# Wayne County, Illinois

Wayne County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 16,179. Its county seat is Fairfield. It is located in the southern portion of Illinois known locally as "Little Egypt".

## History

Wayne County was formed in 1819 out of Edwards County. It is named after Gen. "Mad Anthony" Wayne, an officer in the Revolutionary War and Northwest Indian War.
* Wayne County between its 1819 creation and 1821
* Wayne County between 1821 and 1824
* Wayne County in 1824, reduced to its current size

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 715 square miles (1,850 km$^2$), of which 714 square miles (1,850 km$^2$) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km$^2$) (0.2%) is water.

### Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Fairfield have ranged from a low of 20 °F (−7 °C) in January to a high of 88 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1994 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in July 1901. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 2.70 inches (69 mm) in February to 4.80 inches (122 mm) in April.

### Transit

* Rides Mass Transit District

### Major highways

* Interstate 64
* U.S. Highway 45
* Illinois Route 15
* Illinois Route 242

### Adjacent counties

* Clay County (north)
* Richland County (northeast)
* Edwards County (east)
* White County (southeast)
* Hamilton County (south)
* Jefferson County (southwest)
* Marion County (northwest)

## Demographics

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 16,760 people, 7,102 households, and 4,853 families living in the county. The population density was 23.5 inhabitants per square mile (9.1/km$^2$). There were 7,975 housing units at an average density of 11.2 per square mile (4.3/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 98.0% white, 0.4% Asian, 0.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.1% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 17.0% were German, 14.1% were English, 12.7% were American, and 9.8% were Irish.
Of the 7,102 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.7% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 42.9 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,207 and the median income for a family was $47,879. Males had a median income of $34,800 versus $27,192 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,493. About 9.9% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.0% of those under age 18 and 13.8% of those age 65 or over.

## Communities
### City

* Fairfield

### Villages

* Cisne
* Golden Gate
* Jeffersonville
* Johnsonville
* Keenes
* Mount Erie
* Sims
* Wayne City

### Unincorporated communities

* Barnhill
* Ellery
* Mayberry
* Rinard
* Wynoose
* Zenith

### Townships

Wayne County is divided into these 20 townships:
* Arrington
* Barnhill
* Bedford
* Berry
* Big Mound
* Elm River
* Four Mile
* Garden Hill
* Grover
* Hickory Hill
* Indian Prairie
* Jasper
* Keith
* Lamard
* Leech
* Massilon
* Mount Erie
* Orchard
* Orel
* Zif

## Program 1033 Acquisitions

According to Department of Defense data, Wayne County has received six 5.56MM rifles and three "Utility Trucks" with a total acquisition cost of $120,705.

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Wayne County, Illinois :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 7,019 | 84.66% | 1,155 | 13.93% | 117 | 1.41% |
| 2020 | 7,176 | 84.43% | 1,187 | 13.97% | 136 | 1.60% |
| 2016 | 6,967 | 83.93% | 1,048 | 12.62% | 286 | 3.45% |
| 2012 | 5,988 | 77.80% | 1,514 | 19.67% | 195 | 2.53% |
| 2008 | 5,390 | 66.78% | 2,547 | 31.56% | 134 | 1.66% |
| 2004 | 6,102 | 73.63% | 2,139 | 25.81% | 46 | 0.56% |
| 2000 | 5,347 | 69.50% | 2,209 | 28.71% | 137 | 1.78% |
| 1996 | 4,029 | 49.50% | 3,054 | 37.52% | 1,057 | 12.99% |
| 1992 | 3,809 | 42.93% | 3,332 | 37.56% | 1,731 | 19.51% |
| 1988 | 5,481 | 63.29% | 3,135 | 36.20% | 44 | 0.51% |
| 1984 | 6,298 | 70.36% | 2,621 | 29.28% | 32 | 0.36% |
| 1980 | 6,013 | 62.92% | 3,258 | 34.09% | 286 | 2.99% |
| 1976 | 5,211 | 54.39% | 4,303 | 44.91% | 67 | 0.70% |
| 1972 | 6,400 | 69.75% | 2,763 | 30.11% | 12 | 0.13% |
| 1968 | 5,532 | 59.59% | 2,993 | 32.24% | 759 | 8.18% |
| 1964 | 4,745 | 47.72% | 5,198 | 52.28% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 6,652 | 62.67% | 3,954 | 37.25% | 9 | 0.08% |
| 1956 | 6,286 | 61.37% | 3,942 | 38.49% | 14 | 0.14% |
| 1952 | 6,495 | 62.34% | 3,911 | 37.54% | 12 | 0.12% |
| 1948 | 4,984 | 54.69% | 4,070 | 44.66% | 60 | 0.66% |
| 1944 | 5,683 | 58.21% | 4,019 | 41.17% | 61 | 0.62% |
| 1940 | 6,556 | 53.77% | 5,569 | 45.68% | 67 | 0.55% |
| 1936 | 5,528 | 48.79% | 5,752 | 50.77% | 50 | 0.44% |
| 1932 | 4,097 | 42.43% | 5,488 | 56.84% | 71 | 0.74% |
| 1928 | 5,189 | 62.04% | 3,108 | 37.16% | 67 | 0.80% |
| 1924 | 4,937 | 52.70% | 4,247 | 45.34% | 184 | 1.96% |
| 1920 | 4,908 | 60.50% | 3,137 | 38.67% | 68 | 0.84% |
| 1916 | 5,383 | 50.99% | 4,934 | 46.74% | 239 | 2.26% |
| 1912 | 1,418 | 25.20% | 2,378 | 42.26% | 1,831 | 32.54% |
| 1908 | 2,946 | 49.60% | 2,791 | 46.99% | 203 | 3.42% |
| 1904 | 3,078 | 52.63% | 2,416 | 41.31% | 354 | 6.05% |
| 1900 | 3,117 | 48.97% | 3,062 | 48.11% | 186 | 2.92% |
| 1896 | 2,906 | 47.80% | 3,102 | 51.03% | 71 | 1.17% |
| 1892 | 2,350 | 43.75% | 2,372 | 44.16% | 649 | 12.08% |