Illinois

Macon

103,998
2020 population
1830
first census record
20
census records

About Macon

Macon, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1830, when it recorded a population of 1,122. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 103,998.

Its recorded population peaked at 131,375 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 21 percent.

On the ground today, 11 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020103,998
2010110,768
2000114,706
1990117,206
1980131,375
1970125,010
1960118,257
195098,853
194084,693
193081,731
192065,175
191054,186
190044,003
189038,083
188030,665
187026,481
186013,738
18503,988
18403,039
18301,122
Source

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

Historic places in Macon

National Register of Historic Places listings in Macon, Illinois.

Millikin, James, House
Decatur
Decatur Historic District
Decatur
Trobaugh-Good House
Decatur
Ulery, Eli, House
Mount Zion
Wabash Railroad Station and Railway Express Agency
Decatur
Union Church
Oreana
Transfer House
Decatur
Roosevelt Junior High School
Decatur
West End Historic District
Decatur
Decatur Downtown Historic District
Decatur
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 Macon County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Macon 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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Explore Illinois records

Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Macon

When does Macon first appear in the US census?
Macon, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1830, with a recorded population of 1,122.
What is the population of Macon?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Macon had a recorded population of 103,998.
When did Macon's population peak?
Macon's recorded population peaked at 131,375 in 1980.
How many historic places are in Macon?
11 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Macon, Illinois.
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