Wayne County, Illinois

History

Wayne County was formed in 1819 out of Edwards County. It is named after Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne, an officer in the Revolutionary War and Northwest Indian War.

File:Wayne County Illinois 1819.png|Wayne County between its 1819 creation and 1821 File:Wayne County Illinois 1821.png|Wayne County between 1821 and 1824 File:Wayne County Illinois 1824.png|Wayne County in 1824, reduced to its current size

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 715 sqmi, of which 714 sqmi is land and 1.7 sqmi (0.2%) is water.

Climate and weather

|Fairfield, Illinois |20|37|2.78 |24|43|2.70 |33|54|4.62 |43|66|4.80 |52|76|4.73 |61|85|4.20 |65|88|3.83 |63|87|3.35 |55|80|2.90 |44|68|3.31 |34|53|4.33 |24|42|3.45 In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Fairfield have ranged from a low of 20 °F in January to a high of 88 °F in July, although a record low of -23 °F was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 113 °F was recorded in July 1901. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.70 in in February to 4.80 in in April.

Transit

• Rides Mass Transit District

Major highways

• [[Image:I-64.svg|20px]] Interstate 64
• [[Image:US 45.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 45
• [[Image:Illinois 15.svg|20px]] Illinois Route 15
• [[Image:Illinois 242.svg|20px]] Illinois Route 242

Adjacent counties

• Clay County (north)
• Richland County (northeast)
• Edwards County (east)
• White County (southeast)
• Hamilton County (south)
• Jefferson County (southwest)
• Marion County (northwest)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 2020 2024

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,179. The median age was 42.8 years. 23.3% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.9% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.4 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.5% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian,

29.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 70.5% lived in rural areas.

There were 6,774 households in the county, of which 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.4% were married-couple households, 18.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 24.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 7,679 housing units, of which 11.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.9% were owner-occupied and 21.1% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.2% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 16,760 people, 7,102 households, and 4,853 families living in the county. The population density was 23.5 PD/sqmi. There were 7,975 housing units at an average density of 11.2 /sqmi. The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 17.0% were German, 14.1% were English, 12.7% were American, and 9.8% were Irish.

Of the 7,102 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.7% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 42.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,207 and the median income for a family was $47,879. Males had a median income of $34,800 versus $27,192 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,493. About 9.9% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

City

• Fairfield

Villages

• Cisne
• Golden Gate
• Jeffersonville
• Johnsonville
• Keenes
• Mount Erie
• Sims
• Wayne City

Unincorporated communities

• Barnhill
• Ellery
• Mayberry
• Rinard
• Wynoose
• Zenith

Townships

Wayne County is divided into these 20 townships:

• Arrington
• Barnhill
• Bedford
• Berry
• Big Mound
• Elm River
• Four Mile
• Garden Hill
• Grover
• Hickory Hill
• Indian Prairie
• Jasper
• Keith
• Lamard
• Leech
• Massilon
• Mount Erie
• Orchard
• Orel
• Zif

Program 1033 Acquisitions

According to Department of Defense data, Wayne County has received six 5.56MM rifles and three "Utility Trucks" with a total acquisition cost of $120,705.

Politics

References

References

1. (March 2025). "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020–2024". U.S. Department of Commerce.
2. "Wayne County, Illinois". [[United States Census Bureau]].
3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
4. "Monthly Averages for Fairfield, Illinois". The Weather Channel.
5. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
9. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau.
11. "Wayne County, Illinois".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
13. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
14. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
15. "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois- Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 16 (p. 18-28) - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 29-39)".
16. "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Orogin".
17. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Wayne County, Illinois".
18. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wayne County, Illinois".
19. "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Wayne County, Illinois".
20. included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
21. included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
22. not an option in the 1980 Census
23. not an option in the 1990 Census
24. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
25. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". [[United States Census Bureau]].
26. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
27. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
28. "Military Surplus Gear".
29. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".