Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States census, it had a population of 28,288. Its county seat is Hillsboro.

History Montgomery County was formed in 1821 out of Bond and Madison counties. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada.Allan H. Keith, Historical Stories: About Greenville and Bond County, IL. Consulted on August 15, 2007. Perrin's 1882 History of Montgomery County relates that the county was named in honor of Gen. Montgomery, but goes on to say that "others are dubious as to whence it received its name."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.8%) is water.

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Hillsboro have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from in February to in May.

Adjacent counties Sangamon County - north Christian County - northeast Shelby County - east Fayette County - southeast Bond County - south Madison County - southwest Macoupin County - west

Transportation

Major highways Interstate 55 Illinois Route 16 Illinois Route 48 Illinois Route 108 Illinois Route 127 Illinois Route 185

Airports Litchfield Municipal Airport is located in Montgomery County, two nautical miles (3.7 km) southwest of the central business district of Litchfield, Illinois.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 28,288. The median age was 43.7 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 108.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 110.2 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 91.5% White, 3.3% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population.

46.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 53.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 11,155 households in the county, of which 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 47.6% were married-couple households, 18.7% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 26.5% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 12,511 housing units, of which 10.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 77.1% were owner-occupied and 22.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.1%.

Racial and ethnic composition +Montgomery County County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 1980Pop 1990Pop 2000Pop 2010 Pop 2020% 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020White alone (NH)21,66520,08928,92828,33425,70997.74%96.15%94.38%94.12%90.88%Black or African American alone (NH)2975811,1419499161.34%2.78%3.72%3.15%3.24%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)37375945490.17%0.18%0.19%0.15%0.17%Asian alone (NH)2631671111310.12%0.15%0.22%0.37%0.46%Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x included in the Asian category in the 1980 Censusx included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census5117xx0.02%0.04%0.02%Other race alone (NH)91410260.04%0.00%0.01%0.03%0.09%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x not an option in the 1980 Censusx not an option in the 1990 Census122185863xx0.40%0.61%3.05%Hispanic or Latino (any race)1331543264595870.60%0.74%1.06%1.52%2.08%Total22,16720,89330,65230,10428,288 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census As of the 2010 United States census, there were 30,104 people, 11,652 households, and 7,806 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 13,080 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% white, 3.2% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 27.8% were German, 11.2% were Irish, 10.1% were English, and 9.8% were American.

Of the 11,652 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.0% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 41.9 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,864 and the median income for a family was $56,945. Males had a median income of $40,749 versus $29,426 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,700. About 10.9% of families and 14.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.7% of those under age 18 and 7.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities Coffeen Hillsboro Litchfield Nokomis Witt

Villages

Butler Coalton Donnellson Farmersville Fillmore Harvel Irving Ohlman Panama Raymond Schram City Taylor Springs Waggoner Walshville Wenonah

Unincorporated communities Chapman Honey Bend Van Burensburg Zanesville Zenobia

Townships

Audubon Township Bois D'Arc Township Butler Grove Township East Fork Township Fillmore Township Grisham Township Harvel Township Hillsboro Township Irving Township Nokomis Township North Litchfield Township Pitman Township Raymond Township Rountree Township South Litchfield Township Walshville Township Witt Township Zanesville Township

Former Townships South Fillmore Township

Notable people Donald T. Barry, nurse, businessman, and politician Avery Bourne, member of the Illinois House of Representatives Buddy Cole, jazz musician and composer Mortimer A. Cullen, politician in New York Harry Forrester, basketball and baseball coach Otto Funk (1868–1934), violinist John A. Graham, member of the Illinois Senate Betsy Hannig, member of the Illinois House of Representatives Mary Hartline, actress Glen Hobbie, baseball player Matt Hughes, UFC fighter Calvin Hultman, member of the Iowa House of Representatives Harold Osborn, track athlete Ray Richmond, baseball pitcher Red Ruffing, baseball player Walter Short, military officer

Politics

See also National Register of Historic Places listings in Montgomery County, Illinois

References

External links