Illinois

Effingham

34,668
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Effingham

Effingham, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 1,675. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 34,668.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 3 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202034,668
201034,242
200034,264
199031,704
198030,944
197024,608
196023,107
195021,675
194022,034
193019,013
192019,556
191020,055
190020,465
189019,358
188018,920
187015,653
18607,816
18503,799
18401,675
Source

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

Historic places in Effingham

National Register of Historic Places listings in Effingham, Illinois.

Effingham County Courthouse
Effingham
Wright, Dr. Charles M., House
Altamont
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 Effingham County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Effingham 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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Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Effingham

When does Effingham first appear in the US census?
Effingham, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 1,675.
What is the population of Effingham?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Effingham had a recorded population of 34,668.
How many historic places are in Effingham?
3 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Effingham, Illinois.
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