Pike County is a

county A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...

in the

U.S. state In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its so ...

Illinois Illinois ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern United States. It borders on Lake Michigan to its northeast, the Mississippi River to its west, and the Wabash River, Wabash and Ohio River, Ohio rivers to its ...

. It is located between the

Mississippi River The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...

and the

Illinois River The Illinois River () is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River at approximately in length. Located in the U.S. state of Illinois, the river has a drainage basin of . The Illinois River begins with the confluence of the Des Plaines ...

in western Illinois. According to the 2020 United States census, it had a population of 14,739. Its

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...

is Pittsfield.

History

Pike County was formed in January 1821 out of Edwards and Madison Counties. It was named in honor of

Zebulon Pike Zebulon Montgomery Pike (January 5, 1779 – April 27, 1813) was an American brigadier general and explorer for whom Pikes Peak in Colorado is named. As a U.S. Army officer he led two expeditions through the Louisiana Purchase territory, first ...

, leader of the Pike Expedition in 1806 to map out the south and west portions of the

Louisiana Purchase The Louisiana Purchase () was the acquisition of the Louisiana (New France), territory of Louisiana by the United States from the French First Republic in 1803. This consisted of most of the land in the Mississippi River#Watershed, Mississipp ...

. Pike served at the Battle of Tippecanoe, and was killed in 1813 in the

War of 1812 The War of 1812 was fought by the United States and its allies against the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom and its allies in North America. It began when the United States United States declaration of war on the Uni ...

. Prior to the coming of the first European settler to the future Pike County, French traders, hunters, and travelers passed through the native forests and prairies. Originally Pike County began on the south junction of the Illinois and Mississippi rivers. The east boundary was the

north to the

Kankakee River The Kankakee River is a tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in the Corn Belt, Central Corn Belt Plains of northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois in the United States. At one time, the river drained one of the largest we ...

to the Indiana State line on north to Wisconsin territorial line and then west to the

to the original point at the south end. The first county seat was Cole's Grove, a post town, in what later became Calhoun County. ''The Gazetteer of Illinois and Missouri'', published in 1822, mentioned

Chicago Chicago is the List of municipalities in Illinois, most populous city in the U.S. state of Illinois and in the Midwestern United States. With a population of 2,746,388, as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, it is the List of Unite ...

as "a village of Pike County" containing 12 or 15 houses and about 60 or 70 inhabitants. The New Philadelphia Town Site was listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...

in 2005, designated a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a National Register of Historic Places property types, building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the Federal government of the United States, United States government f ...

in 2009, and established as a

National Park A national park is a nature park designated for conservation (ethic), conservation purposes because of unparalleled national natural, historic, or cultural significance. It is an area of natural, semi-natural, or developed land that is protecte ...

in 2022. Founded by Frank McWorter, an early free black settler in Pike County, it was the first town founded by a black man in the United States. McWorter had invested in land there sight unseen after purchasing the first few members of his family out of slavery. In 1836 he founded the town of New Philadelphia, near Barry. He was elected mayor and lived there the rest of his life. With the sale of land, he made enough money to purchase the freedom of his children. After the

railroad Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...

bypassed the town, its growth slowed and it was eventually abandoned in the 20th century. The town site is now an

archaeological site An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or recorded history, historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline ...

. In the early 21st century, Pike County acquired notability as a whitetail deer hunting center, especially for bowhunting. File:Pike County Illinois 1821.png, Pike County from the time of its creation to 1823 File:Pike County Illinois 1823.png, Pike County between 1823 and 1825, including unorganized territory temporarily attached to it File:Pike County Illinois 1825.png, Pike County in 1825, reduced to its present borders

Geography

According to the

US Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau, officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. federal statistical system, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The U.S. Census Bureau is part of the U ...

, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.1%) is water. Pike County is located on the highlands between the

, which forms its eastern border, and the

, which borders

Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it border ...

. It has two interstate highways, I-72, with bridges spanning both rivers to enter the county, and I-172 which extends about into the county to its intersection with I-72.

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Pittsfield 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 January to in May.

Major highways

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Adjacent counties

* Adams County – north * Brown County – northeast * Scott County – east * Morgan County – east * Greene County – southeast * Calhoun County – south * Pike County,

– southwest * Ralls County,

– west * Marion County,

– northwest Pike County is one of the few US counties to border as many as nine counties. Illinois has two – Pike and LaSalle.

National protected area

* Great River National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 16,430 people, 6,639 households, and 4,527 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 7,951 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 96.9% white, 1.7% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.3% were German, 16.8% were American, 15.1% were English, and 13.4% were Irish. Of the 6,639 households, 30.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.5% were married couples living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.8% were non-families, and 27.8% 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 42.5 years. The median income for a household in the county was $40,205 and the median income for a family was $50,426. Males had a median income of $39,071 versus $26,835 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,996. About 11.3% of families and 15.4% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...

, including 23.7% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Pike County was reliably Democratic from 1892 through 1948; only 2 Republican Party nominees carried the county vote during that period. However, it was a national bellwether in every presidential election from 1912 to 2004 aside from 1924 & 1988. Since 2000, the county has become a Republican stronghold, with

Donald Trump Donald John Trump (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman who is the 47th president of the United States. A member of the Republican Party (United States), Republican Party, he served as the 45 ...

winning it in the 2016 presidential election by a margin of 57.6 points. The county is located in

Illinois's 15th Congressional District The 15th congressional district of Illinois is currently located in central Illinois. It was located in eastern and southeastern Illinois until 2022. It is currently represented by Republican Party (United States), Republican Mary Miller (poli ...

and is currently represented by Republican Mary Miller. In the

Illinois General Assembly The Illinois General Assembly is the legislature of the U.S. state of Illinois. It has two chambers, the Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate. The General Assembly was created by the first state constitution adopted in ...

, the county is located in the 50th legislative district and the 100th house district represented by Senator Steve McClure and Representative C. D. Davidsmeyer.

Education

School districts include: * Griggsville-Perry Community Unit School District 4 * Liberty Community Unit School District 2 * Meredosia-Chambersburg Community Unit School District 11 * Pikeland Community Unit School District 10 * Pleasant Hill Community Unit School District 3 * Western Community Unit School District 12

Communities

Settlements

† – County seat

Townships

{{wikitable, class="wikitable sortable" width="auto" style="text-align: center" , - , - style{{="background:#efefef;" ! Township ! Population{{cite web , url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17149 , archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212202949/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17149 , url-status=dead , archive-date=February 12, 2020 , title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County -- County Subdivision and Place -- 2010 Census Summary File 1 , publisher=United States Census , accessdate=May 28, 2013 ! Housing Units ! Total Area ! Land Area ! Water Area , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Atlas , style{{="text-align:right;" , 563 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 321 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 67.88, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 63.71, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 4.17, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Barry , style{{="text-align:right;" , 1,675 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 791 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 38.51, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 38.50, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.01, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Chambersburg , style{{="text-align:right;" , 241 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 89 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 29.63, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 29.09, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.54, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Cincinnati , style{{="text-align:right;" , 31 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 54 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 26.73, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 23.82, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 2.91, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Derry , style{{="text-align:right;" , 247 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 115 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.40, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.40, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.00, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Detroit , style{{="text-align:right;" , 312 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 163 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 26.98, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 26.24, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.74, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Fairmount , style{{="text-align:right;" , 188 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 109 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.62, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.62, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.00, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Flint , style{{="text-align:right;" , 96 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 47 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 16.17, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 15.31, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.86, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Griggsville , style{{="text-align:right;" , 1,430 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 671 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.64, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.64, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.00, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Hadley , style{{="text-align:right;" , 262 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 130 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 36.86, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 36.84, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.02, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Hardin , style{{="text-align:right;" , 212 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 105 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.41, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.39, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.02, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Kinderhook , style{{="text-align:right;" , 840 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 422 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.91, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.86, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.05, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Levee , style{{="text-align:right;" , 47 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 39 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 25.03, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 22.02, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 3.01, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Martinsburg , style{{="text-align:right;" , 419 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 186 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.74, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.74, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.00, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Montezuma , style{{="text-align:right;" , 540 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 254 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 34.45, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 33.75, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.70, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Newburg , style{{="text-align:right;" , 949 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 428 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.55, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.21, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.35, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , New Salem , style{{="text-align:right;" , 573 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 276 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 38.21, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 38.21, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.00, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Pearl , style{{="text-align:right;" , 282 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 193 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 25.26, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 24.63, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.63, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Perry , style{{="text-align:right;" , 594 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 310 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.22, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.21, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.01, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Pittsfield , style{{="text-align:right;" , 4,477 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 1,982 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.86, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.81, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.06, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Pleasant Hill , style{{="text-align:right;" , 1,259 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 631 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.60, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.56, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.04, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Pleasant Vale , style{{="text-align:right;" , 563 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 321 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 67.88, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 63.71, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 4.17, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Ross , style{{="text-align:right;" , 573 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 286 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 38.98, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 38.97, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.01, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - , style{{="text-align:left;" , Spring Creek , style{{="text-align:right;" , 591 , style{{="text-align:right;" , 295 , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.41, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 37.40, mi2, km2, abbr=on , style{{="text-align:center;" , {{convert, 0.01, mi2, km2, abbr=on , - {{reflist, group=note {{div col, colwidth=15em * Atlas Township * Barry Township * Chambersburg Township * Cincinnati Township * Derry Township * Detroit Township * Fairmount Township * Flint Township * Griggsville Township * Hadley Township * Hardin Township * Kinderhook Township * Levee Township * Martinsburg Township * Montezuma Township * Newburg Township * New Salem Township * Pearl Township * Perry Township * Pittsfield Township * Pleasant Hill Township * Pleasant Vale Township * Ross Township * Spring Creek Township {{div col end

Unincorporated communities

{{div col, colwidth=15em *

Atlas An atlas is a collection of maps; it is typically a bundle of world map, maps of Earth or of a continent or region of Earth. Advances in astronomy have also resulted in atlases of the celestial sphere or of other planets. Atlases have traditio ...

Bedford Bedford is a market town in Bedfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census, the population was 106,940. Bedford is the county town of Bedfordshire and seat of the Borough of Bedford local government district. Bedford was founded at a ford (crossin ...

* Chambersburg * East Hannibal * Fishhook * Maysville * Munger * New Hartford * Pike Station * Seehorn * Straut * Summer Hill {{div col end

Ghost towns

{{div col, colwidth=15em * Dutton * Griggsville Landing * New Philadelphia{{cite web, url=http://faculty.las.illinois.edu/cfennell/NP/, title=New Philadelphia, Illinois, Historical Landscapes, website=faculty.las.illinois.edu {{div col end

References

{{Reflist

External links

Pike County Chamber of Commerce

Pike County books and primary sources

New Philadelphia Association

Free Frank New Philadelphia Historic Preservation Foundation

University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
''New Philadelphia: A Multiracial Town on the Illinois Frontier,'' a National Park Service Teaching with Historic Places (TwHP) lesson plan

Pike County Illinois History
{{Geographic Location , Centre = Pike County, Illinois , North = Adams County , Northeast = Brown County , East = Scott County and Morgan County , Southeast = Greene County , South = Calhoun County , Southwest =

Pike County, Missouri Pike County is a County (United States), county on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Missouri, bounded by the Mississippi River. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 17,587. Its county seat is Bowling Green ...

, West =

Ralls County, Missouri Ralls County is a county located in the northeastern portion of the U.S. state of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 10,355. Its county seat is New London. The county was organized November 16, 1820, and named for Daniel Ra ...

, Northwest =

Marion County, Missouri Marion County is a county located in the northeastern portion of Missouri. As of the 2020 census, the population was 28,525. Its county seat is Palmyra. Unique from most third-class counties in the state, Marion has two county courthouses, t ...

{{Pike County, Illinois {{Illinois {{Authority control {{Coord, 39.62, -90.89, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990 1821 establishments in Illinois Populated places established in 1821 Illinois counties Illinois counties on the Mississippi River