Right, let's get this over with. You needed to know about a patch of land in Illinois. Don't ask me why. Here are the tedious, yet presumably necessary, details.
County in Illinois, United States
Greene County, Illinois
A County
Behold, the Greene County Courthouse. A testament to civic architecture and the enduring belief that buildings can somehow contain human folly.
(Location of Greene County within the U.S. state of Illinois) (Illinois's location within the U.S.)
| Coordinates | 39°21′N 90°23′W |
| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| Founded | 1821 |
| Named after | Nathanael Greene |
| Seat | Carrollton |
| Largest city | Carrollton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 546 sq mi (1,410 km²) |
| • Land | 543 sq mi (1,410 km²) |
| • Water | 3.3 sq mi (8.5 km²), a mere 0.6% |
| Population | |
| • (2020) Total | 11,843 |
| • Estimate (2024) | 11,417 |
| • Density | 21.8/sq mi (8.42/km²) |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Congressional district | 15th |
Greene County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois, a place people apparently choose to live. According to the 2020 United States census, it was home to a population of 11,843 souls. Its county seat, the place where official decisions are made, is Carrollton.
The area boasts a notable archaeological site, the Koster Site, which has inconveniently produced evidence of more than 7,000 years of continuous human habitation. This suggests people have been stuck here for a very long time. Artifacts dug up from this monument to persistence are on display at the Center for American Archeology in Kampsville, Illinois, should you feel the need to stare at old pots.
History
Greene County was named in honor of General Nathanael Greene, a celebrated hero of the American Revolutionary War. One assumes he never had to visit. Established in 1821, a mere three years after Illinois clawed its way to statehood, Greene County was carved out of the larger Madison County, which itself had been part of St. Clair County. It was, at its inception, a significantly larger entity.
However, over the subsequent 18 years, it was systematically whittled down as four more counties—Scott, Morgan, Macoupin, and Jersey—were sliced off its territory. This process of administrative mitosis left Greene County with its current footprint of approximately 546 square miles. It's nestled in western-central Illinois, clinging to the Illinois River, a vital waterway that served the dual purpose of transportation and shipping goods, which was fortunate, as walking is overrated.
In a pattern typical of southern Illinois, the county's earliest European-American settlers migrated from the Southern states. They arrived from North and South Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, and Tennessee, bringing their customs and perspectives with them. By the eve of the Civil War, in 1860, the population of Greene County had swelled to 16,093. A demographic snapshot of the adult population from that time reveals a telling mosaic: 10% were born in the Northeast, 15% were foreign-born, a significant 25% hailed from Southern states, and nearly half were born in the Midwest. Even among those Midwestern natives, the Southern influence was profound; almost 80% of them had parents born in a Southern state, a lineage that deeply colored the region's cultural and political fabric.
- Greene County as it appeared from its creation in 1821 to 1823, including a swath of unorganized territory temporarily attached to it. A brief moment of grandeur.
- Greene County between 1823 and 1825, slightly diminished.
- Greene between 1825 and 1829, the shrinkage continues.
- Greene between 1829 and 1839, shedding land like a snake sheds skin.
- Greene in 1839, after the creation of Jersey County finally reduced it to its current, more modest size.
Geography
According to the infallible data of the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 546 square miles (1,410 km²). Of this, 543 square miles (1,410 km²) is land, and the remaining 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²), or 0.6%, is water. So, don't plan on a career in naval command here.
Climate and weather
In recent years, the average temperatures in Carrollton, the county seat, have demonstrated the Midwest's commitment to dramatic mood swings. They have ranged from a brisk low of 16 °F (−9 °C) in January to a sweltering high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July. Of course, "average" is a comforting lie. The historical record includes a soul-crushing low of −26 °F (−32 °C) in January 1912 and a blistering high of 113 °F (45 °C) in July 1934. Average monthly precipitation ranges from 1.60 inches (41 mm) in January to 4.34 inches (110 mm) in May, because the sky, too, is fickle.
Climate chart for Carrollton, Illinois
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.6 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 2.8 | 3 | 2.6 | 3.3 | 2.6 |
| 34/16 | 40/20 | 52/30 | 64/42 | 74/52 | 83/61 | 87/65 | 85/63 | 78/54 | 67/43 | 52/32 | 39/21 |
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F, Precipitation totals in inches. Source: The Weather Channel
Major highways
For those inclined to travel through, or better yet, away from Greene County, the following routes are available:
- U.S. Highway 67
- Illinois Route 16
- Illinois Route 100
- Illinois Route 106
- Illinois Route 108
- Illinois Route 267
Adjacent counties
It's surrounded.
- Scott County - north
- Morgan County - north
- Macoupin County - east
- Jersey County - south
- Calhoun County - southwest
- Pike County - northwest
National protected area
A portion of the county is designated for preservation, which is more than can be said for most things.
- Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge (specifically, the Apple Creek Division)
Demographics
Numbers. Cold, hard, and blessedly free of opinion. The population has been on a slow, graceful decline for decades, a trend some might call "exclusive."
| Historical population |
|---|
| Census |
| 1830 |
| 1840 |
| 1850 |
| 1860 |
| 1870 |
| 1880 |
| 1890 |
| 1900 |
| 1910 |
| 1920 |
| 1930 |
| 1940 |
| 1950 |
| 1960 |
| 1970 |
| 1980 |
| 1990 |
| 2000 |
| 2010 |
| 2020 |
| 2024 (est.) |
2020 census
| Greene County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition |
|---|
| Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race. |
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) |
| White alone (NH) |
| Black or African American alone (NH) |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |
| Asian alone (NH) |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |
| Other race alone (NH) |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) |
| Total |
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 13,886 people, 5,570 households, and 3,777 families residing in the county. The population density was a sparse 25.6 inhabitants per square mile (9.9/km²), meaning you don't have to worry much about borrowing a cup of sugar, or anything else, from a neighbor. There were 6,389 housing units at an average density of 11.8 per square mile (4.6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was overwhelmingly 97.9% white, with 0.9% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those identifying as Hispanic or Latino origin constituted 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, people claimed to be 30.7% German, 14.7% Irish, 13.3% English, and 12.1% simply "American," which is a choice.
Of the 5,570 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18. A total of 53.0% were married couples living together, while 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present. Non-families made up 32.2% of households, and 27.8% of all households were composed of individuals living alone. The average household size was 2.44, and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 41.6 years, suggesting a certain maturity, or perhaps just resignation.
Economically, the median income for a household was 52,049. Males had a median income of 27,231 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,107. Approximately 11.8% of families and 15.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including a troubling 22.1% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Places where people gather, for better or worse.
Cities
Villages
Unincorporated communities
Not quite towns, but people live there anyway.
Townships
The administrative scaffolding of the county.
- Athensville
- Bluffdale
- Carrollton
- Kane
- Linder
- Patterson
- Rockbridge
- Roodhouse
- Rubicon
- Walkerville
- White Hall
- Woodville
- Wrights
Population ranking
A hierarchy of settlements, based on the 2020 census. Let the municipal rivalries commence.
† county seat
| Rank | Place | Municipal type | Population (2020 Census) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | † Carrollton | City | 2,485 |
| 2 | White Hall | City | 2,295 |
| 3 | Roodhouse | City | 1,578 |
| 4 | Greenfield | City | 1,059 |
| 5 | Kane | Village | 296 |
| 6 | Rockbridge | Village | 175 |
| 7 | Eldred | Village | 149 |
| 8 | Hillview | Village | 94 |
| 9 | Wilmington (Patterson) | Village | 91 |
Politics
With its roots deep in the soil of the “southern” settlement pattern, Greene County was a Democratic stronghold for the seventy years following the Civil War, an event it largely viewed as a "Yankee" affair to be opposed. This political allegiance was practically etched in stone until the 1928 election, when a wave of anti-Catholic sentiment against Al Smith was potent enough to push many voters toward Herbert Hoover, giving a Republican presidential nominee his first victory in the county.
The approach of World War II brought further shifts, as opposition to American involvement fueled support for Republicans Wendell Willkie and Thomas E. Dewey. From 1928 through 2004, Greene County acted as a fairly reliable political bellwether, its voting patterns often mirroring the national outcome, with the notable exception of the 1960 election, which was again influenced by the candidate's Catholicism.
In recent years, the political landscape has tilted dramatically. Hillary Clinton’s 2016 performance, capturing a mere 21.68 percent of the vote, was a staggering 14.3 percent lower than any Democratic presidential candidate had achieved prior to 2012, signaling a profound realignment.
As of February 2025, in a fit of either profound dissatisfaction or geographical confusion, Greene County is one of seven Illinois counties that have voted to join the state of Indiana. A bold move. We'll see how that works out for them.
| United States presidential election results for Greene County, Illinois |
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| Year |
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| 2020 |
| 2016 |
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| 1932 |
| 1928 |
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| 1896 |
| 1892 |