Sangamon County, Illinois

Sangamon County was formed in 1821 out of Madison and Bond counties. The county was named for the Sangamon 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 the Potawatomi word Sain-guee-mon (pronounced "sang gä mun"), meaning "where there is plenty to eat." 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 elected President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln represented Sangamon County in the Illinois Legislature. Lincoln, along with several other legislators, was instrumental in securing Springfield, the Sangamon County seat, as the state's capital. Sangamon County was also within the congressional district represented by Lincoln when he served in the US House of Representatives. Another legislator who represented Sangamon County was Colonel Edmund Dick Taylor, also known as "Father of the Greenback". The prominent financiers and industrialists Jacob Bunn and John 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. File:Sangamon County Illinois 1821.png|Sangamon County from the time of its creation to 1823 File:Sangamon County Illinois 1823.png|Sangamon County between 1823 and 1825 File:Sangamon County Illinois 1825.png|Sangamon County between 1825 and 1839 File:Sangamon County Illinois 1839.png|Sangamon in 1839, when the creation of Logan and Menard Counties reduced it to its present borders ==Geography==

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.0%) is water.}} In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Springfield 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 • • • • • • • • • • • • Transit • Sangamon Mass Transit District • Springfield station • List of intercity bus stops in Illinois Adjacent counties • Menard County – north • Logan County – northeast • Macon County – east • Christian County – southeast • Montgomery County – south • Macoupin County – south • Morgan County – west • Cass County – northwest National protected areas • Lincoln Home National Historic Site • Springfield 1908 Race Riot National Monument State protected areas • Sangchris Lake State Recreation Area ==Demographics==

2020 census As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 196,343. The median age was 41.1 years. 22.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 18.7% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 89.3 males age 18 and over. The racial makeup of the county was 77.4% White, 13.2% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.2% Asian, <0.1% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.0% from some other race, and 5.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.7% of the population. There were 84,403 households in the county, of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 42.1% were married-couple households, 19.3% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 31.3% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The population density was . There were 89,901 housing units at an average density of . 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. 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. ==Government==

Sangamon County is governed by a 29-member board. Each member of the board is elected from a separate district. Other elected officials include: Politics 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. Sheriff department In 2024, sheriff deputy Sean Grayson was fired after murdering Sonya Massey, an unarmed woman, within her home located in Woodside Township near Springfield, Illinois following her call for assistance. 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 that 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. Sheriff Jack Campbell, who hired Grayson, announced he would step down effective August 31, 2024 after receiving calls to resign, including from Governor J.B Pritzker ==Communities==

Cities • Auburn • Leland Grove • Springfield (county seat and largest municipality) • Virden Villages • Berlin • Buffalo • Cantrall • Chatham • Clear Lake • Curran • Dawson • Divernon • Grandview • Illiopolis • Jerome • Loami • Mechanicsburg • New Berlin • Pawnee • Pleasant Plains • Riverton • Rochester • Sherman • Southern View • Spaulding • Thayer • Williamsville Unincorporated communities • Andrew • Archer • Barclay • Barr • Bates • Berry • Bissell • Bradfordton • Breckenridge • Buckhart • Buffalo Hart • Cimic • Clayville • Farmingdale • Glenarm • Island Grove • Lowder • New City • Riddle Hill • Salisbury • Toronto • Zenobia Townships Sangamon County is divided into these townships: • Auburn • Ball • Buffalo Hart • Capital (Coterminous with Springfield) • Cartwright • Chatham • Clear Lake • Cooper • Cotton Hill • Curran • Divernon • Fancy Creek • Gardner • Illiopolis • Island Grove • Lanesville • Loami • Maxwell • Mechanicsburg • New Berlin • Pawnee • Rochester • Salisbury (former, now defunct) • Springfield • Talkington • Williams • Woodside ==Education==

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: • A-C Central Community Unit School District 262 • Athens Community Unit School District 213 • Auburn Community Unit School District 10 • Ball-Chatham Community Unit School District 5 • Edinburg Community Unit School District 4 • Mount Pulaski Community Unit District 23 • New Berlin Community Unit School District 16 • North Mac Community Unit School District 34 • Pawnee Community Unit School District 11 • Porta Community Unit School District 202 • Pleasant Plains Community Unit School District 8 • Riverton Community Unit School District 14 • Rochester Community Unit School District 3A • Sangamon Valley Community Unit School District 9 • Springfield School District 186 • Tri-City Community Unit School District 1 • Waverly Community Unit School District 6 • Williamsville Community Unit School District 15 Forts • Camp Butler ==See also==