FAYETTE COUNTY, ILLINOIS

'Fayette County' is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 21,802. Its county seat is Vandalia, Illinois⁶.

Contents

History

Geography

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

Cities and towns

Census-designated places

References

History

Fayette County was formed in 1821 out of Bond, Clark and Crawford Counties. It was named in honor of the Marquis de LaFayette, French hero of the American Revolutionary War.^[1]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,879 km² (725 mi²). 1,856 km² (716 mi²) of it is land and 23 km² (9 mi²) of it (1.22%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

★ Shelby County - northeast

★ Effingham County - east

★ Clay County - southeast

★ Marion County - south

★ Clinton County - southwest

★ Bond County - west

★ Montgomery County - northwest

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 21,802 people, 8,146 households, and 5,653 families residing in the county. The population density was 12/km² (30/mi²). There were 9,053 housing units at an average density of 5/km² (13/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.02% White, 4.88% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,146 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.60% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.60% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 108.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 111.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,873, and the median income for a family was $39,044. Males had a median income of $29,478 versus $20,254 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,357. About 8.40% of families and 12.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

★ Bingham

★ Brownstown

★ Farina

★ Pittsburg

★ Ramsey

★ St. Elmo

★ St. Peter

★ Vandalia

Census-designated places

★ Augsburg

★ Bayle

★ Confidence

★ Frogtown

★ Hagarstown

★ Loogootee

★ Shobonier

★ St. Paul

★ Stringtown

★ Vera

★ Woodyard

References

1. Allan H. Keith, ''Historical Stories: About Greenville and Bond County, IL''. Consulted on August 15, 2007.