Carroll County, Illinois

Carroll County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2000 census, the population was 16,674. Its county seat is Mount Carroll, Illinois.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,206 km² (466 sq mi). 1,150 km² (444 sq mi) of it is land and 56 km² (22 sq mi) of it (4.63%) is water.

Townships

Cherry Grove/Shannon, Elkhorn Grove, Fairhaven, Freedom, Mt. Carroll, Rock Creek/Lima, Salem, Savanna, Washington, Woodland, Wysox, York

Adjacent counties

• Stephenson County - northeast
• Ogle County - east
• Whiteside County - south
• Clinton County, Iowa - southwest (across the Mississippi River)
• Jackson County, Iowa - northwest (across the Mississippi River)
• Jo Daviess County - northwest

National protected area

• Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (part)

Communities

Cities

• Chadwick
• Milledgeville
• Savanna

Villages

• Lanark
• Mount Carroll
• Shannon
• Thomson

History

Carroll County was formed in 1839 out of Jo Daviess County. The County is named for Charles Carroll who signed the Declaration of Independence. Carroll, who died in 1832 was the last signer to die.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,674 people, 6,794 households, and 4,681 families residing in the county. The population density was 14/km² (38/sq mi). There were 7,945 housing units at an average density of 7/km² (18/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 96.94% White, 0.55% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.82% from other races, and 1.02% from two or more races. 2.04% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.4% were of German, 10.7% American, 9.8% Irish, 7.6% English and 5.0% Dutch ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.3% spoke English and 1.5% Spanish as their first language.

There were 6,794 households out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.40% were married couples living together, 7.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.10% were non-families. 27.30% 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 2.42 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county the population was spread out with 24.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 25.40% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 19.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,148, and the median income for a family was $43,685. Males had a median income of $31,318 versus $21,753 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,688. About 7.40% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.30% of those under age 18 and 5.90% of those age 65 or over.