Tazewell County, Illinois

Tazewell County
County
Tazewell County Courthouse in Pekin
Tazewell County Courthouse in Pekin
Official seal of Tazewell County
Seal
Map of Illinois highlighting Tazewell County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°31′N 89°31′W / 40.51°N 89.51°W / 40.51; -89.51
Country United States
State Illinois
Founded1827
Named forLittleton Waller Tazewell
SeatPekin
Largest cityPekin
Area
 • Total
658 sq mi (1,700 km2)
 • Land649 sq mi (1,680 km2)
 • Water9.0 sq mi (23 km2)  1.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
131,343
 • Density200/sq mi (77/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts16th, 17th
Websitewww.tazewell.com

Tazewell County (/tæzwɛl/) is located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 131,343.[1] Its county seat and largest city is Pekin.[2] It is pronounced with a short "a", to rhyme with "razz" rather than "raze."

Tazewell County is part of the Peoria, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. The majority of the population lives along the county's western border.

History

Tazewell County was formed out of Peoria County in 1827. The consensus appears to be that it was named in honor of Littleton Tazewell, who served in the U.S. Senate, and who became Governor of Virginia in 1834. It is, however, possible that it was named after Littleton's father, prominent Virginia politician Henry Tazewell, after whom Tazewell County, Virginia, was named.

The first county seat was in Mackinaw from 1827 to 1836.[3][4] It was moved temporarily from Mackinaw to Pekin in June 1831, with the county court proceedings in the Snell schoolhouse.[3][4] It moved to Tremont in 1836.[3][5] After a political struggle between Tremont and Pekin, the county seat was reassigned to Pekin in 1849.[3]

  • Tazewell from the time of its creation to 1829, including a large tract of unorganized territory temporarily attached to it, whose precise border was not defined.[6]
    Tazewell from the time of its creation to 1829, including a large tract of unorganized territory temporarily attached to it, whose precise border was not defined.[6]
  • Tazewell County between 1829 and 1830: the creation of Mason County established a southern border for Tazewell's additional territory.
    Tazewell County between 1829 and 1830: the creation of Mason County established a southern border for Tazewell's additional territory.
  • Tazewell County between 1830 and 1831: the additional territory to the east became McLean County.
    Tazewell County between 1830 and 1831: the additional territory to the east became McLean County.
  • Tazewell County between 1831 and 1841: the last of the county's additional territory became part of LaSalle County.
    Tazewell County between 1831 and 1841: the last of the county's additional territory became part of LaSalle County.
  • Tazewell County in 1841, reduced to its present borders.
    Tazewell County in 1841, reduced to its present borders.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 658 square miles (1,700 km2), of which 649 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 9.0 square miles (23 km2) (1.4%) is water.[7]

State Fish & Wildlife Areas

The following Illinois State Park & Natural Areas are located in Tazewell County:[8]

Climate and weather

Pekin, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
1.5
 
 
31
14
 
 
1.7
 
 
37
20
 
 
2.8
 
 
49
30
 
 
3.6
 
 
62
40
 
 
4.2
 
 
73
51
 
 
3.8
 
 
82
60
 
 
4
 
 
86
65
 
 
3.2
 
 
84
63
 
 
3.1
 
 
77
54
 
 
2.8
 
 
64
42
 
 
3
 
 
49
31
 
 
2.4
 
 
35
20
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[9]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
38
 
 
−1
−10
 
 
42
 
 
3
−7
 
 
72
 
 
9
−1
 
 
90
 
 
17
4
 
 
106
 
 
23
11
 
 
98
 
 
28
16
 
 
102
 
 
30
18
 
 
80
 
 
29
17
 
 
79
 
 
25
12
 
 
70
 
 
18
6
 
 
76
 
 
9
−1
 
 
61
 
 
2
−7
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Pekin have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −27 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in January 1884 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.50 inches (38 mm) in January to 4.17 inches (106 mm) in May.[9]

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Major highways

Airports

The following public-use airports are located in Tazewell County:[10]

Public Transportation

Bus and paratransit service in Tazewell County is provided by Peoria's “CityLink” system, operating six routes (four originating from Peoria) seven days a week.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18304,716—
18407,22153.1%
185012,05266.9%
186021,47078.1%
187027,90330.0%
188029,6666.3%
189029,556−0.4%
190033,22112.4%
191034,0272.4%
192038,54013.3%
193046,08219.6%
194058,36226.6%
195076,16530.5%
196099,78931.0%
1970118,64918.9%
1980132,07811.3%
1990123,692−6.3%
2000128,4853.9%
2010135,3945.4%
2020131,343−3.0%
2023 (est.)129,541[11]−1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790-1960[13] 1900-1990[14]
1990-2000[15] 2010[16]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 135,394 people, 54,146 households, and 37,163 families living in the county.[17] The population density was 208.6 inhabitants per square mile (80.5/km2). There were 57,516 housing units at an average density of 88.6 per square mile (34.2/km2).[7] The racial makeup of the county was 96.2% white, 1.0% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.9% of the population.[17] In terms of ancestry, 35.6% were German, 15.6% were American, 14.4% were Irish, and 12.0% were English.[18]

Of the 54,146 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples living together, 10.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.4% were non-families, and 26.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 39.8 years.[17]

The median income for a household in the county was $54,232 and the median income for a family was $66,764. Males had a median income of $50,372 versus $34,747 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,036. About 6.3% of families and 7.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 4.5% of those age 65 or over.[19]

Communities

Cities

Villages

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Townships

Tazewell County is divided into these townships:

Politics

Tazewell County has been solidly Republican on the national level, voting for the Republican candidate for U.S. president since 1996 and in all but two elections since 1952.

For the purposes of Illinois law, as of the 2022 general primary election, the three established political parties in the county are the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and the Libertarian Party as all have received 5% or greater of the vote in a recent election. A relative rarity, Tazewell is one of only five counties where the Libertarian Party was an established political party in 2022.[20] The Libertarian Party's established established political party status allows it to have the same reduced barriers to ballot access as the Democratic and Republican parties and to hold primary elections.[21] In the 2022 primary, 20 voters requested a Libertarian primary ballot.[20]

United States presidential election results for Tazewell County, Illinois[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 42,451 62.40% 24,325 35.76% 1,251 1.84%
2020 42,513 61.37% 24,819 35.83% 1,944 2.81%
2016 38,707 59.78% 20,685 31.95% 5,359 8.28%
2012 35,335 57.66% 24,438 39.88% 1,509 2.46%
2008 33,247 51.90% 29,384 45.87% 1,429 2.23%
2004 36,058 57.84% 25,814 41.41% 466 0.75%
2000 31,537 54.05% 25,379 43.50% 1,432 2.45%
1996 24,395 45.45% 24,139 44.97% 5,144 9.58%
1992 23,469 39.12% 26,428 44.05% 10,097 16.83%
1988 28,861 53.72% 24,603 45.79% 263 0.49%
1984 33,782 59.15% 23,095 40.44% 238 0.42%
1980 35,481 62.84% 16,924 29.97% 4,057 7.19%
1976 28,951 55.14% 22,821 43.47% 731 1.39%
1972 31,937 67.08% 15,576 32.71% 100 0.21%
1968 22,971 47.44% 20,712 42.77% 4,739 9.79%
1964 17,170 37.55% 28,561 62.45% 0 0.00%
1960 23,967 53.83% 20,521 46.09% 38 0.09%
1956 23,690 59.27% 16,230 40.61% 50 0.13%
1952 20,763 55.14% 16,862 44.78% 28 0.07%
1948 12,504 46.70% 14,131 52.77% 143 0.53%
1944 12,531 46.34% 14,412 53.30% 96 0.36%
1940 12,419 41.18% 17,624 58.44% 116 0.38%
1936 7,946 32.07% 16,487 66.55% 341 1.38%
1932 7,260 34.48% 13,591 64.55% 204 0.97%
1928 9,409 56.73% 6,910 41.66% 267 1.61%
1924 7,488 52.11% 3,375 23.49% 3,507 24.41%
1920 7,679 62.69% 3,640 29.71% 931 7.60%
1916 6,672 47.56% 6,743 48.07% 613 4.37%
1912 2,500 32.40% 3,654 47.35% 1,563 20.25%
1908 3,767 47.55% 3,786 47.78% 370 4.67%
1904 4,051 52.41% 3,255 42.11% 423 5.47%
1900 3,957 48.05% 4,048 49.16% 230 2.79%
1896 3,703 48.72% 3,743 49.24% 155 2.04%
1892 3,030 43.63% 3,652 52.59% 262 3.77%

Education

K-12 school districts include:[23]

Secondary school districts include:[23]

Elementary school districts include:[23]

See also

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "Tazewell County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b c d Soady, Fred W. (1964). "In These Waste Places: Pekin, Illinois, 1824-1849". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society. 57 (2): 156–171. ISSN 0019-2287. JSTOR 40190022.
  4. ^ a b Williams, Frank J.; Williams, Virginia; Bates, William Henry. "Souvenir of Early and Notable Events in the History of the North West Territory, Illinois, and Tazewell County, including the Names of those who have Served the County in Various Official Capacities". Document.
  5. ^ "When Pekin was only a town". From the History Room. April 20, 2018. Retrieved November 7, 2023.
  6. ^ White, Jesse. Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties. State of Illinois, March 2010. [1]
  7. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  8. ^ "Illinois Department of Natural Resources". Illinois Department of Natural Resources Home. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Pekin, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  10. ^ "Tazewell County Public and Private Airports". www.tollfreeairline.com. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  12. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  15. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  16. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 9, 2014.
  17. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  18. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  19. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  20. ^ a b Matthews, Bernadette M. (Executive Director), ed. (July 29, 2022). Official Canvass of the Primary Election of June 28, 2022. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Board of Elections. p. vii. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  21. ^ Matthews, Bernadette M. (Executive Director), ed. (October 6, 2023). 2024 Candidate's Guide. Springfield, Illinois: Illinois State Board of Elections. p. 15. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  23. ^ a b c "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Tazewell County, IL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved October 30, 2024. - Text list

40°31′N 89°31′W / 40.51°N 89.51°W / 40.51; -89.51