Tazewell County, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tazewell County
|
||
|---|---|---|
Tazewell County Courthouse in Pekin
|
||
|
||
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
|
||
 Illinois's location within the U.S. |
||
| Country |  United States |
|
| State |  Illinois |
|
| Founded | 1827 | |
| Named for | Littleton Waller Tazewell | |
| Seat | Pekin | |
| Largest city | Pekin | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 658 sq mi (1,700 km2) | |
| • Land | 649 sq mi (1,680 km2) | |
| • Water | 9.0 sq mi (23 km2) 1.4% | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 131,343 | |
| • Density | 199.61/sq mi (77.07/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−6 (Central) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−5 (CDT) | |
| Congressional districts | 16th, 17th | |
Tazewell County is a county located in the state of Illinois in the United States. In 2020, about 131,343 people lived there. The main city and county seat is Pekin. The name "Tazewell" is pronounced with a short "a" sound, like the word "razz."
Tazewell County is part of the larger Peoria area, which is a big group of cities and towns. Most of the people in Tazewell County live near its western edge.
Contents
History of Tazewell County
Tazewell County was created in 1827. It was formed from a part of Peoria County. The county was likely named after Littleton Tazewell. He was a U.S. Senator and later became the Governor of Virginia. Some people think it might have been named after his father, Henry Tazewell, who was also an important politician in Virginia.
Where Was the County Seat?
The first county seat was in Mackinaw. This was from 1827 to 1836. For a short time in 1831, it moved to Pekin. Then, in 1836, it moved to Tremont. After some disagreements between Tremont and Pekin, Pekin became the permanent county seat in 1849.
-
Tazewell County when it was first created in 1827. It included a large area that was not yet organized.
-
Tazewell County between 1829 and 1830. The creation of Mason County set a southern border for Tazewell's extra land.
-
Tazewell County between 1830 and 1831. The land to the east became McLean County.
-
Tazewell County between 1831 and 1841. The last part of its extra land became part of LaSalle County.
-
Tazewell County in 1841, looking like it does today.
Geography and Nature
Tazewell County covers a total area of 658 square miles. Most of this area, 649 square miles, is land. The remaining 9.0 square miles, or 1.4%, is water.
State Parks and Wildlife Areas
Tazewell County is home to several Illinois State Parks and natural areas. These places protect nature and offer outdoor activities.
- Spring Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area: This is an 8.5-mile long lake. It runs next to the Illinois River.
- Powerton Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area: This area is 1,426 acres. It provides a safe home for many animals near the Illinois River.
- Mackinaw River State Fish and Wildlife Area: This is a 1,448-acre state park.
Weather and Climate in Tazewell County
| Weather chart for Pekin, Illinois | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
1.5
31
14
|
1.7
37
20
|
2.8
49
30
|
3.6
62
40
|
4.2
73
51
|
3.8
82
60
|
4
86
65
|
3.2
84
63
|
3.1
77
54
|
2.8
64
42
|
3
49
31
|
2.4
35
20
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| temperatures in °F precipitation totals in inches source: The Weather Channel |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Metric conversion
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The weather in Pekin, the county seat, changes a lot throughout the year. In January, the average low temperature is 14°F. In July, the average high temperature is 86°F. The coldest temperature ever recorded was -27°F in January 1884. The hottest was 113°F in July 1936.
The amount of rain and snow also changes each month. January usually gets about 1.50 inches of precipitation. May is the wettest month, with about 4.17 inches.
Neighboring Counties
Tazewell County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Peoria County (to the northwest)
- Woodford County (to the north)
- McLean County (to the east)
- Logan County (to the south)
- Mason County (to the southwest)
- Fulton County (to the west)
Getting Around Tazewell County
Major Roads
Many important highways run through Tazewell County, making it easy to travel.
Interstate 74
Interstate 155
Interstate 474
U.S. Highway 24
U.S. Highway 150
Illinois Route 8
Illinois Route 9
Illinois Route 26
Illinois Route 29
Illinois Route 40
Illinois Route 98
Illinois Route 116
Illinois Route 122
Airports in the County
Tazewell County has two public airports:
- Pekin Municipal Airport (C15): This airport serves the city of Pekin.
- Manito Mitchell Airport (C45): This airport serves the village of Manito.
Public Bus Service
Bus services are available in Tazewell County. They are provided by Peoria's "CityLink" system. This system has six bus routes and runs seven days a week.
People of Tazewell County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1830 | 4,716 | — | |
| 1840 | 7,221 | 53.1% | |
| 1850 | 12,052 | 66.9% | |
| 1860 | 21,470 | 78.1% | |
| 1870 | 27,903 | 30.0% | |
| 1880 | 29,666 | 6.3% | |
| 1890 | 29,556 | −0.4% | |
| 1900 | 33,221 | 12.4% | |
| 1910 | 34,027 | 2.4% | |
| 1920 | 38,540 | 13.3% | |
| 1930 | 46,082 | 19.6% | |
| 1940 | 58,362 | 26.6% | |
| 1950 | 76,165 | 30.5% | |
| 1960 | 99,789 | 31.0% | |
| 1970 | 118,649 | 18.9% | |
| 1980 | 132,078 | 11.3% | |
| 1990 | 123,692 | −6.3% | |
| 2000 | 128,485 | 3.9% | |
| 2010 | 135,394 | 5.4% | |
| 2020 | 131,343 | −3.0% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 129,541 | −4.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 |
|||
In 2010, there were 135,394 people living in Tazewell County. There were 54,146 households, which are groups of people living together. The population density was about 208 people per square mile. Most people in the county were white (96.2%).
About 31.4% of households had children under 18. The average household had 2.45 people. The average age of people in the county was 39.8 years old. The median income for a family was $66,764. About 7.9% of the population lived below the poverty line.
Cities and Towns
Tazewell County has several cities and villages.
Cities in Tazewell County
- Delavan
- East Peoria
- Marquette Heights
- Pekin (This is the county seat)
- Washington
Villages in Tazewell County
Other Communities
- Armington (a census-designated place)
- Heritage Lake (a census-designated place)
- Groveland (an unincorporated community)
- Schaeferville (an unincorporated community)
Townships in Tazewell County
Tazewell County is divided into smaller areas called townships.
- Boynton
- Cincinnati
- Deer Creek
- Delavan
- Dillon
- Elm Grove
- Fondulac
- Groveland
- Hittle
- Hopedale
- Little Mackinaw
- Mackinaw
- Malone
- Morton
- Pekin
- Sand Prairie
- Spring Lake
- Tremont
- Washington
Education in Tazewell County
Tazewell County has many school districts for students from kindergarten to 12th grade.
School Districts for All Grades (K-12)
- Deer Creek-Mackinaw Community Unit School District 701
- Delavan Community Unit School District 703
- Eureka Community Unit District 140
- Illini Central Community Unit School District 189
- Hartsburg-Emden Community Unit School District 21
- Midwest Central Community Unit School District 191
- Morton Community Unit School District 709
- Olympia Community Unit School District 16
- Tremont Community Unit School District 702
High School Districts
These districts focus on high school students:
- East Peoria Community High School District 309
- Pekin Community High School District 303
- Washington Community High School District 308
Elementary School Districts
These districts are for younger students in elementary school:
- Central School District 51
- Creve Coeur School District 76
- District 50 Schools
- East Peoria School District 86
- North Pekin-Marquette Heights School District 102
- Pekin Public School District 108
- Rankin Community School District 98
- Robein School District 85
- South Pekin School District 137
- Spring Lake Community Consolidated School District 606
- Washington School District 52
Famous People from Tazewell County
- Charles "Buffalo" Jones: A famous cowboy and naturalist.
- Everett Dirkson: A U.S. Senator.
- Gary Richrath: The lead guitarist for the band REO Speedwagon.
- John Theodore McNaughton: A government official.
Images for kids
-
The Tazewell County Courthouse in Pekin.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Tazewell (Illinois) para niños
