Editing Douglas County, Illinois

{{Short description|County in Illinois, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county           = Douglas County
| state            = Illinois
| seal             =
| founded          = 1859
| seat wl          = Tuscola
| largest city     = Tuscola
| area_total_sq_mi = 417
| area_land_sq_mi  = 416
| area_water_sq_mi = 0.6
| area percentage  = 0.1
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 19740
| pop_est_as_of    = 2024
| population_est   = 19824 {{increase}}
| population_density_sq_mi = 47.7
| time zone        = Central
| web              =https://douglascountyil.gov/
| ex image         = Douglas County Illinois Courthouse Monument.jpg
| ex image cap     = [[Douglas County Courthouse (Illinois)|Douglas County Courthouse]] and veterans' memorial
| district         = 15th
| named for        = [[Stephen A. Douglas]]
}}

'''Douglas 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 19,740.<ref name=new-census/> The [[county seat]] is [[Tuscola, Illinois|Tuscola]].<ref>{{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>

==History==
Douglas County was formed in 1859 out of [[Coles County, Illinois|Coles County]]. It was named for [[Stephen A. Douglas]],<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA108|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|author=Gannett, Henry|year=1905|page=108}}</ref> who was elected to the [[United States Senate]] in 1858, following the [[Lincoln–Douglas debates]].
<gallery>
File:Douglas County Illinois 1859.png|The creation of Douglas and Ford Counties in 1859 resulted in Illinois' current county map.
</gallery>

==Geography==
[[Image:Douglas County Illinois Courthouse.jpg|thumb|right|The west face of the Douglas County courthouse]]

According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|417|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|417|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.6|sqmi}} (0.1%) is water.<ref name=CD/>

===Climate and weather===
{{climate chart
|[[Tuscola, Illinois]]
|18|34|2.29
|23|41|2.12
|33|53|3.14
|42|66|3.84
|53|76|3.96
|62|85|4.15
|66|88|4.64
|64|86|3.73
|56|80|3.14
|45|68|2.86
|35|52|3.74
|24|39|3.05
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name=WX>{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL1186|title=Monthly Averages for Tuscola IL|access-date=January 27, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Tuscola have ranged from a low of {{convert|18|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|88|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-26|°F}} was recorded in December 1989 and a record high of {{convert|113|°F}} was recorded in July 1954.  Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|2.12|in}} in February to {{convert|4.64|in}} in July.<ref name=WX/>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Champaign County, Illinois|Champaign County]] - north
* [[Vermilion County, Illinois|Vermilion County]] - northeast
* [[Edgar County, Illinois|Edgar County]] - east
* [[Coles County, Illinois|Coles County]] - south
* [[Moultrie County, Illinois|Moultrie County]] - west
* [[Piatt County, Illinois|Piatt County]] - northwest
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Image:I-57.svg|25px]] [[Interstate 57]]
* [[Image:US 36.svg|25px]] [[US Route 36]]
* [[Image:US 45.svg|25px]] [[US Route 45]]
* [[Image:Illinois 49.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 49]]
* [[Image:Illinois 130.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 130]]
* [[Image:Illinois 133.svg|25px]] [[Illinois Route 133]]
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 7140
|1870= 13484
|1880= 15853
|1890= 17669
|1900= 19097
|1910= 19591
|1920= 19604
|1930= 17914
|1940= 17590
|1950= 16706
|1960= 19243
|1970= 18997
|1980= 19774
|1990= 19464
|2000= 19922
|2010= 19980
|2020= 19740
|estyear=2024
|estimate=19824
|estref= 
|align-fn=center
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=US Decennial Census|publisher=US 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}}</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=US 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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2014<ref name=QF>{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17041.html|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 4, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606162145/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17041.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> 2020<ref name=new-census>[https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Illinois]</ref> 2024<ref>[https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/douglascountyillinois/PST045224 Douglas county, IL] Quickfacts Census USA</ref>
}}
{{Stack|[[Image:USA Douglas County, Illinois age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|2000 census age pyramid for Douglas County]]}}

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 19,980&nbsp;people, 7,720&nbsp;households, and 5,377&nbsp;families living in the county.<ref name=dp1>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17041|title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data|access-date=July 11, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014849/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17041|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|48.0|PD/sqmi}}. There were 8,390 housing units at an average density of {{convert|20.1|/sqmi}}.<ref name=CD>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17041|access-date=July 11, 2015|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212201557/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17041|archive-date=February 12, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 2.3% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 6.1% of the population.<ref name=dp1/> In terms of ancestry, 29.6% were [[Germans|German]], 12.6% were [[Americans|American]], 12.1% were [[English people|English]], and 10.7% were [[Irish people|Irish]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17041|title=Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=July 11, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024730/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17041|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 7,720&nbsp;households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.0% were married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.3% were non-families, and 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.11. The median age was 38.7 years.<ref name=dp1/>

The median income for a household in the county was $46,941 and the median income for a family was $60,352. Males had a median income of $41,318 versus $28,731 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,438. About 7.1% of families and 10.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 7.2% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17041|title=Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates|access-date=July 11, 2015|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032543/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17041|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[Image:Map of Douglas County Illinois.png|thumb|300px|Map of Douglas County, Illinois]]

===Cities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Arcola, Illinois|Arcola]]
* [[Newman, Illinois|Newman]]
* [[Tuscola, Illinois|Tuscola]] (seat)
* [[Villa Grove, Illinois|Villa Grove]]
{{div col end}}

===Villages===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Arthur, Illinois|Arthur]] (partial)
* [[Atwood, Illinois|Atwood]] (partial)
* [[Camargo, Illinois|Camargo]]
* [[Garrett, Illinois|Garrett]]
* [[Hindsboro, Illinois|Hindsboro]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Bourbon, Illinois|Bourbon]]
* [[Chesterville, Illinois|Chesterville]]
* [[Chicken Bristle, Illinois|Chicken Bristle]]
* [[Fairland, Illinois|Fairland]]
* [[Ficklin, Illinois|Ficklin]]
* [[Filson, Illinois|Filson]]
* [[Galton, Illinois|Galton]]
* [[Hugo, Illinois|Hugo]]
* [[Hayes, Illinois|Hayes]]
* [[Hillcrest, Illinois|Hillcrest]]
* [[Kemp, Illinois|Kemp]]
* [[Murdock, Illinois|Murdock]]
* [[North Prairie Acres, Illinois|North Prairie Acres]]
* [[Patterson Springs, Illinois|Patterson Springs]]
* [[West Ridge, Illinois|West Ridge]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Arcola Township, Douglas County, Illinois|Arcola]]
* [[Bourbon Township, Douglas County, Illinois|Bourbon]]
* [[Bowdre Township, Douglas County, Illinois|Bowdre]]
* [[Camargo Township, Douglas County, Illinois|Camargo]]
* [[Garrett Township, Douglas County, Illinois|Garrett]]
* [[Murdock Township, Douglas County, Illinois|Murdock]]
* [[Newman Township, Douglas County, Illinois|Newman]]
* [[Sargent Township, Douglas County, Illinois|Sargent]]
* [[Tuscola Township, Douglas County, Illinois|Tuscola]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Douglas is a strongly Republican county. Apart from a narrow plurality of thirty-two votes to [[Bill Clinton]] in 1992, it has voted Republican in every Presidential election since 1968, and in all but five overall since 1880. Despite its long-time Republican leanings, [[Hillary Clinton]]'s 2016 performance of gaining a mere 23.8 percent of the county's vote stands over six percent worse than any Democrat since [[American Civil War|the Civil War]].

{{PresHead|place=Douglas County, Illinois|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Atlas of US 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|6,076|2,198|174|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|6,227|2,335|198|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|5,698|1,949|548|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|5,334|2,430|157|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,005|3,228|146|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,702|2,767|71|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,734|3,215|203|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|3,272|2,955|786|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,309|3,341|1,626|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,378|3,184|36|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,691|2,886|27|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,330|2,564|400|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,635|3,826|61|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,840|2,656|10|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,058|2,824|655|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,223|4,695|0|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|5,761|3,532|6|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|5,559|2,774|6|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|5,530|2,706|5|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|4,181|2,893|55|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|4,684|3,323|28|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|5,451|4,513|67|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|4,606|5,029|59|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,108|4,954|174|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,890|2,239|42|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,046|2,315|909|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,885|2,308|298|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|4,564|3,768|416|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|1,386|1,633|1,448|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,656|1,917|227|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,518|1,685|392|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,733|2,106|89|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,666|2,140|61|Illinois}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|2,246|1,999|204|Illinois}}

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

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070310144543/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/edgar.html US Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles]
* [http://geonames.usgs.gov/domestic/ US Board on Geographic Names (GNIS)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20081205020547/http://www.nationalatlas.gov/ US National Atlas]

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070805072533/http://www.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/irad/douglas.html Douglas County Fact Sheet]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Douglas County, Illinois
|North     = [[Champaign County, Illinois|Champaign County]]
|Northeast = [[Vermilion County, Illinois|Vermilion County]]
|East      = [[Edgar County, Illinois|Edgar County]]
|South     = [[Coles County, Illinois|Coles County]]
|West      = [[Moultrie County, Illinois|Moultrie County]]
|Northwest = [[Piatt County, Illinois|Piatt County]]
}}

{{Douglas County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|39.77|-88.22|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Douglas County, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Illinois counties]]
[[Category:1859 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1859]]