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Williamson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 61,296. Its county seat is Marion, Illinois6.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,151 km² (444 mi²). 1,097 km² (423 mi²) of it is land and 54 km² (21 mi²) of it (4.72%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 61,296 people, 25,358 households, and 16,964 families residing in the county. The population density was 56/km² (145/mi²). There were 27,703 housing units at an average density of 25/km² (65/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.34% White, 2.49% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.38% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. 1.24% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 25,358 households out of which 29.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.40% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.10% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county the population was spread out with 22.90% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,991, and the median income for a family was $40,692. Males had a median income of $32,386 versus $21,570 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,779. About 11.40% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.60% of those under age 18 and 10.60% of those age 65 or over.

History

Williamson County was formed out of Franklin County in 1839. It is named for Williamson County, Tennessee, and for Hugh Williamson, a physician in the Revolutionary War and North Carolina delegate to the United States Constitutional Convention.

Williamson County is often referred to as "Bloody Williamson", on account of several outbreaks of violence that have few parallels in American history. These include the following: The Bloody Vendetta, 1876; Coal Strike, 1906; The Herrin Massacre, 1922; The Klan War, 1924; The Birger/Shelton War, (Charles Birger, Shelton Brothers Gang), 1927.

The Illinois National Guard was deployed repeatedly during the 1920's to separate the warring parties and attempt to keep order.

Cities and towns

Illinois counties | Williamson County, Illinois | Little Egypt

Williamson County (Illinois) | ウィリアムソン郡 (イリノイ州) | Condado de Williamson (Illinois)

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Williamson County, Illinois".

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