Sangamon County | |
|---|---|
 Sangamon County Courthouse in 2017 | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofIllinois | |
 Illinois's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:39°46′N89°40′W / 39.76°N 89.66°W /39.76; -89.66 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Illinois |
| Founded | 1821 |
| Named after | Sangamon River |
| Seat | Springfield |
| Largest city | Springfield |
| Area | |
• Total | 877 sq mi (2,270 km2) |
| • Land | 868 sq mi (2,250 km2) |
| • Water | 8.7 sq mi (23 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 196,343 |
| • Density | 220/sq mi (86/km2) |
| Congressional districts | 13th,15th |
| Website | www |
Sangamon County is acounty located near the center of theU.S. state ofIllinois. According to the2020 census, it had a population of 196,343.[1] Itscounty seat and largest city isSpringfield,[2] thestate capital.
Sangamon County is included in the Springfield, ILMetropolitan Statistical Area.
Sangamon County was formed in 1821 out ofMadison andBond counties. The county was named for theSangamon River, which runs through it. The origin of the name of the river is unknown; among several explanations is the theory that it comes from thePotawatomi wordSain-guee-mon (pronounced "sang gä mun"), meaning "where there is plenty to eat."[3] Published histories of neighboring Menard County (formed from Sangamon County) suggest that the name was first given to the river by the French explorers of the late 17th century as they passed through the region. The river was named to honor "St. Gamo", or Saint Gamo, an 8th-century French Benedictine monk. The French pronunciation "San-Gamo" is the legacy.
Prior to being electedPresident of the United States,Abraham Lincoln represented Sangamon County in theIllinois Legislature. Lincoln, along with several other legislators, was instrumental in securingSpringfield, the Sangamon County seat, as the state's capital. Sangamon County was also within the congressional district represented by Lincoln when he served in theUS House of Representatives. Another legislator who represented Sangamon County was ColonelEdmund Dick Taylor, also known as "Father of the Greenback". The prominent financiers and industrialistsJacob Bunn andJohn Whitfield Bunn were based in Springfield, Sangamon County, Illinois, as well as in Chicago, during the nineteenth century and the early twentieth century. The careers of these men and the people with whom they collaborated helped to shape much of the history and development of Sangamon County, Illinois.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 877 square miles (2,270 km2), of which 868 square miles (2,250 km2) is land and 8.7 square miles (23 km2) (1.0%) is water.[4]
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Springfield have ranged from a low of 17 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of 112 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1954. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.62 inches (41 mm) in January to 4.06 inches (103 mm) in May.[5]
Interstate 55
Interstate 55 Business Loop
Interstate 72
U.S. Route 36
Illinois Route 4
Illinois Route 29
Illinois Route 54
Illinois Route 97
Illinois Route 104
Illinois Route 124
Illinois Route 123
Illinois Route 125| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1830 | 12,960 | — | |
| 1840 | 14,716 | 13.5% | |
| 1850 | 19,228 | 30.7% | |
| 1860 | 32,274 | 67.8% | |
| 1870 | 46,352 | 43.6% | |
| 1880 | 52,894 | 14.1% | |
| 1890 | 61,195 | 15.7% | |
| 1900 | 71,593 | 17.0% | |
| 1910 | 91,024 | 27.1% | |
| 1920 | 100,262 | 10.1% | |
| 1930 | 111,733 | 11.4% | |
| 1940 | 117,912 | 5.5% | |
| 1950 | 131,484 | 11.5% | |
| 1960 | 146,539 | 11.5% | |
| 1970 | 161,335 | 10.1% | |
| 1980 | 176,089 | 9.1% | |
| 1990 | 178,386 | 1.3% | |
| 2000 | 188,951 | 5.9% | |
| 2010 | 197,465 | 4.5% | |
| 2020 | 196,343 | −0.6% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 193,491 | [6] | −1.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010[11] | |||
As of the2010 census, there were 197,465 people, 82,986 households, and 51,376 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 227.4 inhabitants per square mile (87.8/km2). There were 89,901 housing units at an average density of 103.5 per square mile (40.0/km2).[4] The racial makeup of the county was 83.6% white, 11.8% black or African American, 1.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.5% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 29.4% wereGerman, 14.8% wereIrish, 12.1% wereEnglish, 9.5% wereAmerican, and 6.3% wereItalian.[13]
Of the 82,986 households, 30.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.1% were non-families, and 31.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 39.2 years.[12]
The median income for a household in the county was $52,232 and the median income for a family was $66,917. Males had a median income of $48,324 versus $36,691 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,394. About 9.9% of families and 13.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 19.7% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.[14]
Sangamon County is governed by a 29-member board. Each member of the board is elected from a separate district.[15]
Other elected officials include:[16]
| Office | Representative | Party | Residence | Took Office |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Auditor | Andy Goleman | Republican | Divernon | 2015 (appointed) |
| Clerk of the Circuit Court | Paul Palazzolo | Republican | Springfield | 2015 (appointed) |
| Coroner | James Allmon | Republican | Springfield | 2020 (appointed) |
| County Clerk | Don Gray | Republican | Springfield | 2015 (appointed) |
| Recorder | Josh Langfelder | Democratic | Springfield | 2008 (elected) |
| Regional Superintendent of Schools | Shannon Fehrholz | Republican | Springfield | 2010 (appointed) |
| Sheriff | Jack Campbell | Republican | Illiopolis | 2018 (elected) |
| State's Attorney | John Milhiser | Republican | Springfield | 2023 (appointed) |
| Treasurer | Joe Aiello | Republican | Springfield | 2018 (elected) |
Sangamon County has been a Republican stronghold for decades, consistently supporting GOP candidates in local, state, and national elections. Despite its relatively large population and the presence of Springfield, the state's capital and a significant urban center, the county has remained reliably conservative. In recent years, however, the county has shown signs of shifting toward the Democratic Party, reflecting changing demographics and political attitudes, although Democrats have remained unable to carry the county in most races.
In 2024, sheriff deputy Sean Grayson was fired afterkilling Sonya Massey, an unarmed woman, within her home located inWoodside Township nearSpringfield, Illinois following her call for assistance.[17] Massey's father, community members, and elected officials raised strong concerns about the department, after it was revealed prior to Grayson's hiring in 2023. He had been kicked out of the U.S. Army in 2016 after being convicted of 2 DUI's, and worked at 5 different Illinois police departments between 2020 and 2023.[18] Sheriff Jack Campbell who hired Grayson, after receiving calls to resign, including from GovernorJ.B Pritzker announced he would step down effective August 31, 2024.[19]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 50,979 | 51.09% | 46,074 | 46.18% | 2,720 | 2.73% |
| 2020 | 53,485 | 50.87% | 48,917 | 46.52% | 2,740 | 2.61% |
| 2016 | 49,944 | 50.77% | 40,907 | 41.58% | 7,522 | 7.65% |
| 2012 | 50,225 | 53.26% | 42,107 | 44.65% | 1,965 | 2.08% |
| 2008 | 46,945 | 46.90% | 51,300 | 51.25% | 1,861 | 1.86% |
| 2004 | 55,904 | 58.61% | 38,630 | 40.50% | 841 | 0.88% |
| 2000 | 50,374 | 55.06% | 38,414 | 41.99% | 2,697 | 2.95% |
| 1996 | 42,174 | 47.87% | 38,902 | 44.15% | 7,029 | 7.98% |
| 1992 | 39,641 | 40.93% | 40,052 | 41.35% | 17,167 | 17.72% |
| 1988 | 50,175 | 56.76% | 37,729 | 42.68% | 499 | 0.56% |
| 1984 | 54,086 | 61.10% | 34,059 | 38.47% | 378 | 0.43% |
| 1980 | 49,372 | 57.95% | 29,354 | 34.45% | 6,474 | 7.60% |
| 1976 | 43,309 | 52.24% | 38,017 | 45.85% | 1,584 | 1.91% |
| 1972 | 50,458 | 65.47% | 25,720 | 33.37% | 897 | 1.16% |
| 1968 | 36,510 | 50.02% | 29,542 | 40.47% | 6,944 | 9.51% |
| 1964 | 33,077 | 43.43% | 43,073 | 56.55% | 16 | 0.02% |
| 1960 | 41,483 | 53.64% | 35,793 | 46.28% | 59 | 0.08% |
| 1956 | 42,951 | 59.71% | 28,949 | 40.24% | 35 | 0.05% |
| 1952 | 39,392 | 53.99% | 33,526 | 45.95% | 50 | 0.07% |
| 1948 | 33,714 | 53.28% | 29,196 | 46.14% | 363 | 0.57% |
| 1944 | 32,871 | 53.24% | 28,713 | 46.50% | 161 | 0.26% |
| 1940 | 35,464 | 52.44% | 31,943 | 47.23% | 221 | 0.33% |
| 1936 | 29,562 | 46.43% | 32,281 | 50.70% | 1,827 | 2.87% |
| 1932 | 26,856 | 44.29% | 32,745 | 54.00% | 1,042 | 1.72% |
| 1928 | 31,957 | 59.99% | 21,026 | 39.47% | 288 | 0.54% |
| 1924 | 23,443 | 51.58% | 12,640 | 27.81% | 9,363 | 20.60% |
| 1920 | 21,820 | 59.42% | 11,000 | 29.95% | 3,903 | 10.63% |
| 1916 | 20,900 | 51.65% | 17,958 | 44.38% | 1,606 | 3.97% |
| 1912 | 6,196 | 31.14% | 8,406 | 42.25% | 5,295 | 26.61% |
| 1908 | 10,422 | 49.79% | 9,351 | 44.67% | 1,161 | 5.55% |
| 1904 | 10,638 | 53.44% | 7,571 | 38.03% | 1,697 | 8.53% |
| 1900 | 9,769 | 49.61% | 9,499 | 48.24% | 422 | 2.14% |
| 1896 | 8,998 | 50.17% | 8,582 | 47.85% | 354 | 1.97% |
| 1892 | 6,009 | 41.06% | 7,665 | 52.38% | 960 | 6.56% |
Sangamon County is divided into thesetownships:
Here is a listing of school districts (all are full K–12) with any territory in this county, no matter how small, even if the administrative headquarters and/or schools are in other counties:[21]
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Municipalities and communities ofSangamon County, Illinois,United States | ||
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| Townships | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This city also has portions in adjacent county or counties | |
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| National | |
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| Other | |
