Jersey County, Illinois

Jersey County, Illinois is a county located in the Mississippi River valley in the United States. It is part of the St. Louis, MO-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area and is situated near the Pere Marquette State Park. The county seat is Jerseyville, which is also the largest city in the county, and is located near the Illinois River. The county is named after New Jersey and is home to several notable residents, including Jonathan H. Rowell, a United States House of Representatives member.

Geography

Jersey County is located in the western part of Illinois and is bordered by Calhoun County, Illinois to the west, Greene County, Illinois to the north, Macoupin County, Illinois to the east, and Madison County, Illinois to the south. The county has a total area of 377 square miles, of which 369 square miles is land and 8 square miles is water. The Illinois River flows through the county and provides scenic views and recreational opportunities, similar to those found in Starved Rock State Park and Pere Marquette State Park. The county is also home to several parks and nature preserves, including the Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge and the Pere Marquette State Park, which offer opportunities for hiking, camping, and wildlife viewing, similar to Shawnee National Forest and Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site.

History

Jersey County was founded on February 28, 1839, and was named after New Jersey. The county was formed from part of Greene County, Illinois and was originally settled by European-Americans, including German Americans and Irish Americans. The county played a significant role in the American Civil War, with many residents serving in the Union Army, including Abraham Lincoln, who was a close friend of Joshua Speed, a resident of the county. The county is also home to several historic sites, including the Jersey County Courthouse, which was built in 1893 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, along with other notable sites like Cahokia Mounds State Historic Site and Vachel Lindsay House.

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, the population of Jersey County was 21,691. The population density was 58.7 people per square mile. The racial makeup of the county was 97.4% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Asian, and 1.2% from two or more races. The median household income was $53,419, and the median family income was $64,419. The per capita income was $26,441. The county is home to several notable residents, including Henry Scott Rourke, a United States Navy officer, and William Alexander Richardson, a United States Senator from Illinois, who served alongside Stephen A. Douglas and Abraham Lincoln.

Communities

Jersey County is home to several communities, including Jerseyville, which is the county seat and largest city. Other communities in the county include Grafton, Brighton, and Medora. The county is also home to several townships, including Jersey Township, Mississippi Township, and Ruyle Township. The county is located near several major cities, including St. Louis, Missouri, Springfield, Illinois, and Alton, Illinois, which are connected by Interstate 55 and Illinois Route 100.

Government

The government of Jersey County is a county commission form of government, with a county board composed of members elected from each township. The county is also home to several law enforcement agencies, including the Jersey County Sheriff's Office and the Illinois State Police. The county is part of the 20th Judicial Circuit of Illinois and has a circuit court located in Jerseyville. The county is represented in the Illinois General Assembly by Katie Stuart, a member of the Illinois House of Representatives, and Steve McClure, a member of the Illinois Senate, who serve alongside other notable politicians like J.B. Pritzker and Dick Durbin.

Education

Jersey County is served by several school districts, including Jersey Community Unit School District 100 and Southwestern Community Unit School District 9. The county is also home to several private schools, including Jerseyville Catholic Elementary School and St. Francis Xavier Catholic School. The county is located near several institutions of higher education, including Southern Illinois University Edwardsville, Lewis and Clark Community College, and Principia College, which offer a range of academic programs, including those in engineering, business, and education, similar to those found at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Northwestern University.