Brown County, Illinois

Infobox U.S. County
county = Brown County
state = Illinois


seallink =


map size = 150
founded = 1839
seat = Mount Sterling
largest city = Mount Sterling
area_total_sq_mi = 307
area_total_km2 = 796
area_land_sq_mi = 306
area_land_km2 = 792
area_water_sq_mi = 2
area_water_km2 = 4
area percentage = 0.52%
census yr = 2000
pop = 6950
density_sq_mi = 23
density_km2 = 9
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset= -5
footnotes =
web = |

Brown County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the population is 6,950. Its county seat is Mount Sterling, IllinoisGR|6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 307 square miles (796 km²), of which 306 square miles (792 km²) is land and 2 square miles (4 km²) (0.52%) is water.

Townships

Buckhorn, Cooperstown, Elkhorn, Lee, Missouri, Mt. Sterling, Pea Ridge, Ripley, Versailles

Adjacent counties

*Schuyler County - north
*Cass County - east
*Morgan County - southeast
*Pike County - south
*Adams County - west

History

Brown County was formed out of Schuyler County in 1839. It is named in honor of Gen. Jacob Brown, who defeated the British at the Battle of Sackett's Harbor in 1813.

Demographics

USCensusPop
1900= 11557
1910= 10397
1920= 9336
1930= 7892
1940= 8053
1950= 7132
1960= 6210
1970= 5586
1980= 5411
1990= 5836
2000= 6950
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt IL Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 6,950 people, 2,108 households, and 1,380 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 2,456 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.29% White, 18.20% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.68% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 3.93% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 31.7% were of German, 22.2% American, 16.3% English and 12.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 96.4% spoke English and 3.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 2,108 households out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 6.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.50% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county the population was spread out with 17.80% under the age of 18, 12.60% from 18 to 24, 37.50% from 25 to 44, 19.40% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 174.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 194.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,445, and the median income for a family was $43,207. Males had a median income of $24,888 versus $20,558 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,629. About 4.80% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.00% of those under age 18 and 10.00% of those age 65 or over.

The Illinois state prison, Western Illinois Correctional Center, located south east of Mount Sterling, has an average daily population of 2,066. The all male population and racial makeup of the prison is so large, compared to the rest of the county, that it skews the census demographic data. This is evidenced by the lopsided age pyramid. [http://www.idoc.state.il.us/subsections/facilities/information.asp?instchoice=wil]

Cities and towns

*Mound Station
*Mount Sterling
*Ripley
*Versailles

Townships

Brown County is divided into these nine townships: