Illinois

Alexander

5,240
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Alexander

Alexander, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 626. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 5,240.

Its recorded population peaked at 25,496 in 1940, and has since declined by roughly 79 percent.

On the ground today, 5 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Camp Defiance — Cairo Illinois Defense, Bird's Point Missouri — Illinois Troops Defense, Cairo, Illinois — Fort Defiance Occupation, and 8 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20205,240
20108,238
20009,590
199010,626
198012,264
197012,015
196016,061
195020,316
194025,496
193022,542
192023,980
191022,741
190019,384
189016,563
188014,808
187010,564
18604,707
18502,484
18403,313
18301,390
1820626
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Alexander

Military engagements that took place in Alexander, Illinois.

Camp Defiance — Cairo Illinois Defense
1861
Bird's Point Missouri — Illinois Troops Defense
1861
Cairo, Illinois — Fort Defiance Occupation
1861
Cairo Illinois Operations
1861
Copperhead Meeting Dispersal Cairo
1863

Historic places in Alexander

National Register of Historic Places listings in Alexander, Illinois.

Old Customhouse
Cairo
Thebes Courthouse
Thebes
McClure, Thomas J. and Caroline, House
McClure
Dogtooth Bend Mounds and Village Site
Willard
Cairo Historic District
Cairo
Chicago and Eastern Illinois Railroad Depot
Tamms
Magnolia Manor
Cairo
Browse all Illinoishistoric sites ›

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Alexander County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Alexander County, Illinois. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Alexander

When does Alexander first appear in the US census?
Alexander, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 626.
What is the population of Alexander?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Alexander had a recorded population of 5,240.
When did Alexander's population peak?
Alexander's recorded population peaked at 25,496 in 1940.
Were any battles fought in Alexander?
5 documented military engagements took place in Alexander, including Camp Defiance — Cairo Illinois Defense, Bird's Point Missouri — Illinois Troops Defense, Cairo, Illinois — Fort Defiance Occupation.
How many historic places are in Alexander?
8 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Alexander, Illinois.
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