Editing Henderson County, Illinois

{{Short description|County in Illinois, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county      = Henderson County
| state              = Illinois
| seal               =
| founded            = 1841
| seat wl            = Oquawka
| largest city       = Oquawka
| city type          = village
| area_total_sq_mi   = 395
| area_land_sq_mi    = 379
| area_water_sq_mi   = 16
| area percentage    = 4.1
| population_as_of   = 2020
| population_total   = 6387
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
| population_est     = 6088 {{loss}}
| density_sq_mi = auto
| time zone          = Central
| web                = http://www.hendersoncountyedc.com
| ex image           = Henderson County Courthouse, Oquawka.jpg
| ex image cap       = [[Henderson County Courthouse (Illinois)|Henderson County Courthouse]], Oquawka
| district           = 15th
| named for          = [[Richard Henderson (jurist)|Richard Henderson]] }}

'''Henderson County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. According to the [[2020 United States census]], it has a population of 6,387.<ref>{{cite web|title=Henderson County, Illinois|url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Henderson_County,_Illinois?g=050XX00US17071|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=June 9, 2023}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Oquawka, Illinois|Oquawka]].<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> Henderson County is part of the [[Burlington, Iowa|Burlington]], [[Iowa|IA]]–IL [[Burlington micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Henderson County was formed in 1841 from a portion of [[Warren County, Illinois|Warren County]]. It was named for [[Henderson County, Kentucky|Henderson County]], [[Kentucky]], which was named for [[Richard Henderson (jurist)|Richard Henderson]],<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|author=Gannett, Henry|year=1905|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n153 154]}}</ref> founder of the [[Transylvania (colony)|Transylvania Company]], an early attempt to organize what later became [[Kentucky]] around 1775.
<gallery>
File:Henderson County Illinois 1841.png|Henderson County at the time of its creation in 1841
</gallery>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|395|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|379|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|16|sqmi}} (4.1%) is water.<ref name="census-density"/>

===Climate and weather===
{{climate chart
|[[Oquawka, Illinois]]
|15|30|1.31
|21|36|1.54
|31|49|2.96
|43|62|3.61
|54|72|4.40
|63|82|4.45
|67|85|4.48
|65|83|3.86
|57|76|3.60
|46|65|2.91
|33|49|2.72
|21|35|2.10
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{cite web|url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0896|title=Monthly Averages for Oquawka IL|access-date=January 27, 2011|publisher=The Weather Channel}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Oquawka have ranged from a low of {{convert|15|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|85|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-26|°F}} was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of {{convert|105|°F}} was recorded in August 1983. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|1.31|in}} in January to {{convert|4.48|in}} in July.<ref name="weather"/>

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:US 34.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 34]]
* [[Image:Illinois 94.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 94]]
* [[Image:Illinois 96.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 96]]
* [[Image:Illinois 116.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 116]]
* [[Image:Illinois 164.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 164]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Mercer County, Illinois|Mercer County]] - north
* [[Warren County, Illinois|Warren County]] - east
* [[McDonough County, Illinois|McDonough County]] - southeast
* [[Hancock County, Illinois|Hancock County]] - south
* [[Lee County, Iowa]] - southwest
* [[Des Moines County, Iowa]] - west
{{div col end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 4612
|1860= 9501
|1870= 12582
|1880= 10722
|1890= 9876
|1900= 10836
|1910= 9724
|1920= 9770
|1930= 8778
|1940= 8949
|1950= 8416
|1960= 8237
|1970= 8451
|1980= 9114
|1990= 8096
|2000= 8213
|2010= 7331
|2020= 6387
|estyear=2023
|estimate=6088
|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=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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 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 5, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17071.html|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=July 5, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606171108/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17071.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref>
}}As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 7,331&nbsp;people, 3,149&nbsp;households, and 2,127&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17071|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/20200213035046/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17071|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|19.3|PD/sqmi}}. There were 3,827 housing units at an average density of {{convert|10.1|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17071|access-date=July 11, 2015|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County|publisher=US Census Bureau|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212195843/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17071|archive-date=February 12, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% white, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 24.4% were [[Germans|German]], 14.5% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 11.9% were [[English people|English]], 5.9% were [[Swedes|Swedish]], and 5.0% were [[Americans|American]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17071|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/20200213013302/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17071|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Of the 3,149&nbsp;households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.78. The median age was 47.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,450 and the median income for a family was $55,154. Males had a median income of $41,052 versus $27,426 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,492. About 7.8% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17071|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/20200213024728/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17071|archive-date=February 13, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Government and politics==

=== Government ===

==== County Board ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Office<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Henderson County, Illinois, elections, 2024 |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Henderson_County,_Illinois,_elections,_2024#County_elections_and_candidates |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>
!Name
!Party
|-
| bgcolor="red" |&nbsp;
|County Board at-large
|Kim Gullberg
|Republican
|-
| bgcolor="red" |&nbsp;
|County Board at-large
|Bill Knupp
|Republican
|-
| bgcolor="red" |&nbsp;
|County Board at-large
|Kurt McChesney
|Republican
|-
| bgcolor="red" |&nbsp;
|County Board at-large
|Todd Miller
|Republican
|-
| bgcolor="red" |&nbsp;
|County Board at-large
|Janet Stubbs
|Republican
|}

==== County Officials ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Office<ref name=":0" />
!Name
!Party
|-
| bgcolor="red" |&nbsp;
|Circuit Clerk
|Sandra Keane
|Republican
|-
| bgcolor="red" |&nbsp;
|Coroner
|John Fedler
|Republican
|-
| bgcolor="red" |&nbsp;
|State's Attorney
|Susan Maxwell-Schneider
|Republican
|}

=== Courts ===

==== Judicial Court ====
{| class="wikitable"
! colspan="2" |Office<ref name=":0" />
!Name
!Party
|-
| bgcolor="gray" |&nbsp;
|9th Circuit Court
|Bruce Beal
|Independent
|-
| bgcolor="gray" |&nbsp;
|9th Circuit Court
|James Standard
|Independent
|-
| bgcolor="red" |&nbsp;
|9th Circuit Court
|Nigel Graham
|Republican
|-
| bgcolor="gray" |&nbsp;
|9th Circuit Court
|Rodney Clark
|Independent
|}
As part of [[Yankee]]-settled [[Northern Illinois]], Henderson County was solidly [[Whig Party (United States)|Whig]] in its first three elections and then equally Republican from that party's formation until the [[Great Depression]]. [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]] in 1932 was the first Democrat to win it, but the county returned to Republican [[Alf Landon]] in 1936 and was not won by a Democrat until the GOP nominated the southern-oriented conservative [[Barry Goldwater]] in 1964.

After that, like many Yankee counties, it returned to its Republican roots between 1968 and 1984, but turned reliably Democratic in presidential elections from 1988 to 2012. Republican [[Donald Trump]] carried the county with over 61 percent of the vote in 2016; the highest percentage won by any Republican candidate since [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] in 1956, and for then Democratic opponent Hillary Clinton, it was the lowest by a Democrat since [[Al Smith]] in 1928. Republican margins have continued to improve in each subsequent election as rural Illinois shifts sharply to the right and native son [[Barack Obama]] is no longer on the ballot, with Trump's 68% in 2024 marking the best Republican result since 1928. The county's new Republican dominance has extended to the local level as well, with Republicans going entirely unchallenged for county office.<ref name=":0" />

Henderson County is located in [[Illinois's 17th congressional district|Illinois's 17th Congressional District]] and is currently represented by Democrat [[Eric Sorensen (politician)|Eric Sorensen]]. For the [[Illinois House of Representatives]], the county is located in the 94th district and is currently represented by Republican [[Randy Frese]]. The county is located in the 47th district of the [[Illinois Senate]], and is currently represented by Republican [[Jil Tracy]]. Along with five other counties,{{efn|[[Fulton County, Illinois|Fulton]], [[Hancock County, Illinois|Hancock]], [[Knox County, Illinois|Knox]], [[McDonough County, Illinois|McDonough]], [[Warren County, Illinois|Warren]]|name=|group=}} Henderson County makes up Illinois's 9th Judicial Circuit Court.

{{PresHead|place=Henderson 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 6, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,369|1,026|75|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,394|1,187|75|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,155|1,155|208|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2012|Democratic|1,541|1,978|49|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|1,541|2,215|73|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2004|Democratic|1,857|2,269|27|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|1,708|2,030|128|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,233|1,953|433|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,310|2,013|725|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,726|2,085|10|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|2,289|1,969|20|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,443|1,609|194|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,210|2,152|45|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,689|1,744|3|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,224|1,635|289|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,863|2,271|0|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,572|1,697|4|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,743|1,469|3|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,839|1,458|6|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,336|1,465|37|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,695|1,550|10|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,264|1,977|40|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|2,663|2,496|61|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,815|2,372|79|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,695|1,065|30|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,879|803|269|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,747|740|97|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,528|1,611|182|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|648|721|959|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|1,547|820|119|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|1,668|708|164|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|1,772|976|111|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|1,756|962|78|Illinois}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|1,352|921|144|Illinois}}

==Communities==
===City===
* [[Dallas City, Illinois|Dallas City]] (partly in [[Hancock County, Illinois|Hancock County]])

===Villages===
{{div col}}
* [[Biggsville, Illinois|Biggsville]]
* [[Gladstone, Illinois|Gladstone]]
* [[Gulfport, Illinois|Gulfport]]
* [[Lomax, Illinois|Lomax]]
* [[Media, Illinois|Media]]
* [[Oquawka, Illinois|Oquawka]]
* [[Raritan, Illinois|Raritan]]
* [[Stronghurst, Illinois|Stronghurst]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Bald Bluff, Illinois|Bald Bluff]]
* [[Carman, Illinois|Carman]]
* [[Carthage Lake, Illinois|Carthage Lake]]
* [[Decorra, Illinois|Decorra]]
* [[Hopper, Illinois|Hopper]]
* [[Olena, Illinois|Olena]]
* [[Shokokon, Illinois|Shokonon]]
* [[Terre Haute, Illinois|Terre Haute]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
Henderson County is divided into eleven [[Civil township|townships]]:

{{div col}}
* [[Bald Bluff Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Bald Bluff]]
* [[Biggsville Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Biggsville]]
* [[Carman Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Carman]]
* [[Gladstone Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Gladstone]]
* [[Lomax Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Lomax]]
* [[Media Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Media]]
* [[Oquawka Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Oquawka]]
* [[Raritan Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Raritan]]
* [[Rozetta Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Rozetta]]
* [[Stronghurst Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Stronghurst]]
* [[Terre Haute Township, Henderson County, Illinois|Terre Haute]]
{{div col end}}

===State and Federal facilities===
* [[Big River State Forest]] - 2,900 acre preserve adjacent to the [[Mississippi River]] (1925)
* [[Delabar State Park]] - 89 acre preserve adjacent to the Mississippi River (1960)
* Oquawka State Wildlife Refuge<ref>[https://www.stateparks.com/oquawka_state_wildlife_refuge.html ''Oquawka State Wildlife Refuge'' Illinois State Parks (accessed 19 December 2018)]</ref>

==Education==
K-12 school districts include:<ref>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17071_henderson/DC20SD_C17071.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Henderson County, IL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|date=December 22, 2020|access-date=2025-04-05}}</ref>
* [[Mercer County School District 404]]
* [[United Community School District 304]]
* [[West Central Community Unit School District 235]]
* [[West Prairie Community Unit School District 103]]

There is one secondary school district that extends into the county, [[Illini West High School District 307]], as well as two elementary school districts: [[Dallas Elementary School District 327]] and [[La Harpe Community School District 347]].<ref name=SDMap2020>{{cite map|author=Geography Division|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17071_henderson/DC20SD_C17071.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Henderson County, IL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2025-04-05}}</ref>

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

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==Reflist==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [https://archive.org/details/historyofmercerh00merc ''History of Mercer and Henderson Counties, Together with Biographical Matter, Statistics, Etc.''] Chicago: H.H. Hill and Company, 1882.

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061205201626/http://www.hendersoncounty.lib.il.us/  Henderson County Public Library District]
* [http://www.hendersoncountyedc.com/ Henderson County Economic Development Corporation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329094747/http://www.hendersoncountyedc.com/ |date=March 29, 2015 }}
* [https://archive.today/20130415010145/http://www.illinoisancestors.org/henderson/index.htm Henderson County Genealogy]
* [https://archive.today/20130112234334/http://www.illinoisancestors.org/cemphotos/v/henderson/ Henderson County Tombstone Project]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Henderson County, Illinois
|North     = [[Mercer County, Illinois|Mercer County]]
|East      = [[Warren County, Illinois|Warren County]]
|Southeast = [[McDonough County, Illinois|McDonough County]]
|South     = [[Hancock County, Illinois|Hancock County]]
|Southwest = [[Lee County, Iowa]]
|West      = [[Des Moines County, Iowa]]
}}

{{Henderson County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|40.81|-90.93|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Henderson County, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Illinois counties]]
[[Category:1841 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1841]]
[[Category:Burlington, Iowa micropolitan area]]
[[Category:Illinois counties on the Mississippi River]]