Livingston County, Illinois | |
---|---|
Livingston County Courthouse
|
|
![]() Location in the state of Illinois |
|
![]() Illinois's location in the U.S. |
|
Founded | 1837 |
Named for | Edward Livingston |
Seat | Pontiac |
Largest city | Pontiac |
Area | |
• Total | 1,046 sq mi (2,709 km2) |
• Land | 1,044 sq mi (2,704 km2) |
• Water | 1.6 sq mi (4 km2), 0.2% |
Population | |
• (2010) | 38,950 |
• Density | 37/sq mi (14/km²) |
Congressional district | 16th |
Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
Livingston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 38,950.[1] Its county seat is Pontiac.[2]
Livingston County comprises the Pontiac, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Bloomington-Pontiac, IL Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Livingston was established on February 27, 1837. It was formed from parts of McLean, LaSalle, and Iroquois counties, and named after Edward Livingston, a prominent politician who was mayor of New York City and represented New York in the United States House of Representatives and Louisiana in both houses of Congress. He later served as Andrew Jackson's Secretary of State and as Minister to France. Although he had no connections to Illinois, the General Assembly found him accomplished enough to name a county after him.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,046 square miles (2,710 km2), of which 1,044 square miles (2,700 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.2%) is water.[3] It is the fourth-largest county in Illinois by land area.
Climate and weather
Pontiac, Illinois | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Pontiac have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1927 and a record high of 108 °F (42 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.44 inches (37 mm) in February to 4.11 inches (104 mm) in June.[4]
Major highways
Interstate 55
U.S. Highway 24
Illinois Route 17
Illinois Route 23
Illinois Route 47
Illinois Route 116
Adjacent counties
- Grundy County - north
- Kankakee County - northeast
- Ford County - southeast
- McLean County - southwest
- Woodford County - west
- LaSalle County - northwest
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1840 | 759 | — | |
1850 | 1,552 | 104.5% | |
1860 | 11,637 | 649.8% | |
1870 | 31,471 | 170.4% | |
1880 | 38,450 | 22.2% | |
1890 | 38,455 | 0.0% | |
1900 | 42,035 | 9.3% | |
1910 | 40,465 | −3.7% | |
1920 | 39,070 | −3.4% | |
1930 | 39,092 | 0.1% | |
1940 | 38,838 | −0.6% | |
1950 | 37,809 | −2.6% | |
1960 | 40,341 | 6.7% | |
1970 | 40,690 | 0.9% | |
1980 | 41,381 | 1.7% | |
1990 | 39,301 | −5.0% | |
2000 | 39,678 | 1.0% | |
2010 | 38,950 | −1.8% | |
Est. 2013 | 38,186 | −2.0% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010-2013[1] |
As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 39,678 people, 14,374 households, and 9,946 families residing in the county. The population density was 38 people per square mile (15/km²). There were 15,297 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.32% White, 5.17% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.22% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 2.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 35.6% were of German, 22.9% English and 12.4% Irish ancestry. 96.8% spoke English and 2.4% Spanish as their first language.
There were 14,374 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.80% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 26.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.04.
In the county the population was spread out with 25.00% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 29.60% from 25 to 44, 21.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,342, and the median income for a family was $47,958. Males had a median income of $36,414 versus $23,479 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,347. About 5.80% of families and 8.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.90% of those under age 18 and 8.50% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The Illinois Department of Corrections operates two prisons in the county.
Pontiac Correctional Center is located in Pontiac.[10] Pontiac houses the male death row. Prior to the January 11, 2003 commutation of death row sentences, male death row inmates were housed in Pontiac, Menard, and Tamms correctional centers.[11] Dwight Correctional Center is within Nevada Township in an unincorporated area in the county.[12][13] Dwight Correctional Center houses the State of Illinois female death row.[11]
Communities
Cities
Town
Villages
Townships
Livingston County is divided into thirty townships:
Notable residents
- Moira Harris - actress and wife of Gary Sinise.
- Irene Hunt - Newbery Medal-winning author.
- Donald Attig - businessman and adventurer.
- Elwood Blues and 'Joliet' Jake Blues - fictional musicians and career criminals, portrayed by Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi respectively. The main characters of The Blues Brothers movie were born in Dwight, Livingston County, Illinois.[citation needed],
- Michael Myers - fictional serial killer from the Halloween movie series.
See also
Footnotes
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Pontiac, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27.
- ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2014.
- ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Pontiac Correctional Center." Illinois Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 1, 2010.
- ^ a b "DOC Report Online." Illinois Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 1, 2010.
- ^ "Dwight village, Illinois." U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved on September 1, 2010.
- ^ "Dwight Correctional Center." Illinois Department of Corrections. Retrieved on September 1, 2001.
Further reading
![]() |
LaSalle County | Grundy County | Kankakee County | ![]() |
Woodford County | ![]() |
|||
|
||||
![]() |
||||
McLean County | Ford County |
|