Henderson County, Illinois

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Oquawka have ranged from a low of 15 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1983. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.31 inches (33 mm) in January to 4.48 inches (114 mm) in July.^[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 6,387. The median age was 50.1 years. 18.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 26.0% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 99.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 96.3 males age 18 and over.^[12]

The racial makeup of the county was 95.4% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.4% from some other race, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.8% of the population.^[13]

0.5% of residents lived in urban areas, while 99.5% lived in rural areas.^[14]

There were 2,834 households in the county, of which 23.2% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 51.4% were married-couple households, 18.9% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 22.8% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 30.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[12]

There were 3,357 housing units, of which 15.6% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.3% were owner-occupied and 19.7% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.8%.^[12]

Racial and ethnic composition

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 7,331 people, 3,149 households, and 2,127 families residing in the county.^[24] The population density was 19.3 inhabitants per square mile (7.5/km²). There were 3,827 housing units at an average density of 10.1 per square mile (3.9/km²).^[4]

The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% white, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Pacific islander, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 24.4% were German, 14.5% were Irish, 11.9% were English, 5.9% were Swedish, and 5.0% were American.^[25]

Of the 3,149 households, 26.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.9% were married couples living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.5% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.78. The median age was 47.2 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,450 and the median income for a family was $55,154. Males had a median income of $41,052 versus $27,426 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,492. About 7.8% of families and 11.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.3% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.^[26]

Government

Courts

City

• Dallas City (partly in Hancock County)

Villages

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Townships

Henderson County is divided into eleven townships:

State and Federal facilities

• Big River State Forest - 2,900 acre preserve adjacent to the Mississippi River (1925)
• Delabar State Park - 89 acre preserve adjacent to the Mississippi River (1960)
• Oquawka State Wildlife Refuge^[29]