Illinois

Pope

3,763
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Pope

Pope, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 2,610. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 3,763.

Its recorded population peaked at 14,016 in 1890, and has since declined by roughly 73 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Kincaid Site Defensive Conflict, Kincaid Site Conflict Evidence, and 2 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20203,763
20104,470
20004,413
19904,373
19804,404
19703,857
19604,061
19505,779
19407,999
19307,996
19209,625
191011,215
190013,585
189014,016
188013,256
187011,437
18606,742
18503,975
18404,094
18303,316
18202,610
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Pope

Military engagements that took place in Pope, Illinois.

Kincaid Site Defensive Conflict
1050
Kincaid Site Conflict Evidence
1300

Historic places in Pope

National Register of Historic Places listings in Pope, Illinois.

Golconda Historic District
Golconda
Millstone Bluff
Glendale

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Pope County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Pope 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 Pope

When does Pope first appear in the US census?
Pope, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 2,610.
What is the population of Pope?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Pope had a recorded population of 3,763.
When did Pope's population peak?
Pope's recorded population peaked at 14,016 in 1890.
Were any battles fought in Pope?
2 documented military engagements took place in Pope, including Kincaid Site Defensive Conflict, Kincaid Site Conflict Evidence.
How many historic places are in Pope?
2 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Pope, Illinois.
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