Edgar County, Illinois

County in Illinois, United States

It has been suggested that Bloomfield, Edgar County, Illinois be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since May 2025.

|

County in Illinois

Edgar County

County

Edgar County Courthouse

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Illinois

Illinois's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 39°41′N 87°45′W﻿ / ﻿39.68°N 87.75°W﻿ / 39.68; -87.75
Country|  United States
State|  Illinois
Founded| January 3, 1823
Named after| John Edgar
Seat| Paris
Largest city| Paris
Area

• Total

| 624 sq mi (1,620 km2)
• Land| 623 sq mi (1,610 km2)
• Water| 0.6 sq mi (2 km2)  0.1%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 16,866

• Estimate

(2023)

| 16,334
• Density| 27/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone| UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district| 15th
Website| edgarcountyillinois.com

Edgar County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 16,866.[1] Its county seat is Paris.[2]

## History

[edit]

Edgar County was formed out of Clark County in 1823. It was named for John Edgar,[3] an Irish-born officer in the Royal Navy who resigned rather than fight against the Americans in the Revolutionary War. Edgar moved to Kaskaskia, Illinois, in 1784, becoming a miller and merchant in that town.

* Edgar County (1823), with unorganized territory attached to it.[4]

* Edgar County (1825–1826)

* Edgar County (1826–1830)

* Edgar County (1830–present), with the additional territory incorporated into Coles County

## Geography

[edit]

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 624 square miles (1,620 km2), of which 623 square miles (1,610 km2) is land and 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) (0.1%) is water.[5]

There is one recreational area in the county, on the north edge of Paris. Twin Lakes Park and Reservoir began in 1895 upon completion of the dam compounding the Twin Lakes Reservoir.[6]

### Climate and weather

[edit]

Paris, Illinois

Climate chart (explanation)

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2.2

2.2

3.3

4.3

4.2

4.4

4.4

2.9

2.8

3.7

3.1

█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[7]
| Metric conversion

101

109

108

113

112

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

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Paris have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1930 and a record high of 109 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.23 inches (57 mm) in January to 4.43 inches (113 mm) in July.[7]

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Vermilion County – north
* Vermillion County, Indiana – northeast
* Vigo County, Indiana – southeast
* Clark County – south
* Coles County – southwest
* Douglas County – west
* Champaign County – northwest

## Transportation

[edit]

### Major highways

[edit]

* US Route 36
* US Route 150
* Illinois Route 1
* Illinois Route 16
* Illinois Route 49
* Illinois Route 133

### Rail

[edit]

Three railroad lines run through the county. Two are operated by CSX Transportation and the third by the Eastern Illinois Railroad Company.[8]

### Transit

[edit]

* Rides Mass Transit District

### Airport

[edit]

The county contains one public-use airport: Edgar County Airport (PRG), six miles (10 km) north of Paris.[9]

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1830| 4,071| | —
1840| 8,225| | 102.0%
1850| 10,692| | 30.0%
1860| 16,925| | 58.3%
1870| 21,450| | 26.7%
1880| 25,499| | 18.9%
1890| 26,787| | 5.1%
1900| 28,273| | 5.5%
1910| 27,336| | −3.3%
1920| 25,769| | −5.7%
1930| 24,966| | −3.1%
1940| 24,430| | −2.1%
1950| 23,407| | −4.2%
1960| 22,550| | −3.7%
1970| 21,591| | −4.3%
1980| 21,725| | 0.6%
1990| 19,595| | −9.8%
2000| 19,704| | 0.6%
2010| 18,576| | −5.7%
2020| 16,866| | −9.2%
2023 (est.)| 16,334| [10]| −3.2%
US Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010-2013[1]

2000 census age pyramid for Edgar County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 18,576 people, 7,839 households, and 5,148 families residing in the county.[15] The population density was 29.8 inhabitants per square mile (11.5/km2). There were 8,803 housing units at an average density of 14.1 per square mile (5.4/km2).[5] The racial makeup of the county was 98.3% white, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 23.6% were German, 15.3% were Irish, 13.0% were English, and 12.3% were American.[16]

Of the 7,839 households, 28.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 43.2 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,904 and the median income for a family was $51,588. Males had a median income of $38,945 versus $29,951 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,175. About 9.7% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.2% of those under age 18 and 7.9% of those age 65 or over.[17]

## Communities

[edit]

Map of Edgar County

### Cities

[edit]

* Chrisman
* Paris (seat)

### Villages

[edit]

* Brocton
* Hume
* Kansas
* Metcalf
* Redmon
* Vermilion

### Unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Borton
* Edgar
* Isabel
* Logan
* Nevins
* Oliver
* Patton
* Raven
* Scottland
* Woodyard

### Former communities

[edit]

* Bell Ridge[18]
* Bloomfield[19]
* Catfish
* Cherry Point[20]
* Clays Prairie[21]
* Conlogue[22]
* Dudley[23]
* Ferrel[24]
* Garland[25]
* Grandview
* Harris[26]
* Hildreth[27]
* Horace[28]
* Huffmanville[29]
* Hughes[30]
* Illiana
* Kentucky[31]
* Kidley[32]
* Logan[33]
* Mabel[34]
* Marley[35]
* Mays[36]
* McCown[37]
* Melwood[38]
* Mortimer[39]
* New Athens
* Palermo[40]
* Quaker
* Scotts[41]
* Warrington[42]
* West Sandford
* Wetzel

### Townships

[edit]

* Brouilletts Creek
* Buck
* Edgar
* Elbridge
* Embarrass
* Grandview
* Hunter
* Kansas
* Paris
* Prairie
* Ross
* Shiloh
* Stratton
* Symmes
* Young America

## Notable people

[edit]

* Basil Bennett, Bronze Medalist in the Hammer Throw at the 1920 Olympics
* Offa Neal, professional baseball player with the New York Giants
* Edward Adelbert Doisy, biochemist and Nobel Prize winner
* Frank Fletcher (baseball), professional baseball player with the Philadelphia Phillies

## Politics

[edit]

A swing county in the first eight decades after the Civil War, Edgar County has since become powerfully Republican. It has been carried by only two Democrats since 1940 – Lyndon Johnson in 1964 by just 139 votes, and Bill Clinton in 1992 by a 41.1 percent plurality. Hillary Clinton’s 22.7 percent vote share in 2016 was by 9.3 percent the worst ever by a Democrat in the county.

United States presidential election results for Edgar County, Illinois[43] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

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|
|

No.  | % | No.  | % | No.  | %
2024 | 5,955  | 75.11% | 1,816  | 22.91%  | 157  | 1.98%
2020 | 6,193  | 75.41% | 1,887  | 22.98%  | 132  | 1.61%
2016 | 5,645  | 71.46% | 1,793  | 22.70%  | 461  | 5.84%
2012 | 5,132  | 65.50% | 2,565  | 32.74%  | 138  | 1.76%
2008 | 4,398  | 53.09% | 3,743  | 45.18%  | 143  | 1.73%
2004 | 5,258  | 62.38% | 3,093  | 36.69%  | 78  | 0.93%
2000 | 4,833  | 58.71% | 3,216  | 39.07%  | 183  | 2.22%
1996 | 3,746  | 45.12% | 3,552  | 42.78%  | 1,004  | 12.09%
1992 | 3,790  | 38.77%  | 4,014  | 41.06% | 1,972  | 20.17%
1988 | 5,538  | 58.55% | 3,880  | 41.02%  | 41  | 0.43%
1984 | 6,821  | 67.54% | 3,241  | 32.09%  | 37  | 0.37%
1980 | 6,639  | 63.14% | 3,394  | 32.28%  | 482  | 4.58%
1976 | 5,842  | 53.01% | 5,058  | 45.89%  | 121  | 1.10%
1972 | 7,195  | 64.73% | 3,889  | 34.99%  | 32  | 0.29%
1968 | 6,281  | 56.33% | 3,565  | 31.97%  | 1,305  | 11.70%
1964 | 5,827  | 49.41%  | 5,966  | 50.59% | 0  | 0.00%
1960 | 7,348  | 59.37% | 5,024  | 40.59%  | 4  | 0.03%
1956 | 7,942  | 64.52% | 4,362  | 35.44%  | 5  | 0.04%
1952 | 8,323  | 64.56% | 4,558  | 35.36%  | 10  | 0.08%
1948 | 6,282  | 54.77% | 5,121  | 44.65%  | 67  | 0.58%
1944 | 6,961  | 57.68% | 5,054  | 41.88%  | 54  | 0.45%
1940 | 7,985  | 54.03% | 6,713  | 45.42%  | 82  | 0.55%
1936 | 6,929  | 46.51%  | 7,822  | 52.50% | 147  | 0.99%
1932 | 5,953  | 43.03%  | 7,745  | 55.98% | 138  | 1.00%
1928 | 7,509  | 58.27% | 5,325  | 41.32%  | 52  | 0.40%
1924 | 6,297  | 52.31% | 5,222  | 43.38%  | 518  | 4.30%
1920 | 6,750  | 53.29% | 5,694  | 44.95%  | 223  | 1.76%
1916 | 6,099  | 46.37%  | 6,710  | 51.01% | 345  | 2.62%
1912 | 2,430  | 32.84%  | 3,479  | 47.02% | 1,490  | 20.14%
1908 | 3,757  | 50.46% | 3,433  | 46.11%  | 255  | 3.43%
1904 | 3,753  | 50.33% | 3,443  | 46.17%  | 261  | 3.50%
1900 | 3,766  | 48.90%  | 3,783  | 49.12% | 153  | 1.99%
1896 | 3,822  | 49.80% | 3,729  | 48.59%  | 123  | 1.60%
1892 | 3,197  | 47.64% | 3,164  | 47.15%  | 350  | 5.22%

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

* US Census Bureau 2007 TIGER/Line Shapefiles
* US Board on Geographic Names (GNIS)
* US National Atlas

1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on July 4, 2012. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ Adams, James N. (compiler) (1989), Keller, William E. (ed.), Illinois Place Names, Springfield: Illinois State Historical Society, p. 580, ISBN 0-912226-24-2
4. ^ White, Jesse. Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties. State of Illinois, March 2010. [1]
5. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
6. ^ Parks \- City of Paris IL (accessed 30 December 2018)
7. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Paris IL". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
8. ^ Illinois Railroad Map (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on August 22, 2007, retrieved October 11, 2007
9. ^ Public and Private Airports, Edgar County IL
10. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
11. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 4, 2014.
15. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
16. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
17. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
18. ^ Bell Ridge, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
19. ^ Bloomfield, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
20. ^ Cherry Point, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
21. ^ Clays Prairie, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
22. ^ Conlogue, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
23. ^ Dudley, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
24. ^ Ferrel, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
25. ^ Garland, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
26. ^ Harris, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
27. ^ Hildreth, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
28. ^ Horace, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
29. ^ Huffmanville, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
30. ^ Hughes, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
31. ^ Kentucky, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
32. ^ Kidley, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
33. ^ Logan, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
34. ^ Mabel, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
35. ^ Marley, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
36. ^ Mays, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
37. ^ McCown, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
38. ^ Melwood, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
39. ^ Mortimer, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
40. ^ Palermo, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
41. ^ Scotts, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018
42. ^ Warrington, Edgar County IL Google Maps (accessed 30 December 2018)
43. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 1, 2018.

## External links

[edit]

* Edgar County Fact Sheet, Illinois State Archives
* Edgar County, Illinois History and Genealogy

Places adjacent to Edgar County, Illinois

| Champaign County | Vermilion County | Vermillion County, Indiana

|
|

|  |
Coles County Douglas County |

Edgar County

|  |
| Clark County | Vigo County, Indiana

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Edgar County, Illinois, United States

County seat: Paris

Cities|

* Chrisman
* Paris

Map of Illinois highlighting Edgar County

Villages|

* Brocton
* Hume
* Kansas
* Metcalf
* Redmon
* Vermilion

Townships|

* Brouilletts Creek
* Buck
* Edgar
* Elbridge
* Embarrass
* Grandview
* Hunter
* Kansas
* Paris
* Prairie
* Ross
* Shiloh
* Stratton
* Symmes
* Young America

Unincorporated
communities|

* Borton
* Edgar
* Isabel
* Logan
* Nevins
* Oliver
* Patton‡
* Raven
* Scottland
* Woodyard

Footnotes|

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

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39°41′N 87°45′W﻿ / ﻿39.68°N 87.75°W﻿ / 39.68; -87.75
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