Illinois's 13th congressional district

Illinois's 13th congressional district is a United States congressional district that covers parts of Champaign, Christian, Coles, DeWitt, Douglas, Edgar, Ford, Iroquois, Livingston, Logan, Macon, McLean, Moultrie, Piatt, Shelby, and Vermilion counties. The district is currently represented by Rodney Davis, who defeated David Gill in the 2012 election with the support of NRCC and RNC. The district includes the cities of Champaign, Urbana, Springfield, and Decatur, which are home to University of Illinois, Millikin, and Richland Community College, and is adjacent to the 8th district of Indiana and 6th district of Missouri.

Geography

The district is located in the central part of Illinois, bordering Indiana to the east and Missouri to the west, and includes parts of the Prairie and Shawnee regions. The district's terrain is characterized by rolling hills, prairies, and forests, with the Sangamon and Embarras rivers flowing through it. The district is home to several state parks, including Lincoln Trail and Kickapoo, and is near the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge and Shawnee National Forest. The district is also close to the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and the Illinois State Capitol building in Springfield, which is the state capital and the city where Abraham Lincoln served in the Illinois House and later became the President.

History

The district was created in 1865 and has been represented by several notable politicians, including William Alexander Richardson, who later became a U.S. Senator and Governor of Nebraska, and Robert D. Hays, who served in the U.S. House and later became a U.S. District Judge. The district has also been represented by Frank Gillespie, who served in the U.S. House and later became a U.S. District Judge, and Harris W. Fawell, who served in the U.S. House and later became a U.S. District Judge. The district has been adjacent to the 15th district of Illinois and 18th district of Illinois and has been part of the 12th district of Illinois and 14th district of Illinois.

Elections

The district has been competitive in recent elections, with Rodney Davis defeating Ann Callis in the 2014 election and Mark Wicklund in the 2016 election. The district has also been targeted by the DCCC and the NRCC in recent election cycles. The district is considered a swing district and has been represented by both Democratic and Republican members, including Judy Biggert, who served in the U.S. House and later became a member of the House Financial Services Committee, and Tim Johnson, who served in the U.S. House and later became a member of the House Agriculture Committee.

List of representatives

The district has been represented by the following members: * William Alexander Richardson (1865-1867) * Green Clay Smith (1867-1869) * John M. Crebs (1869-1873) * John McNulta (1873-1875) * Adlai Stevenson I (1875-1877) * Thomas F. Tipton (1877-1879) * Robert M. Knapp (1879-1881) * Dietrich C. Smith (1881-1883) * William M. Springer (1883-1885) * Ransom W. Dunham (1885-1889) * Charles A. Hill (1889-1891) * William H. Gest (1891-1893) * John C. Black (1893-1895) * Vespasian Warner (1895-1903) * Robert D. Hays (1903-1907) * Frank Gillespie (1907-1911) * John C. McKenzie (1911-1913) * Robert P. Hill (1913-1915) * Frank H. Funk (1915-1921) * William E. Williams (1921-1923) * William R. Johnson (1923-1925) * Frank H. Funk (1925-1927) * William R. Johnson (1927-1929) * Frank H. Funk (1929-1931) * Leo E. Allen (1933-1949) * Ralph E. Church (1949-1951) * Marguerite S. Church (1951-1953) * Tim Lee Hall (1953-1957) * Marguerite S. Church (1957-1959) * Robert T. McLoskey (1959-1961) * Donald Rumsfeld (1961-1969) * Phil Crane (1969-1973) * Robert McClory (1973-1983) * Harris W. Fawell (1985-1999) * Judy Biggert (1999-2013) * Rodney Davis (2013-present)

Demographics

The district has a population of approximately 750,000 people, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, and is home to several major employers, including University of Illinois, Caterpillar, and State Farm Insurance. The district is also home to several major highways, including I-55, I-57, and I-72, and is near the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport and the Willard Airport. The district has a diverse economy, with major industries including agriculture, manufacturing, and healthcare, and is home to several major hospitals, including Carle Foundation Hospital and OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. The district is also home to several major cultural attractions, including the Krannert Art Museum and the Virginia Theatre, and is near the Illinois Shakespeare Festival and the Pygmalion Music Festival.