Editing Pulaski County, Illinois

{{Short description|County in Illinois, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county       = Pulaski County
 | state              = Illinois
 | ex image             = Pulaski County Courthouse, Mound City.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Pulaski County Courthouse (Illinois)|Pulaski County Courthouse]] in Mound City
 | founded              = 1843
 | seat wl          = Mound City
 | largest city wl      = Mounds
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 203
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 199
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 4.0
 | area percentage      = 2.0
 | census yr            = 2020
 | pop                  = 5193
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2023
 | population_est       = 4911 {{loss}}
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = https://www.pulaskicountyil.net
 | district             = 12th
 | time zone           = Central
 | named for            = [[Casimir Pulaski]]     }}

'''Pulaski County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. According to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], it had a population of 5,193.<ref name="2020 census" /> Its [[county seat]] is [[Mound City, Illinois|Mound City]].<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}}</ref> Its largest city is [[Mounds, Illinois|Mounds]]. It is located along the [[Ohio River]] in the southwestern portion of the state, known locally as "[[Little Egypt (region)|Little Egypt]]".

==History==
Pulaski County was formed on March 3, 1843, out of parts of [[Alexander County, Illinois|Alexander]] and [[Johnson County, Illinois|Johnson]] counties. It was named in honor of [[Casimir Pułaski]] who was killed at the [[siege of Savannah]] in the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]].<ref>{{cite book
  |title=Place Names of Illinois
  |first=Edward
  |last=Callary
  |year=2009
  |publisher=University of Illinois Press
  |location=Urbana and Chicago, Illinois
  |page=287
}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Pulaski County Illinois 1843.png|Pulaski County at the time of its creation in 1843
</gallery>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|203|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|199|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.0|sqmi}} (2.0%) is water.<ref name="census-density"/> It is the third-smallest county in Illinois by area.

===Climate and weather===
{{climate chart
|[[Mound City, Illinois]]
|26|41|3.21
|30|48|3.55
|39|58|4.39
|50|69|4.74
|59|78|4.76
|67|86|4.15
|71|90|4.38
|69|87|3.63
|61|81|3.04
|49|71|3.43
|39|57|4.40
|30|46|4.16
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="weather">{{cite web
  |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0804
  |title=Monthly Averages for Mound City, Illinois
  |access-date=January 27, 2011
|publisher=The Weather Channel
}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Mound City have ranged from a low of {{convert|26|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|90|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-12|°F}} was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of {{convert|104|°F}} was recorded in June 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|3.04|in}} in September to {{convert|4.76|in}} in May.<ref name="weather"/>

===Major highways===
* [[Image:I-57.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 57]], which has been listed as a speed trap.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.speedtrap.org/view/illinois/125376 |title=I-57 Pulaski County Illinois Speed Traps {{!}} The National Speed Trap Exchange |website=www.speedtrap.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120407184525/http://www.speedtrap.org/view/Illinois/125376 |archive-date=April 7, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Image:US 51.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 51]]
* [[Image:Illinois 3.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 3]]                                                                                                         
* [[Image:Illinois 37.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 37]]
* [[Image:Illinois 169.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 169]]

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Union County, Illinois|Union County]] (north)
* [[Johnson County, Illinois|Johnson County]] (northeast)
* [[Massac County, Illinois|Massac County]] (east)
* [[Ballard County, Kentucky]] (southeast)
* [[Alexander County, Illinois|Alexander County]] (west)

===National protected area===
* [[Cypress Creek National Wildlife Refuge]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 2265
|1860= 3943
|1870= 8752
|1880= 9507
|1890= 11355
|1900= 14554
|1910= 15650
|1920= 14629
|1930= 14834
|1940= 15875
|1950= 13639
|1960= 10490
|1970= 8741
|1980= 8840
|1990= 7523
|2000= 7348
|2010= 6161
|2020= 5193
|estyear=2023
|estimate=4911
|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 8, 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 8, 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 8, 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 8, 2014}}</ref> 2010-2020<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts|url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17153.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222140321/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17153.html|archive-date=February 22, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> 2020<ref name="2020 census">{{cite web |title=2020 Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US17153 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2010 United States Census|2010 census]], there were 6,161&nbsp;people, 2,642&nbsp;households, and 1,658&nbsp;families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17153
  |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/20200213024957/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17153
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|30.9|PD/sqmi}}. There were 3,155 housing units at an average density of {{convert|15.8|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17153
  |access-date=July 12, 2015
|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
  |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
  |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213183444/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17153
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 64.4% white, 32.4% black or African American, 0.4% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.6% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 15.1% were [[Germans|German]], 6.8% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 6.6% were [[English people|English]], and 6.6% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
  |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17153
  |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/20200213025904/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17153
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

Of the 2,642&nbsp;households, 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.6% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 37.2% were non-families, and 33.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.96. The median age was 43.2 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $31,173 and the median income for a family was $39,699. Males had a median income of $36,915 versus $29,007 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,444. About 16.7% of families and 22.7% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 32.0% of those under age 18 and 18.0% 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/DP03/0500000US17153
  |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/20200213033915/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17153
  |archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
  }}</ref>

==Communities==

===Cities===
* [[Mound City, Illinois|Mound City]]
* [[Mounds, Illinois|Mounds]]

===Villages===
* [[Karnak, Illinois|Karnak]]
* [[New Grand Chain, Illinois|New Grand Chain]] (usually referred to as "Grand Chain")
* [[Olmsted, Illinois|Olmsted]]
* [[Pulaski, Illinois|Pulaski]]
* [[Ullin, Illinois|Ullin]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[America, Illinois|America]]
* [[Perks, Illinois|Perks]]
* [[Spencer Heights, Illinois|Spencer Heights]]
* [[Villa Ridge, Illinois|Villa Ridge]]
* [[Wetaug, Illinois|Wetaug]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Pulaski County was often a swing county at the presidential level, but has voted for the Republican candidates for U.S. president since 2012.

This trend in Pulaski County has begun to affect down-ballot races as well. In the [[2020 United States Senate election in Illinois|2020 Senate election]], longtime Democratic Senator [[Dick Durbin]] lost the county for the first time in his career, after winning it in his four prior elections.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|access-date=January 19, 2021|website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Pulaski 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 12, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,583|769|34|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,699|891|41|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,675|962|98|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,564|1,389|59|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|1,593|1,638|39|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,720|1,372|16|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|1,430|1,518|68|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,036|1,524|254|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,169|1,987|393|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|1,666|1,793|19|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,923|1,724|17|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|2,083|1,955|61|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|1,836|2,489|20|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|2,485|1,683|25|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|1,741|2,076|815|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,716|3,332|0|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,621|2,322|18|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,966|2,246|15|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,447|2,397|10|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,658|2,344|31|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,248|2,311|39|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,589|3,456|40|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,774|3,804|67|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,225|3,446|55|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|3,319|1,726|47|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,355|1,700|394|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,002|2,276|90|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,863|2,159|137|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1912|Republican|1,632|978|573|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|2,185|1,080|84|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|2,180|792|111|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|2,039|1,077|31|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|2,081|1,152|20|Illinois}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|1,662|897|70|Illinois}}

==See also==
* [[Cantonment Wilkinson Site]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Illinois#Pulaski County|National Register of Historic Places listings in Pulaski County]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==References==
* {{cite book
  |title=History of Alexander, Union and Pulaski Counties, Illinois
  |editor-first=William Henry
  |editor-last=Perrin
  |year=1883
  |publisher=O. L. Baskin and Company, Historical Publishers
  |location=Chicago
  |url=https://archive.org/stream/historyofalexand00perr#page/n5/mode/2up}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Pulaski County, Illinois
|North     = [[Union County, Illinois|Union County]]
|Northeast = [[Johnson County, Illinois|Johnson County]]
|East      = [[Massac County, Illinois|Massac County]]
|Southeast = [[Ballard County, Kentucky]]
|South     =
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Alexander County, Illinois|Alexander County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Pulaski County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Southern-Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|37.23|-89.13|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Pulaski County, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:1843 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois counties]]
[[Category:Illinois counties on the Ohio River]]
[[Category:Southern Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1843]]