Kerr Township, Champaign County, Illinois

History

Initially called Middle Fork Township, the name was changed in 1861 to Kerr Township, after early settler and township supervisor Samuel Kerr (d. 1854). In 1869, the southern half of the township was transferred to Compromise Township.

Geography

Kerr is Township 22 North, Range 11 East of the Third Principal Meridian and part of Range 14 West of the Second Principal Meridian. When the federal township land surveys were done in 1821 one group of surveyors went west from the Second Principal Meridian and another went east from the Third Principal Meridian. Both groups used rawhide measuring lines that expanded and contracted with the weather. When the two groups met in eastern Champaign County the surveys didn't agree, resulting in double section numbers in the eastern townships and ongoing property line confusion among landowners.

According to the 2010 census, the township has a total area of 22.25 sqmi, of which 22.11 sqmi (or 99.37%) is land and 0.14 sqmi (or 0.63%) is water. The stream of Sugar Creek runs through this township.

Cemeteries

The township contains four cemeteries: Chenoweth, Patton, Peabody and Tomlinson.

Major highways

• [[Image:US 136.svg|25px]] U.S. Route 136

Demographics

As of the 2020 census there were 183 people, 46 households, and 35 families residing in the township. The population density was 8.21 PD/sqmi. There were 64 housing units at an average density of 2.87 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the township was 89.62% White, 3.83% African American, 0.00% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.64% from other races, and 4.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.73% of the population.

There were 46 households, out of which 39.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 69.57% were married couples living together, 6.52% had a female householder with no spouse present, and 23.91% were non-families. 19.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.91 and the average family size was 3.43.

The township's age distribution consisted of 35.1% under the age of 18, 0.0% from 18 to 24, 22.4% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 127.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.7 males.

The median income for a household in the township was $71,250, and the median income for a family was $109,063. Males had a median income of $57,188 versus $34,531 for females. The per capita income for the township was $33,134. None of the population wasbelow the poverty line.

References

• United States Census Bureau cartographic boundary files

References

1. "Explore Census Data".
2. ''History of Champaign County, Illinois'' (Philadelphia: Brink, McDonough & Co., 1878), p. 167-68.
3. Historical Map of Champaign County 1819−1940 by Champaign County Regional Planning Commission, Karl B. Lohmann, chairman; M. Eugene Baughman, cartographer. Urbana, Illinois: 1940. Reprinted 1968.
4. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place -- 2010 Census Summary File 1". United States Census.
5. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov.