[Carle Springs, Illinois|Carle Springs]]
* [[Fullerton, Illinois|Fullerton]]
* [[Hallsville, Illinois|Hallsville]]
* [[Jenkins, Illinois|Jenkins]]
* [[Lane, Illinois|Lane]]
* [[Midland City, Illinois|Midland City]]
* [[Ospur, Illinois|Ospur]]
* [[Parnell, Illinois|Parnell]]
* [[Rowell, Illinois|Rowell]]
* [[Solomon, Illinois|Solomon]]
* [[Tabor, Illinois|Tabor]]
* [[Tunbridge, Illinois|Tunbridge]]
* [[Watkins, Illinois|Watkins]]
* [[Weedman, Illinois|Weedman]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
DeWitt is frequently a Republican county. It has not been carried by a Democratic presidential candidate since [[Lyndon Johnson]]’s 1964 landslide, and even before that it was carried by Democrats only in strong winning elections like 1936, 1932, 1916, 1912 and 1892.

{{PresHead|place=DeWitt County, Illinois|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=November 1, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,529|2,058|181|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,632|2,191|216|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,077|1,910|569|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|4,579|2,601|188|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|4,348|3,308|175|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,920|2,836|42|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,968|2,870|213|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|2,978|2,878|733|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|3,164|3,009|1,586|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|3,942|2,660|43|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|4,534|2,352|29|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,648|2,262|434|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,137|3,477|52|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,025|2,672|8|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|4,247|2,823|764|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,605|4,371|0|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|5,074|3,607|8|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,307|3,093|4|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,212|3,221|3|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|4,178|3,290|45|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,630|3,658|69|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,477|5,052|45|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,544|5,676|60|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|4,207|5,339|127|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|6,100|2,631|59|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|5,173|2,752|877|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|5,001|3,079|162|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|4,380|4,460|306|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,346|1,880|1,499|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,628|2,155|160|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,771|1,872|309|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,694|2,361|99|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,587|2,370|71|Illinois}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|2,059|2,083|206|Illinois}}

==Education==
K-12 school districts include:<ref name=DeWittCoSDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17039_de_witt/DC20SD_C17039.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: De Witt County, IL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-01}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17039_de_witt/DC20SD_C17039_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
* [[Argenta-Oreana Community Unit School District 1]]
* [[Blue Ridge Community Unit School District 18]]
* [[Clinton Community Unit School District 15]]
* [[DeLand-Weldon Community Unit School District 57]]
* [[Heyworth Community Unit School District 4]]
* [[Le Roy Community Unit School District 2]]
* [[Maroa-Forsyth Community Unit School District 2]]
* [[Monticello Community Unit School District 25]]
* [[Mount Pulaski Community Unit District 23]]
* [[Olympia Community Unit School District 16]]

There are also an elementary school district, [[Chester-East Lincoln Community Csd 61]], and a secondary school district, [[Lincoln Community High School District 404]].<ref name=DeWittCoSDMap2020/>

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Illinois#DeWitt County|National Register of Historic Places listings in DeWitt County, Illinois]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==References==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310144543/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/edgar.html United States Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles]
* [http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/ United States Board on Geographic Names (GNIS)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081205020547/http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ United States National Atlas]

==External links==
{{Commons category|DeWitt County, Illinois}}
* [http://www.dewittcountyill.com/main.html DeWitt County]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = DeWitt County, Illinois
|North     = [[McLean County, Illinois|McLean County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Piatt County, Illinois|Piatt County]]
|Southeast =
|South     = [[Macon County, Illinois|Macon County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Logan County, Illinois|Logan County]]
|Northwest =
}}
{{DeWitt County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|39.377|-90.294|display=title}}

[[Category:DeWitt County, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:1839 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois counties]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1839]]