Marion County, Illinois

Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 37,729.[1] Its county seat is Salem.[2] Marion County comprises the Centralia, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the St. Louis-St. Charles-Farmington, MO-IL Combined Statistical Area.

Marion County
Marion County Courthouse in Salem
Flag of Marion County
Map of Illinois highlighting Marion County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°39′N 88°55′W / 38.65°N 88.92°W / 38.65; -88.92
Country United States
State Illinois
Founded1823
Named forFrancis Marion
SeatSalem
Largest cityCentralia
Area
 • Total
576 sq mi (1,490 km2)
 • Land572 sq mi (1,480 km2)
 • Water3.7 sq mi (10 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
37,729
 • Estimate 
(2023)
36,673 Decrease
 • Density66/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district15th

History

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Marion County was organized on January 24, 1823, from portions of Jefferson and Fayette counties. It was named in honor of Revolutionary War Gen. Francis Marion, the "Swamp Fox".[3]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 576 square miles (1,490 km2), of which 572 square miles (1,480 km2) is land and 3.7 square miles (9.6 km2) (0.6%) is water.[4]

The southwest corner of Marion County is the intersection of the Baseline with the Third Principal Meridian, the point of origin for the third survey of the Northwest Territory under the Land Ordinance of 1785. The origin is marked with a boulder south of Centralia just off U.S. 51.

Climate and weather

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Salem, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
2.5
 
 
37
18
 
 
2.5
 
 
43
22
 
 
4
 
 
54
33
 
 
4
 
 
65
44
 
 
4.4
 
 
75
54
 
 
4.2
 
 
84
63
 
 
3.9
 
 
88
68
 
 
3.4
 
 
87
66
 
 
3.2
 
 
80
57
 
 
3.1
 
 
69
45
 
 
4.1
 
 
54
34
 
 
3.3
 
 
42
24
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[5]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
62
 
 
3
−8
 
 
64
 
 
6
−6
 
 
101
 
 
12
1
 
 
102
 
 
18
7
 
 
111
 
 
24
12
 
 
105
 
 
29
17
 
 
99
 
 
31
20
 
 
87
 
 
31
19
 
 
82
 
 
27
14
 
 
79
 
 
21
7
 
 
105
 
 
12
1
 
 
83
 
 
6
−4
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Salem have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1983. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.46 inches (62 mm) in January to 4.37 inches (111 mm) in May.[5]

Transit

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Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18302,125
18404,742123.2%
18506,72041.7%
186012,73989.6%
187020,62261.9%
188023,68614.9%
189024,3412.8%
190030,44625.1%
191035,09415.3%
192037,4976.8%
193035,635−5.0%
194047,98934.7%
195041,700−13.1%
196039,349−5.6%
197038,986−0.9%
198043,52311.6%
199041,561−4.5%
200041,6910.3%
201039,437−5.4%
202037,729−4.3%
2023 (est.)36,673[6]−2.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010[11]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 39,437 people, 16,148 households, and 10,746 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 68.9 inhabitants per square mile (26.6/km2). There were 18,296 housing units at an average density of 32.0 per square mile (12.4/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 93.1% white, 3.9% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 27.5% were German, 15.8% were Irish, 13.6% were English, and 10.8% were American.[13]

Of the 16,148 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 12.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.5% were non-families, and 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.91. The median age was 41.4 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,974 and the median income for a family was $50,518. Males had a median income of $41,428 versus $28,042 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,493. About 12.2% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Communities

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Cities

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Villages

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Townships

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Marion County is divided into seventeen townships:

Unincorporated Communities

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Politics

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Initially a strongly Democratic anti-Yankee county, Marion County has undergone two transitions. Between 1912 and 2004 it was a perfect bellwether apart from the Catholicism-influenced 1960 election when substantial anti-Catholic voting by its largely southern white population caused it to support Republican Richard Nixon. Since the beginning of the twenty-first century it has voted consistently for Republican presidential candidates.

United States presidential election results for Marion County, Illinois[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 12,409 73.85% 4,116 24.50% 278 1.65%
2020 12,678 72.47% 4,524 25.86% 292 1.67%
2016 11,859 69.36% 4,369 25.55% 870 5.09%
2012 9,248 58.46% 6,225 39.35% 347 2.19%
2008 8,691 49.92% 8,345 47.93% 374 2.15%
2004 9,413 54.65% 7,694 44.67% 117 0.68%
2000 8,240 49.45% 8,068 48.42% 355 2.13%
1996 5,999 38.06% 7,792 49.43% 1,972 12.51%
1992 5,764 30.52% 9,669 51.20% 3,450 18.27%
1988 8,695 50.05% 8,592 49.46% 86 0.50%
1984 11,300 59.65% 7,599 40.11% 46 0.24%
1980 10,969 58.73% 6,990 37.42% 719 3.85%
1976 8,729 46.63% 9,834 52.53% 157 0.84%
1972 10,755 60.58% 6,968 39.25% 31 0.17%
1968 8,134 46.09% 7,737 43.84% 1,778 10.07%
1964 7,060 36.35% 12,363 63.65% 0 0.00%
1960 11,121 54.92% 9,116 45.02% 13 0.06%
1956 10,813 55.78% 8,551 44.11% 21 0.11%
1952 10,804 53.64% 9,317 46.26% 19 0.09%
1948 7,798 46.19% 8,878 52.58% 208 1.23%
1944 9,408 47.90% 10,079 51.32% 153 0.78%
1940 10,461 42.74% 13,807 56.41% 208 0.85%
1936 8,321 42.79% 10,820 55.64% 305 1.57%
1932 6,276 36.11% 10,791 62.09% 313 1.80%
1928 9,110 60.52% 5,823 38.69% 119 0.79%
1924 5,889 44.01% 4,768 35.63% 2,724 20.36%
1920 6,620 52.06% 4,351 34.22% 1,744 13.72%
1916 6,438 42.99% 7,892 52.70% 646 4.31%
1912 1,586 20.10% 3,493 44.26% 2,813 35.64%
1908 3,435 43.14% 4,001 50.24% 527 6.62%
1904 3,190 47.25% 2,490 36.88% 1,071 15.86%
1900 3,221 43.88% 3,928 53.51% 191 2.60%
1896 2,870 42.32% 3,835 56.55% 77 1.14%
1892 2,324 39.88% 2,709 46.49% 794 13.63%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Marion County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 200.
  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 12, 2015.
  5. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Salem, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  12. ^ 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 12, 2015.
  13. ^ "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 12, 2015.
  14. ^ "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 12, 2015.
  15. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.

38°39′N 88°55′W / 38.65°N 88.92°W / 38.65; -88.92