Hancock County, Illinois

County in Illinois, United States

U.S. county in Illinois

Hancock County

U.S. county

Hancock County Courthouse in Carthage

Location within the U.S. state of Illinois

Illinois's location within the U.S.

Country|  United States
State|  Illinois
Founded| 1825
Named for| John Hancock
Seat| Carthage
Largest city| Hamilton
Area

• Total| 814 sq mi (2,110 km2)
• Land| 794 sq mi (2,060 km2)
• Water| 21 sq mi (50 km2)  2.5%
Population

(2020)

• Total| 17,620
• Density| 22/sq mi (8.4/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 18th
Website| www.hancockcounty-il.gov

Hancock County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 17,620.[1] Its county seat is Carthage,[2] and its largest city is Hamilton. The county is made up of rural towns with many farmers.

Hancock County is part of the Fort Madison-Keokuk, IA-IL-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.

## Contents

* 1 History
* 2 Geography
* 2.1 Climate and weather
* 2.2 Major highways
* 2.3 Adjacent counties
* 3 Demographics
* 4 Politics
* 5 Communities
* 5.1 Cities
* 5.2 Town
* 5.3 Villages
* 5.4 Unincorporated communities
* 5.5 Forts
* 5.6 Townships
* 6 Education
* 7 See also
* 8 References
* 9 External links

## History

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Hancock County at the time of its creation in 1825

Hancock County was part of the "Military Tract" set aside by Congress to reward veterans of the War of 1812. Actual settlement of the interior of the county was delayed by concerns about hostile American Indians. After their defeat in the Blackhawk War in 1832, settlement proceeded quickly.

Hancock County was formed, on January 13, 1825, out of Pike County. It was named in honor of John Hancock, who signed the Declaration of Independence.[3]

For a brief period in the 1840s Hancock had one of Illinois' most populous cities: Nauvoo, which was then headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The movement's founder Joseph Smith was killed in the county seat of Carthage in 1844. Most Mormons left Hancock County in the 1840s. Today, Latter Day Saints come in increasing numbers to important Latter Day Saint sites in Hancock County, partly for vacation and partly for religious pilgrimage.

The original courthouse was at Montebello. Montebello no longer exists but was between Nauvoo and Hamilton. In 1833 the state commissioned the formation of the county seat at Carthage, which was centrally located but not well developed. A log cabin was built to serve as the courthouse and served that purpose until 1839 when the second Carthage Courthouse was built. The original log cabin continued to serve as a school and other purposes until 1945 when it was removed.

The second courthouse cost $3,700 to build and served from 1839 until 1906. It served as a location for Stephen A. Douglas (October 11, 1858) and Abraham Lincoln (October 22, 1858) to speak to residents as they were running against each other for the US Senate. In 1906 it was removed to make room for the current courthouse.

The current courthouse was dedicated October 21, 1908.

## Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 814 square miles (2,110 km2), of which 794 square miles (2,060 km2) is land and 21 square miles (54 km2) (2.5%) is water.[4]

### Climate and weather

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Carthage, Illinois

Climate chart (explanation)

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1.5

1.7

2.9

3.8

4.6

4.4

4.5

3.5

2.9

3.2

2.3

Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[5]
| Metric conversion

−11

116

111

115

101

Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Carthage have ranged from a low of 13 °F (−11 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −30 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in August 1934. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.47 inches (37 mm) in January to 4.58 inches (116 mm) in May.[5]

### Major highways

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* U.S. Highway 136
* Illinois Route 9
* Illinois Route 61
* Illinois Route 94
* Illinois Route 96
* Illinois Route 336

### Adjacent counties

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* Lee County, Iowa \- northwest
* Henderson County \- northeast
* McDonough County \- east
* Schuyler County \- southeast
* Adams County \- south
* Lewis County, Missouri \- southwest
* Clark County, Missouri \- west

## Demographics

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Historical population

Census | Pop. |  | %±
1830| 483| | —
1840| 9,946| | 1,959.2%
1850| 14,652| | 47.3%
1860| 29,061| | 98.3%
1870| 35,935| | 23.7%
1880| 35,337| | −1.7%
1890| 31,907| | −9.7%
1900| 32,215| | 1.0%
1910| 30,638| | −4.9%
1920| 28,523| | −6.9%
1930| 26,420| | −7.4%
1940| 26,297| | −0.5%
1950| 25,790| | −1.9%
1960| 24,574| | −4.7%
1970| 23,645| | −3.8%
1980| 23,877| | 1.0%
1990| 21,373| | −10.5%
2000| 20,121| | −5.9%
2010| 19,104| | −5.1%
2020| 17,620| | −7.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

2000 census age pyramid for Hancock County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 19,104 people, 8,040 households, and 5,427 families residing in the county.[10] The population density was 24.1 inhabitants per square mile (9.3/km2). There were 9,274 housing units at an average density of 11.7 per square mile (4.5/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.3% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[10] In terms of ancestry, 34.7% were German, 13.8% were English, 13.2% were American, and 12.1% were Irish.[11]

Of the 8,040 households, 27.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.3% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 44.6 years.[10]

The median income for a household in the county was $42,857 and the median income for a family was $55,162. Males had a median income of $41,609 versus $27,648 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,885. About 8.9% of families and 12.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.8% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[12]

## Politics

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Hancock County is in Illinois's 18th Congressional District and is currently represented by Republican Darin LaHood. For the Illinois House of Representatives, the county is in the 94th district and is represented by Republican Randy Frese. The county is in the 47th district of the Illinois Senate, and is represented by Republican Jil Tracy.

In presidential elections, Hancock County usually favors Republican candidates, having voted for Democratic presidential candidates only four times during the period of 1940 to 2020 (in 1964, 1988, 1992, and 1996).

United States presidential election results for Hancock County, Illinois[13] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party

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No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2020 | 6,906  | 73.60% | 2,315  | 24.67%  | 162  | 1.73%
2016 | 6,430  | 70.50% | 2,139  | 23.45%  | 552  | 6.05%
2012 | 5,271  | 57.85% | 3,650  | 40.06%  | 190  | 2.09%
2008 | 5,161  | 54.50% | 4,141  | 43.73%  | 167  | 1.76%
2004 | 5,837  | 58.97% | 3,975  | 40.16%  | 87  | 0.88%
2000 | 5,134  | 52.98% | 4,256  | 43.92%  | 301  | 3.11%
1996 | 3,961  | 43.16%  | 4,001  | 43.59% | 1,216  | 13.25%
1992 | 3,714  | 36.89%  | 4,213  | 41.84% | 2,142  | 21.27%
1988 | 4,568  | 48.71%  | 4,740  | 50.54% | 70  | 0.75%
1984 | 6,251  | 62.50% | 3,713  | 37.13%  | 37  | 0.37%
1980 | 6,597  | 62.32% | 3,522  | 33.27%  | 466  | 4.40%
1976 | 6,043  | 55.54% | 4,730  | 43.47%  | 108  | 0.99%
1972 | 7,519  | 67.56% | 3,592  | 32.28%  | 18  | 0.16%
1968 | 6,866  | 60.24% | 3,720  | 32.64%  | 811  | 7.12%
1964 | 5,557  | 47.27%  | 6,199  | 52.73% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 8,036  | 61.86% | 4,947  | 38.08%  | 7  | 0.05%
1956 | 8,431  | 63.41% | 4,854  | 36.50%  | 12  | 0.09%
1952 | 9,181  | 66.14% | 4,681  | 33.72%  | 19  | 0.14%
1948 | 7,098  | 55.54% | 5,559  | 43.50%  | 122  | 0.95%
1944 | 7,972  | 59.59% | 5,338  | 39.90%  | 68  | 0.51%
1940 | 9,108  | 57.06% | 6,688  | 41.90%  | 165  | 1.03%
1936 | 7,383  | 47.61%  | 7,726  | 49.82% | 398  | 2.57%
1932 | 4,789  | 34.87%  | 8,808  | 64.13% | 137  | 1.00%
1928 | 7,795  | 58.65% | 5,447  | 40.99%  | 48  | 0.36%
1924 | 6,678  | 51.83% | 5,189  | 40.27%  | 1,018  | 7.90%
1920 | 7,379  | 57.75% | 5,125  | 40.11%  | 274  | 2.14%
1916 | 6,472  | 43.95%  | 7,711  | 52.36% | 543  | 3.69%
1912 | 1,937  | 25.60%  | 3,692  | 48.80% | 1,937  | 25.60%
1908 | 3,781  | 45.47%  | 4,260  | 51.23% | 274  | 3.30%
1904 | 3,887  | 49.47% | 3,456  | 43.98%  | 515  | 6.55%
1900 | 3,907  | 44.70%  | 4,657  | 53.28% | 177  | 2.02%
1896 | 4,250  | 47.18%  | 4,581  | 50.85% | 177  | 1.96%
1892 | 3,393  | 41.79%  | 4,132  | 50.89% | 595  | 7.33%

## Communities

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### Cities

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* Carthage (seat)
* Dallas City (partly in Henderson County)
* Hamilton
* La Harpe
* Nauvoo
* Warsaw

### Town

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* Bentley

### Villages

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* Augusta
* Basco
* Bowen
* Elvaston
* Ferris
* Plymouth
* Pontoosuc
* West Point

### Unincorporated communities

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* Adrian
* Breckenridge
* Burnside
* Chili
* Colusa
* Denver
* Disco
* Durham
* Elderville
* Fountain Green
* Joetta
* La Crosse
* McCall
* Middle Creek
* Niota
* Old Niota
* Powellton
* Saint Mary
* Stillwell
* Sutter
* Tioga
* Webster

### Forts

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* Fort Johnson

### Townships

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Hancock County is divided into twenty-four townships:

* Appanoose
* Augusta
* Bear Creek
* Carthage
* Chili
* Dallas City
* Durham
* Fountain Green
* Hancock
* Harmony
* La Harpe
* Montebello
* Nauvoo
* Pilot Grove
* Pontoosuc
* Prairie
* Rock Creek
* Rocky Run-Wilcox
* St. Albans
* St. Mary's
* Sonora
* Walker
* Warsaw
* Wythe

## Education

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The following is a list of all school districts with any territory in Hancock County, no matter how slight, even if the schools and/or administrative headquarters are in other counties.[14]

K-12:

* Community Unit School District 4
* Hamilton Community Consolidated School District 328
* Nauvoo-Colusa Community Unit School District 325 \- A K-12 district, but it has an arrangement with Warsaw district where Nauvoo-Colusa sends its high schoolers to Warsaw while Warsaw sends its junior high school students to Nauvoo-Colusa[15]
* Southeastern Community Unit School District 337
* Warsaw Community Unit School District 316 \- A K-12 district, but it has an arrangement with Warsaw district where Warsaw sends its junior high school students to Nauvoo-Colusa while Nauvoo-Colusa sends its high schoolers to Warsaw[15]
* West Prairie Community Unit School District 103

Secondary:

* Illini West High School District 307

Elementary:

* Carthage Elementary School District 317
* Dallas Elementary School District 327
* La Harpe Community School District 347

## See also

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* National Register of Historic Places listings in Hancock County, Illinois

## References

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1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 148.
4. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
5. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Carthage, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
6. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
10. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
11. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
12. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 4, 2018.
14. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Hancock County, IL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2022. \- Text list
15. ^ a b Endres, Doug (October 11, 2007). "Nauvoo residents sound off on deactivation". Hancock County Journal-Pilot. Retrieved March 29, 2017.

## External links

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* Center for Hancock County History
* Hancock County, Illinois, USA

Places adjacent to Hancock County, Illinois

| Lee County, Iowa |  | Henderson County

|
|

|  |
Clark County, Missouri |

Hancock County, Illinois

| McDonough County
|  |
Lewis County, Missouri | Adams County | Schuyler County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Hancock County, Illinois, United States

County seat: Carthage

Cities|

* Carthage
* Dallas City‡
* Hamilton
* La Harpe
* Nauvoo
* Warsaw

Map of Illinois highlighting Hancock County

Town|

* Bentley

Villages|

* Augusta
* Basco
* Bowen
* Elvaston
* Ferris
* Plymouth‡
* Pontoosuc
* West Point

Townships|

* Appanoose
* Augusta
* Bear Creek
* Carthage
* Chili
* Dallas City
* Durham
* Fountain Green
* Hancock
* Harmony
* La Harpe
* Montebello
* Nauvoo
* Pilot Grove
* Pontoosuc
* Prairie
* Rock Creek
* Rocky Run-Wilcox
* Sonora
* St. Albans
* St. Mary's
* Walker
* Warsaw
* Wythe

CDP|

* Niota

Other
communities|

* Adrian
* Breckenridge
* Burnside
* Chili
* Colusa
* Denver
* Disco
* Durham
* Elderville
* Fountain Green
* Joetta
* La Crosse
* McCall
* Middle Creek
* Old Niota
* Powellton
* St. Mary
* Stillwell
* Sutter
* Tioga
* Webster

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

* United States portal

* v
* t
* e

State of Illinois

Springfield (capital)

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Counties|

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Coordinates: 40°24′N 91°10′W﻿ / ﻿40.40°N 91.17°W﻿ / 40.40; -91.17
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