# Scott County, Illinois

Scott County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 4,949, making it the fourth-least populous county in Illinois. Its county seat is Winchester.
Scott County is part of the Jacksonville, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Springfield-Jacksonville-Lincoln, IL Combined Statistical Area.

## History

Scott County was formed in 1839 out of Morgan County. It was named for Scott County, Kentucky.
* Scott County at the time of its creation in 1839

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 253 square miles (660 km$^2$), of which 251 square miles (650 km$^2$) is land and 1.9 square miles (4.9 km$^2$) (0.7%) is water. The county's western boundary is formed by the Illinois River.

### Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Winchester have ranged from a low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1912 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1934. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.60 inches (41 mm) in January to 4.34 inches (110 mm) in May.

### Major highways

* Interstate 72
* U.S. Route 36
* U.S. Route 67
* Illinois Route 106
* Illinois Route 100

### Adjacent counties

* Morgan County (east)
* Greene County (south)
* Pike County (west)

## Demographics

As of the 2010 census, there were 5,355 people, 2,214 households, and 1,516 families living in the county. The population density was 21.3 inhabitants per square mile (8.2/km$^2$). There were 2,459 housing units at an average density of 9.8 per square mile (3.8/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.6% white, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.3% were German, 24.3% were American, 18.0% were English, and 16.2% were Irish.
Of the 2,214 households, 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.5% were non-families, and 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 42.7 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $49,462 and the median income for a family was $64,412. Males had a median income of $40,781 versus $32,011 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,530. About 6.5% of families and 9.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.5% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### City

* Winchester

### Town

* Naples

### Villages

* Alsey
* Bluffs
* Exeter
* Glasgow
* Manchester

### Unincorporated communities

* Bloomfield
* Merritt
* Oxville
* Riggston

### Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2020 census of Scott County.
† county seat
| Rank | Place | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
| 1 | † Winchester | City | 1,574 |
| 2 | Bluffs | Village | 618 |
| 3 | Manchester | Village | 265 |
| 4 | Alsey | Village | 195 |
| 5 | Glasgow | Village | 119 |
| 6 | Naples | Town | 100 |
| 7 | Exeter | Town | 87 |

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Scott County, Illinois :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 2,071 | 79.90% | 488 | 18.83% | 33 | 1.27% |
| 2020 | 2,114 | 77.07% | 572 | 20.85% | 57 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | 1,966 | 75.38% | 535 | 20.51% | 107 | 4.10% |
| 2012 | 1,587 | 61.80% | 910 | 35.44% | 71 | 2.76% |
| 2008 | 1,455 | 55.81% | 1,090 | 41.81% | 62 | 2.38% |
| 2004 | 1,696 | 64.34% | 927 | 35.17% | 13 | 0.49% |
| 2000 | 1,458 | 59.05% | 954 | 38.64% | 57 | 2.31% |
| 1996 | 1,112 | 43.81% | 1,012 | 39.87% | 414 | 16.31% |
| 1992 | 1,132 | 40.68% | 1,057 | 37.98% | 594 | 21.34% |
| 1988 | 1,535 | 55.02% | 1,243 | 44.55% | 12 | 0.43% |
| 1984 | 1,976 | 67.33% | 943 | 32.13% | 16 | 0.55% |
| 1980 | 1,990 | 65.42% | 941 | 30.93% | 111 | 3.65% |
| 1976 | 1,789 | 55.35% | 1,424 | 44.06% | 19 | 0.59% |
| 1972 | 2,228 | 66.00% | 1,145 | 33.92% | 3 | 0.09% |
| 1968 | 1,971 | 55.55% | 1,252 | 35.29% | 325 | 9.16% |
| 1964 | 1,627 | 45.46% | 1,952 | 54.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 2,267 | 59.44% | 1,543 | 40.46% | 4 | 0.10% |
| 1956 | 2,303 | 60.91% | 1,478 | 39.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 2,298 | 60.36% | 1,506 | 39.56% | 3 | 0.08% |
| 1948 | 1,840 | 51.28% | 1,735 | 48.36% | 13 | 0.36% |
| 1944 | 2,185 | 53.84% | 1,864 | 45.93% | 9 | 0.22% |
| 1940 | 2,585 | 50.70% | 2,492 | 48.87% | 22 | 0.43% |
| 1936 | 2,165 | 42.14% | 2,945 | 57.32% | 28 | 0.54% |
| 1932 | 1,740 | 36.22% | 3,012 | 62.70% | 52 | 1.08% |
| 1928 | 2,601 | 59.96% | 1,730 | 39.88% | 7 | 0.16% |
| 1924 | 2,227 | 50.49% | 1,994 | 45.21% | 190 | 4.31% |
| 1920 | 2,075 | 52.25% | 1,786 | 44.98% | 110 | 2.77% |
| 1916 | 2,126 | 45.72% | 2,457 | 52.84% | 67 | 1.44% |
| 1912 | 379 | 15.41% | 1,341 | 54.53% | 739 | 30.05% |
| 1908 | 1,101 | 42.76% | 1,376 | 53.44% | 98 | 3.81% |
| 1904 | 1,163 | 45.47% | 1,236 | 48.32% | 159 | 6.22% |
| 1900 | 1,204 | 42.59% | 1,585 | 56.07% | 38 | 1.34% |
| 1896 | 1,261 | 43.63% | 1,598 | 55.29% | 31 | 1.07% |
| 1892 | 1,006 | 39.73% | 1,282 | 50.63% | 244 | 9.64% |