Macon County, Illinois

Macon County, Illinois
Location in the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location in the U.S.
Founded	1829
Named for	Nathaniel Macon
Seat	Decatur
Largest city	Decatur
Area
• Total	586 sq mi (1,518 km2)
• Land	581 sq mi (1,505 km2)
• Water	5.2 sq mi (13 km2), 0.9%
Population
• (2010)	110,768
• Density	191/sq mi (74/km²)
Congressional district	13th
Time zone	Central: UTC-6/-5
Website	www.co.macon.il.us

Macon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 110,768. Its county seat is Decatur.

Macon County comprises the Decatur, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Macon County was formed on January 19, 1829 out of Shelby County. It was named for Nathaniel Macon, who served as a Colonel in the Revolutionary War. Macon later served as senator from North Carolina until his resignation in 1828. In 1830, future President Abraham Lincoln and his family moved to Macon County.

• 

  Macon County from the time of its creation to 1829

• 

  Macon County between 1829 and 1841

• 

  Macon County between 1841 and 1843

• 

  Macon County in 1843, reduced to its present borders

Geography

Plaque honoring Macon County soldiers, 1861-65

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 586 square miles (1,520 km²), of which 581 square miles (1,500 km²) is land and 5.2 square miles (13 km²) (0.9%) is water.

Macon County is primarily flat, as is most of the state and all of the surrounding counties, as a result of geological activity during the Pleistocene epoch. During the Illinoian Stage of the Pleistocene, the Laurentide ice sheet covered roughly 85 percent of Illinois, including all of present-day Macon County. The subsequent thaw of the region and retreat of the ice sheet left central Illinois with the characteristic flat topography which it is known for today.

Because of its location, Macon County is often referred to as "The Heart of Illinois."

Climate and weather

Decatur, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     2.1     35 17     2     41 22     3.2     53 32     3.6     65 42     4.5     76 52     3.9     85 61     4.5     88 65     4.1     86 63     3     80 55     2.7     68 44     3.3     52 34     2.9     39 23 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches Source: The Weather Channel
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     52     2 −8     50     5 −6     81     12 0     91     18 6     114     24 11     99     29 16     115     31 18     105     30 17     76     27 13     70     20 7     84     11 1     73     4 −5 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Decatur have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.95 inches (50 mm) in February to 4.54 inches (115 mm) in July.

Major highways

• Interstate 72
• U.S. Route 36
• U.S. Route 51
• Illinois Route 48
• Illinois Route 105
• Illinois Route 121
• Illinois Route 128

Adjacent counties

• De Witt - north
• Piatt - northeast
• Moultrie - southeast
• Shelby - south
• Christian - southwest
• Sangamon - west
• Logan - northwest

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	1,122		—
1840	3,039		170.9%
1850	3,988		31.2%
1860	13,738		244.5%
1870	26,481		92.8%
1880	30,665		15.8%
1890	38,083		24.2%
1900	44,003		15.5%
1910	54,186		23.1%
1920	65,175		20.3%
1930	81,731		25.4%
1940	84,693		3.6%
1950	98,853		16.7%
1960	118,257		19.6%
1970	125,010		5.7%
1980	131,375		5.1%
1990	117,206		−10.8%
2000	114,706		−2.1%
2010	110,768		−3.4%
Est. 2014	108,350		−2.2%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2013

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 110,768 people, 45,855 households, and 29,326 families residing in the county. The population density was 190.8 inhabitants per square mile (73.7/km²). There were 50,475 housing units at an average density of 86.9 per square mile (33.6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.3% white, 16.3% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.7% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 21.7% were German, 17.0% were American, 12.9% were Irish, and 10.8% were English.

Of the 45,855 households, 29.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% were married couples living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.0% were non-families, and 30.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 40.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,337 and the median income for a family was $57,570. Males had a median income of $48,570 versus $31,568 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,726. About 10.3% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Map of Macon County, Illinois.

Cities

• Decatur
• Macon
• Maroa

Villages

• Argenta
• Blue Mound
• Forsyth
• Harristown
• Long Creek
• Mount Zion
• Niantic
• Oreana
• Warrensburg

Unincorporated communities

• Bearsdale
• Oakley

Townships

• Austin
• Blue Mound
• Decatur
• Friends Creek
• Harristown
• Hickory Point
• Illini
• Long Creek
• Maroa
• Milam (former, now defunct, after merger with Mount Zion Township)
• Mount Zion
• Niantic
• Oakley
• Pleasant View
• South Macon
• South Wheatland
• Whitmore

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Macon County, Illinois