Pope County is a county in Illinois, United States, in the far southeastern tip of the state along the Ohio River. It had a population of 3,763 at the 2020 census and covers 374 square miles (970 km2) centred near 37°25′N 88°34′W.
Golconda is the county seat, and its postal code is 62938. The county has one incorporated city (Golconda), one incorporated village (Eddyville), and roughly three dozen smaller unincorporated communities. Pope County sits in the Central time zone and its FIPS code is 17151.
Towns & Villages in Pope County
Pope County has one incorporated city, one incorporated village, and about thirty unincorporated communities and rural crossroads scattered through the Shawnee Hills. “CDP” marks a Census Bureau-designated place with no city government; “Unincorp.” marks a named community, hamlet, or crossroads with no municipal boundary.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Golconda | City · seat | — | 62938 |
| Eddyville | Village | — | 62928 |
| Herod | Unincorp. | — | 62947 |
| Abbot | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Allens Spring | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bay City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brownfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Delwood | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Dixon Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Glendale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gowins | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hamletsburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hartsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hodgeville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holmes Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Homberg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Julien Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Leisure City | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lewis Corner | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lusk | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McCormick | Unincorp. | — | — |
| New Liberty | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Old Brownfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Raum | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Renshaw | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rising Sun | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Robbs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rock | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rosebud | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tansill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Temple Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Waltersburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Watkins Ford | Unincorp. | — | — |
Golconda and Eddyville are the county’s only two incorporated places; everything else on the list is a rural community, hamlet, or crossroads without its own municipal government, so residents there vote, pay taxes, and get mail addressed through the nearest incorporated place or post office town.
ZIP Codes
- 62938 — Golconda
- 62928 — Eddyville
- 62947 — Herod
These are the county’s three confirmed ZIP codes. The unincorporated communities elsewhere in the county do not have a ZIP of their own and share the code of whichever post office town is closest.
Geography
Pope County lies in the rugged Shawnee Hills of far southeastern Illinois, where sandstone bluffs and hardwood ridges give way to Ohio River bottomland. Much of the county’s north and west is inside the Shawnee National Forest, and Dixon Springs State Park sits along its western edge. The Ohio River forms the county’s southern and southeastern boundary; Big Bay Creek is the principal interior stream, draining south toward the river near Golconda.
Pope County borders Saline County to the north, Hardin County to the east, Livingston County, Kentucky to the southeast across the Ohio River, Massac County to the southwest, Johnson County to the west, and Williamson County to the northwest.
Demographics
Pope County had 3,763 residents at the 2020 census, making it the second-least populous county in Illinois. Golconda, the county seat, is by far the largest community, followed by Eddyville. Median household income runs well below the Illinois median of $80,306 — Pope County is one of the state’s lower-income rural counties, reflecting its small population base and limited local job market. Population density is roughly 10 people per square mile, among the lowest in Illinois.
Economy & Local Life
Pope County’s economy centers on agriculture, forestry, and tourism tied to the Shawnee National Forest and the Ohio River. Cattle farming and timber are the leading rural industries; the Shawnee National Forest’s Pope County district and Dixon Springs State Park draw hikers, hunters, and campers, supporting a small seasonal tourism trade in Golconda. Golconda’s historic riverfront, including the restored 1872 Pope County Courthouse and the Golconda Marina on the Ohio River, anchors the county seat’s local economy.
History
Pope County was organized in 1816, carved from parts of Gallatin and Johnson counties, making it one of the older counties in Illinois — formed before Illinois achieved statehood in 1818. It was named for Nathaniel Pope, a territorial delegate and later federal judge who is credited with shifting Illinois’s northern boundary north to include Chicago and the Lake Michigan shoreline before statehood. Golconda, on the Ohio River, was an important 19th-century river landing and remains the county’s only city.
Getting There
Illinois Routes 34, 145, 146, and 147 cross the county, connecting Golconda to the surrounding region; there is no interstate access within the county.
- Harrisburg, IL — 25 miles north via IL-34/IL-145
- Paducah, KY — 30 miles southeast via US-60/IL-146
- Metropolis, IL — 25 miles southwest via IL-147
- Marion, IL — 30 miles northwest via IL-146
The nearest commercial airport is Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah, Kentucky.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Pope County, Illinois?
It is in the far southeastern tip of Illinois, along the Ohio River, bordering Kentucky.
What is the population of Pope County?
3,763 people, per the 2020 census — the second-least populous county in Illinois.
How big is Pope County?
374 square miles (970 km2), of which 369 square miles are land and 5.5 square miles are water.
What is the county seat of Pope County?
Golconda is the county seat.
How many towns are in Pope County?
Just two incorporated places — Golconda (city) and Eddyville (village) — plus about thirty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Pope County?
62938 (Golconda), 62928 (Eddyville), and 62947 (Herod).
Is Pope County in the Shawnee National Forest?
Much of its north and west lies within the Shawnee National Forest, and Dixon Springs State Park sits on its western edge.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Illinois.