Fayette County, Illinois

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Vandalia have ranged from a low of 18 °F (−8 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −21 °F (−29 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1980. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.41 inches (61 mm) in February to 4.11 inches (104 mm) in May.^[7]

Adjacent counties

• Shelby County - northeast
• Effingham County - east
• Clay County - southeast
• Marion County - south
• Clinton County - southwest
• Bond County - west
• Montgomery County - northwest

Major highways

• Interstate 57
• Interstate 70
• U.S. Route 40
• U.S. Route 51
• Illinois Route 33
• Illinois Route 37
• Illinois Route 128
• Illinois Route 140
• Illinois Route 185

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 21,488. The median age was 41.4 years. 20.7% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 122.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 126.3 males age 18 and over.^[15][16]

The racial makeup of the county was 92.0% White, 3.7% Black or African American, 0.4% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.9% from some other race, and 2.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.1% of the population.^[16]

37.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 62.3% lived in rural areas.^[17]

There were 7,935 households in the county, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.3% were married-couple households, 18.2% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 23.7% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[15]

There were 8,829 housing units, of which 10.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.4% were owner-occupied and 21.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.5%.^[15]

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 22,140 people, 8,311 households, and 5,648 families living in the county.^[27] The population density was 30.9 inhabitants per square mile (11.9/km²). There were 9,302 housing units at an average density of 13.0 per square mile (5.0/km²).^[6] The racial makeup of the county was 93.7% white, 4.4% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.4% of the population.^[27] In terms of ancestry, 27.5% were German, 10.5% were English, 9.4% were American, and 9.3% were Irish.^[28]

Of the 8,311 households, 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.3% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.0% were non-families, and 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 39.9 years.^[27]

The median income for a household in the county was $41,269 and the median income for a family was $51,216. Males had a median income of $38,257 versus $27,188 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,663. About 10.8% of families and 16.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.6% of those under age 18 and 12.0% of those age 65 or over.^[29]

Cities

• St. Elmo
• Vandalia (seat)

Villages

• Bingham
• Brownstown
• Farina
• Ramsey
• St. Peter

Census-designated place

• La Clede

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Fayette County is divided into twenty townships: