St. Clair County, Illinois

Infobox U.S. County
county = St. Clair County
state = Illinois


founded year = 1790
founded date =
seat wl = Belleville
largest city wl =
city type =
area_total_sq_mi = 674
area_total_km2 = 1746
area_land_sq_mi = 664
area_land_km2 = 1719
area_water_sq_mi = 10
area_water_km2 = 26
area percentage = 1.51%
census yr = 2006
pop = 260919
density_sq_mi = 393.0
density_km2 =
time zone = Central
footnotes =
web = www.co.st-clair.il.us
named for = Arthur St. Clair

St. Clair County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, and determined by the U.S. Census Bureau to include the mean center of U.S. population in 1970. As of 2006, the population was 260,919. Its county seat is Belleville, Illinois.

It is a part of the St. Louis Metropolitan Area. St. Clair County is also the first county established in the state of Illinois. Its existence actually precedes the state of Illinois as it was established in the Northwest Territory in 1790. The county was named in honor of Arthur St. Clair, Governor of the Northwest Territory, who organized the county in 1790. In its original boundaries, the county covered two-thirds of present-day Illinois.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 674 square miles (1,746 km²), of which, 664 square miles (1,719 km²) of it is land and 10 square miles (26 km²) of it (1.51%) is water.

Townships

Belleville, Canteen, Caseyville, Centerville, East St. Louis, Englemann, Freeburg, Lebanon, Lenzburg, Marissa, Mascoutah, Millstadt, New Athens, O'Fallon, Prairie Du Long, Shiloh Valley, Smithton, Saint Claire, Stites, Stookey, Sugar Loaf

Adjacent counties

*Madison County (north)
*Clinton County (northeast)
*Washington County (east)
*Randolph County (south)
*Monroe County (southwest)
*St. Louis, Missouri (west)¹
*St. Louis County, Missouri (west)

¹This is not a county, but an independent city which is not part of a county.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 86685
1910= 119870
1920= 136520
1930= 157775
1940= 166899
1950= 205995
1960= 262509
1970= 285176
1980= 267531
1990= 262852
2000= 256082
estimate= 260919
estyear= 2006
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt IL Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 256,082 people, 96,810 households, and 67,282 families residing in the county. The population density was 386 people per square mile (149/km²). There were 104,446 housing units at an average density of 157 per square mile (61/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 67.94% White, 28.77% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.91% Asian American, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.80% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 2.19% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 26.9% were of German, 7.3% Irish, 7.0% American and 6.1% English ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 96,810 households out of which 34.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.10% were married couples living together, 17.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 25.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 3.13.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.70% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 21.10% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,148, and the median income for a family was $47,409. Males had a median income of $36,569 versus $25,773 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,932. About 11.80% of families and 14.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.60% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Alorton
*Belleville
*Brooklyn (also known as Lovejoy)
*Cahokia
*Caseyville
*Centreville
*Collinsville (southern part)
*Dupo
*East Carondelet
*East St. Louis
*Fairview Heights
*Fayetteville
*Freeburg
*Lebanon
*Lenzburg
*Marissa
*Mascoutah
*Millstadt
*New Athens
*O'Fallon
*Sauget
*Scott AFB
*Shiloh
*Smithton
*St. Libory
*Summerfield
*Swansea
*Washington Park

Townships

St. Clair County is divided into these townships:

External links

* [http://www.rootsweb.com/~ilstclai/history.htm A Brief History of St. Clair County, Illinois] from rootsweb.com