Christian County is a county in Illinois, United States, on the prairie roughly 30 miles south of Springfield. It had a population of 34,032 at the 2020 census and covers 716 square miles (1,850 km2) centred near 39°33′N 89°17′W.
Taylorville is the county seat, and its postal code is 62568. The county has 3 cities, 12 villages and several unincorporated communities spread across 17 civil townships. Christian County observes Central Time and carries FIPS code 17021.
Towns & Villages in Christian County
Christian County has 16 incorporated places — 3 cities and 13 villages — plus a handful of unincorporated crossroads and mobile-home parks. The table below marks the county seat with · seat; places with no listed 2020 census figure or ZIP are marked —.
| Place | Type | Township | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taylorville | City · seat | Taylorville | 62568 |
| Pana | City | Pana | 62557 |
| Assumption | City | Assumption | 62510 |
| Moweaqua | Village | — | 62550 |
| Edinburg | Village | — | 62531 |
| Harvel | Village | — | — |
| Morrisonville | Village | — | 62546 |
| Owaneco | Village | — | 62555 |
| Kincaid | Village | — | 62540 |
| Stonington | Village | Stonington | 62567 |
| Tovey | Village | — | 62570 |
| Mount Auburn | Village | Mount Auburn | 62547 |
| Palmer | Village | — | 62556 |
| Bulpitt | Village | — | 62517 |
| Rosamond | Village | Rosamond | 62083 |
| Jeisyville | Unincorp. | — | — |
A few names from older lists don’t hold up: Blueville, Bolivia, Clarksdale, Dunkel, Ellis, Grove City, Hewittville, Langleyville, Midway, Millersville, Old Stonington, Osbernville, Radford, Richwood Manor, Roby, Sandersville, Sharpsburg, Sicily, Tovey Humphrey Station, Vanderville, Velma and Willeys have no verifiable trace in current gazetteers or the county’s own records, and Big Oak MH Park, Cherry Wood Trailer Park, Hannon MH Park, Park Manor and Hillcrest MH Park are mobile-home parks rather than distinct settlements — omitted here.
Townships
Christian County is divided into 17 civil townships. 2020 township-level population figures are not independently verified here, so only the townships whose names match a listed town or village are shown with their anchor settlement.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Taylorville | — | Taylorville (seat) |
| Pana | — | Pana |
| Assumption | — | Assumption |
| Mount Auburn | — | Mount Auburn |
| Stonington | — | Stonington |
| Rosamond | — | Rosamond |
| Bear Creek | — | Rural |
| Buckhart | — | Rural |
| Greenwood | — | Rural |
| Johnson | — | Rural |
| King | — | Rural |
| Locust | — | Rural |
| May | — | Rural |
| Mosquito | — | Rural |
| Prairieton | — | Rural |
| Ricks | — | Rural |
| South Fork | — | Rural |
ZIP Codes
- 62568 — Taylorville
- 62557 — Pana
- 62550 — Moweaqua
- 62531 — Edinburg
- 62510 — Assumption
- 62546 — Morrisonville
- 62555 — Owaneco
- 62540 — Kincaid
- 62567 — Stonington
- 62570 — Tovey
- 62547 — Mount Auburn
- 62556 — Palmer
- 62517 — Bulpitt
- 62083 — Rosamond
Small unincorporated spots such as Jeisyville use a neighboring post office’s ZIP rather than one of their own.
Geography
Christian County sits on flat to gently rolling prairie in central Illinois, drained by the Sangamon River’s south fork across the county’s north. The county covers 716 square miles, of which 709 square miles is land and 6.3 square miles is water. It borders Macon County to the northeast, Shelby County to the southeast, Montgomery County to the southwest, and Sangamon County to the northwest.
Demographics
Christian County had 34,032 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 48 people per square mile. Taylorville, the county seat, and Pana are the two largest communities. The county’s median household income runs well below the Illinois median of $80,306, reflecting its farm- and coal-country economic base.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture — corn and soybeans on the county’s flat prairie soils — remains the backbone of the local economy, alongside grain handling, trucking and small manufacturing centered in Taylorville and Pana. Taylorville Memorial Hospital and the county’s school districts are among the larger local employers. The Christian County Fair in Taylorville is the county’s biggest annual event.
History
Christian County was organized on February 15, 1839, from parts of Sangamon, Montgomery and Shelby counties. It was first named Dane County and kept that name until 1840, when it was renamed for Christian County, Kentucky. Coal mining shaped the county through the early and mid-20th century, particularly around Taylorville and Pana, before the industry declined after World War II.
Getting There
US Route 51 runs north–south through Taylorville, and Illinois Routes 16, 29, 48 and 104 cross the county.
- Springfield — 30 miles northwest
- Decatur — 25 miles northeast
- Effingham — 45 miles southeast
- St. Louis — 90 miles southwest
Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield is the nearest commercial airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Christian County?
It’s in central Illinois, about 30 miles south of Springfield.
What is the population of Christian County?
34,032 residents, per the 2020 census.
How big is Christian County?
716 square miles (1,850 km2), of which 6.3 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Christian County?
Taylorville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Christian County?
Sixteen incorporated places — 3 cities and 13 villages — plus several unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Christian County?
Fourteen, from 62083 (Rosamond) to 62570 (Tovey); see the ZIP Codes section above.
Why is it called Christian County?
It was renamed in 1840 for Christian County, Kentucky, having originally been organized as Dane County the year before.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Illinois.