Macoupin County, Illinois Totally Explained

Everything about Macoupin County Illinois totally explained

Illinois Hist. and Stat. 1850-1890
Illinois Counties 1900-1990 }} As of the U.S. Census of 2000, there were 49,019 people, 19,253 households, and 13,631 families residing in the county. The population density was 57 people per square mile (22/km²). There were 21,097 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.99% White, 0.82% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. 0.62% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 32.9% were of German, 12.8% American, 12.0% English, 10.5% Irish and 8.6% Italian ancestry according to Census 2000.
   There were 19,253 households out of which 31.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 25.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.97.
   In the county the population was spread out with 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 22.90% from 45 to 64, and 17.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.90 males.
   The median income for a household in the county was $36,190, and the median income for a family was $43,021. Males had a median income of $34,369 versus $22,293 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,298. About 7.10% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

History

Pre-European Era

The region was inhabited by Illinoisan Indians when Europeans first arrived. None now remain, although some descendants of the earliest European settlers claim partial ancestry. The first European contact was by French explorers in the seventeenth century, travelling southward down the major rivers. The main European settlement was from the southwest, as people moved inland from the established transportation route of the Mississippi River.

Early 19th century

Macoupin County was established on January 17, 1829. It was formed out of Greene and Madison Counties and named after Macoupin Creek, which runs near Carlinville and meanders southwest to the Illinois River. The economy was based on subsistence agriculture, and communication was to the southwest. Illinois became a state in 1818, with its capital at Kaskaskia. The nearest town of any importance was St. Louis.

Mid 19th century

Illinois developed and changed rapidly. The greatest change was in the building of railroads, and Macoupin was on the rail and road transportation link between St. Louis and the still-young metropolis of Chicago. The county lies midway between St. Louis and the relocated state capital of Springfield. The economy was still based entirely on agriculture, but there was now easier access to markets. Towns were small, sparsely distributed, and any new communities were founded along the railroad lines that provided transportation. Culturally, the county remained closer to its historical ties with St. Louis than to more northerly areas within the state.

Late 19th century

Agriculture remained a mainstay of the economy, but this was joined by coal mining, an industry that partially changed the complexion of the county. With coal underlying the entire region, the most economical development was to place mines alongside the railroad tracks (for transportation of coal), and located in or near already-existing towns. By the twentieth century, there were mines in every town of any size, all of them with substantial populations of foreign-born miners from everywhere in Europe.
Towns were (and still are) characterized either by a midwestern town square layout, or by a main street layout. In the former, a central city block may be a small park with a gazebo, and with the small businesses of the town surrounding it. In the latter, a single street will have the small businesses of the town lining either side of it. The town that's the county seat (in Macoupin County, that's Carlinville) has a city square layout, with the main county building occupying the central city block. This building houses all the offices of the county. Typically, churches of the various denominations will lie within two or three blocks of the town square, or sometimes will lie mainly along a single street near the town's center.

Early 20th century

Agriculture and coal mining remained the mainstays of the county's economy, and the county's fortunes rose and fell with them. Farming was still family based. Macoupin County was often at the center of major labor disputes between mine owners and miners, and was a hotbed of union activity. The county had played a major role in violent 1890's disputes that brought unwanted national attention, was at center stage when the United Mine Workers rose to power, and was again prominent during the internecine war between the UMW and the Progressive Mine Workers of the 1930's.

Late 20th century

Agriculture remained as the county's prime economic activity, but farming became a large-scale corporate enterprise, with small family farms rapidly disappearing. Coal mining decreased, and almost disappeared entirely. Buildings and structures related to coal mining were torn down as they wasted away, so that there's now little to see of this once-major industry.
With modern roads easily accessible, some towns in the northern part of the county became virtual bedroom communities as people commuted to Springfield to work and shop, hastening the decline of small businesses in the towns. The same effect was felt in the southernmost part of the county, and in 2005 the U.S. Census Bureau included the county in the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area due to increased commuting patterns and employment in St. Louis and the Metro-East.

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