Editing Jersey County, Illinois

{{Short description|County in Illinois, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Jersey County
 | state                = Illinois
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = February 28, 1839
 | seat wl              = Jerseyville
 | largest city wl      = Jerseyville
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 377
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 369
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 7.9
 | area percentage      = 2.1
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 21512
 | pop_est_as_of        = 
 | population_est       = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Central
 | footnotes            = 
 | web                  = www.jerseycounty-il.us
 | named for            = [[New Jersey]]
 | ex image             = Jerseycourt.png
 | ex image cap         = [[Jersey County Courthouse]] in Jerseyville
 | district             = 15th
}}

'''Jersey County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], it had a population of 21,512.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17083.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 6, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606171735/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17083.html|archive-date=June 6, 2011}}</ref> The [[county seat]] and largest community is [[Jerseyville, Illinois|Jerseyville]], with a population of 8,337 in 2010.<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/20150509170006/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 9, 2015 }}</ref> The county's smallest incorporated community is [[Otterville, Illinois|Otterville]], with a population of 87.

Jersey County is included in the [[St. Louis]], [[Missouri|MO]]-IL [[Greater St. Louis|Metropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
Jersey County lies just northeast of where the great [[Mississippi River|Mississippi]] and [[Illinois River|Illinois]] rivers meet. It is the former home of the [[Kickapoo people|Kickapoo]], [[Menomini]], [[Potawatomi]], and [[Illiniwek Confederation]] American Indians. The first European explorers to visit the area, [[Father Marquette]] and [[Louis Jolliet]], arrived in 1673,<ref name=JCYAug07>[http://www.greatriverroad.com/jerseyco.htm Jersey County description & history] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105060605/http://www.greatriverroad.com/jerseyco.htm |date=November 5, 2012 }}, retrieved August 24, 2007</ref> where they encountered the fearsome painting of the [[Piasa]] bird. The present day [[Pere Marquette State Park]], located near [[Grafton, Illinois|Grafton]], is named in Father Marquette's honor, and a monument to him is located at the park.

Jersey County was founded on February 28, 1839, and was formed out of [[Greene County, Illinois|Greene County]]. The county was named for the state of [[New Jersey]],<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 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n168 169]}}</ref> from which many of the early settlers emigrated - which was itself named for the [[Channel Islands|Channel Island]] of [[Jersey]] in [[Great Britain]]. The area quickly evolved into several small agricultural communities. As the area soon began to flourish, a county government was established and a courthouse was built in Jerseyville, the county seat. The Jersey County Courthouse was designed by architect Henry Elliott who also designed the courthouses in nearby [[Greene County, Illinois|Greene County]], [[Edgar County, Illinois]], [[DeWitt County, Illinois]] (later demolished in 1987) and [[Pike County, Illinois]]. The cornerstone for the courthouse was laid on July 4, 1893. The Romanesque Revival style courthouse is a magnificent architectural structure of limestone quarried from the nearby town of Grafton, Illinois.
<gallery>
File:Jersey County Illinois 1839.png|Jersey County at the time of its creation in 1839
</gallery>

===Recent history===
Today, while the county maintains its agricultural base, it is also within commuting distance of jobs and industry in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]], [[Missouri]] and the surrounding area. A large portion of the population works outside of Jersey County and benefits from being "Near the crowd, but not in it.", the official slogan of the [http://www.jerseycounty.org/ Jersey County Business Association's] advertising campaign. The bordering rivers play an important part in Jersey County's economy by supporting agricultural producers and [[agribusiness]], and by creating a strong tourist market. Education, manufacturing, and retail are also among the county's largest industries.

==Geography==
According to the [[U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|377|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|369|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|7.9|sqmi}} (2.1%) is water.<ref name="census-density"/> Jersey County is bordered by three bodies of water: the [[Mississippi River]] to the south, the [[Illinois River]] to the west, and [[Macoupin Creek]] to the northwest.

===Climate===
{{climate chart
|[[Jerseyville, Illinois]]
|17|35|1.92
|22|41|2.01
|32|53|3.51
|42|64|4.14
|52|74|3.95
|61|83|3.68
|66|88|3.51
|63|86|2.91
|55|79|3.23
|43|68|2.86
|34|53|3.77
|23|40|2.82
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{cite web
  |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0588
  |title=Monthly Averages for Jerseyville, Illinois
  |access-date=January 27, 2011
  |publisher=The Weather Channel
}}</ref>}}

Typically, the county's climate reflects most [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]] areas, located in the transitional zone between the [[humid continental climate]] type and the [[humid subtropical climate]] type ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]] ''Dfa'' and ''Cfa'', respectively), with neither large mountains nor large bodies of water to moderate its temperature. Spring is the wettest season and produces severe weather ranging from tornadoes to snow or ice storms. Summers are hot and humid, and the humidity often makes the [[heat index]] rise to temperatures feeling well above {{convert|100|°F|°C|abbr=on}}. Fall is mild with lower humidity and can produce intermittent bouts of heavy rainfall with the first [[snow flurry|snow flurries]] usually forming in late November. Winters can be cold at times with periodic light snow and temperatures below freezing.

In recent years, average temperatures in Jerseyville have ranged from a low of {{convert|17|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|88|°F}} in July. The record low temperature of {{convert|-25|°F}} was recorded in January 1977 and the record high temperature of {{convert|112|°F}} was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranges from {{convert|1.92|in}} in January to {{convert|4.14|in}} in April.<ref name="weather"/>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 67.svg|25x20px]] [[U.S. Route 67]]
* [[Image:Illinois 3.svg|25x20px]] [[Illinois Route 3]]
* [[Image:Illinois 16.svg|25x20px]] [[Illinois Route 16]]
* [[Image:Illinois 100.svg|25x20px]] [[Illinois Route 100]]
* [[Image:Illinois 109.svg|25x20px]] [[Illinois Route 109]]
* [[Image:Illinois 111.svg|25x20px]] [[Illinois Route 111]]
* [[Image:Illinois 267.svg|25x20px]] [[Illinois Route 267]]

===Adjacent counties===
{{Geographic Location
|title     = Adjacent counties
|Northwest = 
|North     = [[Greene County, Illinois|Greene County]]
|Northeast = 
|West      = [[Calhoun County, Illinois|Calhoun County]]
|Centre    = Jersey County
|East      = [[Macoupin County, Illinois|Macoupin County]]
|Southwest = 
|South     = [[St. Charles County, Missouri|St. Charles County]], [[Missouri]] 
|Southeast = [[Madison County, Illinois|Madison County]]
}}

===State protected areas===
* [[Mississippi River State Fish and Wildlife Area]]
* [[Pere Marquette State Park]]

===National protected areas===
* [[Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge]] (eastern portion)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 4535
|1850= 7354
|1860= 12051
|1870= 15054
|1880= 15542
|1890= 14810
|1900= 14612
|1910= 13954
|1920= 12682
|1930= 12556
|1940= 13636
|1950= 15264
|1960= 17023
|1970= 18492
|1980= 20538
|1990= 20539
|2000= 21668
|2010= 22985
|2020= 21512
|estyear=2023
|estimate=21091
|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 6, 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 6, 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=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 6, 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=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 6, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2013<ref name="QF"/>
}}
{{Stack|[[Image:USA Jersey County, Illinois age pyramid.svg|thumb|left|2000 census age pyramid for Jersey County]]}}

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 22,985&nbsp;people, 8,828&nbsp;households, and 6,228&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/DPDP1/0500000US17083
  |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
  |access-date=July 12, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024413/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17083
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|62.2|PD/sqmi}}. There were 9,848 housing units at an average density of {{convert|26.7|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17083
  |access-date=July 12, 2015
  |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212204127/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17083
  |archive-date=February 12, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 42.8% were [[Germans|German]], 14.7% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 10.6% were [[English people|English]], and 8.6% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17083
  |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 12, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213024352/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17083
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 8,828&nbsp;households, 31.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.5% were non-families, and 25.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.98. The median age was 40.5 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $53,470 and the median income for a family was $64,773. Males had a median income of $48,750 versus $31,789 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,368. About 5.6% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 8.4% of those under age 18 and 7.1% 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/DP03/0500000US17083
  |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
  |access-date=July 12, 2015
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213023603/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17083
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Communities==
[[File:Municipality map of Jersey County, Illinois.png|250px|right|thumb|Incorporated communities in Jersey County]]

===Cities===
* [[Grafton, Illinois|Grafton]]
* [[Jerseyville, Illinois|Jerseyville]]

===Villages===
* [[Brighton, Illinois|Brighton]]
* [[Elsah, Illinois|Elsah]]
* [[Fidelity, Illinois|Fidelity]]
* [[Fieldon, Illinois|Fieldon]]

===Town===
* [[Otterville, Illinois|Otterville]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=22em}}
* [[Beltrees, Illinois|Beltrees]]
* [[Chautauqua, Illinois|Chautauqua]]
* [[Delhi, Illinois|Delhi]]
* [[Dow, Illinois|Dow]]
* [[East Newbern, Illinois|East Newbern]]
* [[Kemper, Illinois|Kemper]]
* [[Lake Piasa, Illinois|Lake Piasa]]
* [[Lockhaven, Illinois|Lockhaven]]
* [[McClusky, Illinois|McClusky]]
* [[Newbern, Illinois|Newbern]]
* [[New Delhi, Illinois|New Delhi]]
* [[Nutwood, Illinois|Nutwood]]
* [[Reardon, Illinois|Reardon]]
* [[Reddish, Illinois|Reddish]]
* [[Rosedale, Illinois|Rosedale]]
* [[Spankey, Illinois|Spankey]]
{{div col end}}

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

{{div col}}
* [[Elsah Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Elsah Township]]
* [[English Township, Jersey County, Illinois|English Township]]
* [[Fidelity Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Fidelity Township]]
* [[Jersey Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Jersey Township]]
* [[Mississippi Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Mississippi Township]]
* [[Otter Creek Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Otter Creek Township]]
* [[Piasa Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Piasa Township]]
* [[Quarry Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Quarry Township]]
* [[Richwood Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Richwood Township]]
* [[Rosedale Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Rosedale Township]]
* [[Ruyle Township, Jersey County, Illinois|Ruyle Township]]
{{div col end}}

===Population ranking===
The population ranking of the following table is based on the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]] of Jersey County.

'''†''' ''county seat''

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Rank
!Place
!Municipal type
!Population (2020 Census)

|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 1
|'''†''' '''[[Jerseyville, Illinois|Jerseyville]]''' 
| City
| 8,336
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 2
|'''[[Brighton, Illinois|Brighton]]''' (''partially in [[Macoupin County, Illinois|Macoupin County]]'') 
| Village
| 2,221
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 3
|'''[[Grafton, Illinois|Grafton]]''' 
| City
| 626
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 4
|'''[[Elsah, Illinois|Elsah]]''' 
| Village
| 519
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 5
|'''[[Fieldon, Illinois|Fieldon]]''' 
| Village
| 176
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 6
|'''[[Fidelity, Illinois|Fidelity]]''' 
| Village
| 96
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
| 7
|'''[[Otterville, Illinois|Otterville]]''' 
| Town
| 87
|- style="background-color:#FFFACD;"
|}

==Education==

===Unified school districts===
* [[Alton Community Unit School District 11]] - serves a very small portion of southern Jersey County (east of [[Elsah, Illinois|Elsah]]), along with northwestern [[Madison County, Illinois|Madison County]].
* [http://www.greenfieldschools.org/ Greenfield Community Unit School District 10] - serves a very small portion of northeastern Jersey County (west of [[Kemper, Illinois|Kemper]]), along with eastern [[Greene County, Illinois|Greene County]].
* [[Jersey Community Unit School District 100]] - serves most of Jersey County, and a small portion of southern [[Greene County, Illinois|Greene County]].
* [http://www.piasabirds.net/ Southwestern Community Unit School District 9] - serves the northeastern and southeastern portions of Jersey County, along with southwestern [[Macoupin County, Illinois|Macoupin County]].

===High schools===
* [[Jersey Community High School]], located in [[Jerseyville, Illinois|Jerseyville]].

===Colleges and universities===
* [[The Principia|Principia College]], located near [[Elsah, Illinois|Elsah]].

==Government==
===Local===
{{Illinois county elected officials
| name              =Jersey County, Illinois
| assessor          =
| assessorparty     =
| auditor             =
| auditorparty    =
|boardchair =Gary Krueger
|boardchairparty=Republican
|boardmajority=11-1
|boardmajorityparty=Republican
|circuitclerk      = Daniel Schetter
| circuitclerkparty =Republican
| countyclerk       =Pam Warford
| countyclerkparty  =Republican
| coroner             =Kevin Ayres
| coronerparty    =Republican
| recorder          =
| recorderparty     =
| statesattorney        =Benjamin L. Goetten
| statesattorneyparty   =Democratic
| sheriff           =Nicholas Manns
| sheriffparty      =Independent
| superintendent    =Michelle Mueller
| superintendentparty     =Democratic
| treasurer         =Katie Steckel-Abbey
| treasurerparty    =Republican
}}

The [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]] holds five of eight countywide elected positions as of 2022 as well as an eleven to one majority on the county board.<ref>SEARCH FOR LOCAL OFFICIALS - JERSEY COUNTY CLERK https://www.jerseycountyclerk-il.gov/search/</ref>

Jersey County is part of Regional Office of Education #40 which includes neighboring [[Macoupin County, Illinois|Macoupin]], [[Calhoun County, Illinois|Calhoun]] and [[Greene County, Illinois|Greene]] counties. The office operates a facility in Jerseyville.

===State===
Jersey County is divided into two legislative districts in the [[Illinois House of Representatives]]:
* District 100 - Currently represented by [[C. D. Davidsmeyer]] (R-[[Jacksonville, Illinois|Jacksonville]]) and consists of the majority of the county and includes the cities of Jerseyville and Grafton.
* District 111 - Currently represented by [[Amy Elik]] (R-[[Fosterburg, Illinois|Fosterburg]]) and consists of the southern portion of the county and includes the village of Elsah.

The county is also divided into two legislative districts in the [[Illinois Senate]]:
* District 50 - Currently represented by [[Steve McClure (politician)|Steve McClure]] (R-[[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]]) and consists of the majority of the county and includes the cities of Jerseyville and Grafton.
* District 56 - Currently represented by [[Kristopher Tharp]] (D-[[Wood River, Illinois|Wood River]]) and consists of the southern portion of the county and includes the village of Elsah.
As of February 2025, the county is one of 7 that voted to join the state of Indiana.<ref>https://www.wsj.com/opinion/illinois-counties-secession-vote-indiana-j-b-pritzker-todd-huston-5a93d624</ref>

===Federal===
{{PresHead|place=Jersey County, Illinois|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=April 7, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|8,684|2,816|243|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|8,712|2,961|287|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|7,748|2,679|564|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|6,039|3,667|295|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|5,329|5,042|244|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|5,435|4,597|105|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|4,699|4,355|359|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,211|4,275|1,280|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,933|4,749|2,411|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|4,343|4,376|33|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,146|3,762|26|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,266|3,324|395|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,273|4,625|85|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,164|3,317|26|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,806|3,350|974|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,041|3,936|0|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,247|4,087|9|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,220|3,415|5|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,031|3,424|6|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,021|3,092|26|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,546|2,910|30|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|3,958|3,692|44|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,023|3,955|83|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|2,157|3,807|105|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,993|2,473|14|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|2,460|2,723|353|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,873|1,999|90|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|2,644|3,052|135|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|838|1,573|446|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|1,460|1,818|104|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|1,531|1,713|136|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1900|Democratic|1,496|2,145|92|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1896|Democratic|1,641|2,377|62|Illinois}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|1,314|2,011|191|Illinois}}

Jersey County's federal political history is fairly typical of “anti-Yankee” Southern Illinois counties.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}} It voted solidly Democratic until [[Warren G. Harding]] carried the county in his record 1920 landslide. It voted Republican again in [[Herbert Hoover]]'s landslide of 1928, but otherwise was firmly Democratic until [[World War II]], when opposition to US involvement turned the county to [[Wendell Willkie]] and then [[Thomas E. Dewey]]. Between 1948 and 2004, Jersey County became something of a [[bellwether]] county, voting for every winning presidential candidate except in the Catholicism-influenced 1960 election, and that of 1988 which was heavily influenced by [[1988–89 North American drought|a major Midwestern drought]]. Disagreement with the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues since the 1990s has caused a powerful swing back to the Republicans in the past quarter-century.<ref>Cohn, Nate; [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/southern-whites-loyalty-to-gop-nearing-that-of-blacks-to-democrats.html ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’], ''[[New York Times]]'', April 24, 2014</ref> As is typical of the [[Upland South]], [[Hillary Clinton]] in 2016 did far worse than any previous Democrat, while [[Joe Biden]] performed marginally better in the 2020 election.{{Citation needed|date=November 2022}}

Jersey County is located in [[Illinois's 15th congressional district]] and is currently represented by [[Mary Miller (politician)|Mary Miller]] (R-[[Oakland, Illinois|Oakland]]) in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Edmondson |first=Catie |date=June 28, 2022 |title=In Illinois, MAGA Congresswoman Rallies to Oust Her G.O.P. Colleague |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/28/us/politics/mary-miller-rodney-davis-il.html |access-date=November 7, 2022 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

==Notable people==
* [[Jennie Florella Holmes]] (1842–1892), suffragist and temperance activist

== See also ==
* [[Jersey County Journal]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Jersey County, Illinois]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.jerseycounty-il.us/ Jersey County government] website
* [http://www.jerseycountyclerk-il.gov/ Jersey County Clerk] website
* [http://www.jerseycountyhealth.org/ Jersey County Health Department] website
* [http://www.jerseycounty.org/ Jersey County Business Association] website
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071018092208/http://sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/irad/jersey.html Jersey County fact sheet]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Jersey County, Illinois
|North     = [[Greene County, Illinois|Greene County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Macoupin County, Illinois|Macoupin County]]
|Southeast = [[Madison County, Illinois|Madison County]]
|South     = [[St. Charles County, Missouri]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Calhoun County, Illinois|Calhoun County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Jersey County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Southern-Illinois |state=collapsed}}
{{St. Louis MSA}}
{{Metro-East}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|39.09|-90.36|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Jersey County, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Illinois counties]]
[[Category:1839 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1839]]
[[Category:Metro East|Jersey County, Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois counties on the Mississippi River]]