Fulton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 38,250. Its county seat is Lewistown, Illinois.

The Canton Micropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Fulton County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 883 square miles (2,286 km²), of which, 866 square miles (2,242 km²) of it is land and 17 square miles (44 km²) of it (1.92%) is water. The largest city in the county is Canton and the smallest is Marbletown which contains 1 house. (U.S.Census Bureau)

Townships

Astoria, Banner, Bernadotte, Buckheart, Canton, Cass, Deerfield, Ellisville, Fairview, Farmers, Farmington, Harris, Isabel, Joshua, Kerton, Lee, Lewiston, Lewistown, Liverpool, Orion, Pleasant, Putman, Union, Vermont, Waterford, Woodland, Young Hickory

Adjacent counties

• Knox County - north
• Peoria County - northeast
• Tazewell County - east
• Mason County - south
• Schuyler County - southwest
• McDonough County - west
• Warren County - northwest

National protected area

• Emiquon National Wildlife Refuge

History

Fulton County is the site of Dickson Mounds Museum, a state museum of Native American daily life in the Illinois River valley.

Fulton County was organized in 1823 from Pike County. It is named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat.

Fulton County was the home of famous poet/writer Edgar Lee Masters in his early days. He wrote the famous Spoon River Anthology (1915).

The county is known for the annual Spoon River Scenic Drive which occurs the first 2 weekends in October. This has been a tradition since 1968 and attracts thousands of participants from all over the country.

Fulton County was home to Camp Ellis during World War II.

Fulton County is the location of the fictional town of Lanford and home of the Conner family in the TV show Roseanne.

Settlements

Cities

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• Canton
• Cuba
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• Farmington
• Lewistown

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Villages

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• Astoria
• Avon
• Banner
• Bryant
• Dunfermline
• Ellisville
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• Fairview
• Ipava
• Liverpool
• London Mills
• Marietta
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• Norris
• Smithfield
• St. David
• Table Grove
• Vermont

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Unincorporated

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• Blyton
• Breeds
• Brereton
• Check Row
• Duncans Mills
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• Fiatt
• Little America
• Maples Mill
• Middlegrove
• Monterey
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• New Philadelphia
• Rapatee
• Sepo
• Seville
• Summum

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• Enion
• Marbletown
• Leesburg
• Babylon
• Blyton
• Ellisville

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 38,250 people, 14,877 households, and 10,250 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile (17/km²). There were 16,240 housing units at an average density of 19 per square mile (7/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.12% White, 3.60% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 1.25% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 24.9% were of German, 22.0% American, 13.4% English and 10.0% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000. 98.1% spoke English and 1.2% Spanish as their first language.

There were 14,877 households out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.50% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.00% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 23.00% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 105.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 104.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,952, and the median income for a family was $41,193. Males had a median income of $31,800 versus $21,223 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,373. About 7.30% of families and 9.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

External links

• Illinois Saving Graves: Fulton Co. - USGenWeb cemetery listing