Introduction
Alexander County is the southernmost county in Illinois and was named for William M. Alexander, a physician that practiced in the first county seat, a town originally named America. Alexander County has an approximate population of 8,238 and the current county seat is Cairo.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Alexander County, whose borders are partially defined by both the Mississippi and Ohio rivers, has a total area of 253 square miles, of which 236 square miles is land and 17 square miles consists of water and is an area rich in agriculture.
Major Highways
Alexander County is home to a handful of major highways that are busy with commuters and truck drivers traveling between Missouri, Illinois, and Kentucky. Because the area is low-lying, with its lowest point in Cairo, just 315 feet above sea level, highways in the area are often closed for extended periods due to flooding of the Mississippi River.
Motor vehicle accidents, including car, truck, motorcycle, and agricultural trucks, are common on Alexander County’s roadways, often due to road hazards, dangerous and defective roads, as well as driver fatigue, distracted driving, and speeding.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in 2017, Alexander County had 102 motor vehicle accidents. Of these accidents, one (1) was fatal, 25 resulted in injuries, and nine (9) of these accidents resulted in A-injuries, or injuries that are classified by IDOT as any injury, other than a fatality, that prevents the injured person from walking, driving, or continuing with the activities they were capable of prior to the accident. This can include severe lacerations, skull and chest injuries, broken limbs, and abdominal injuries.
The major highways that run through Alexander County include: Interstate 57, U.S. Route 51, U.S. Route 60, U.S. Route 62, Illinois Route 3, Illinois Route 37, Illinois Route 127, and Illinois Route 146.
Climate and Weather
Weather in Alexander County typically ranges between a low of 26 ºF in January to a high of 90 ºF in July. On average, Alexander County gets between three (3) and four (4) inches of precipitation per month between September and May, which not only contributes to motor vehicle accidents, but also pedestrian accidents, slip and falls, bicycle accidents, and motorcycle accidents.
Demographics
As of the 2010 U.S. Census, Alexander County is home to 3,329 households and 2,093 families. Of these households, 29.6% had children under the age of 18, and the median income was $44,699, with the majority of the workers in Alexander County employed in sales, office and administrative support, retail, and food services.
The median age of Alexander County residents is 42, although there is a large senior population as well.
Alexander County takes seriously the health and safety of its children, families, and senior residents offering various programs geared towards promoting healthy lifestyles, providing accessible and affordable medical care to lower-income residents, and ensuring that children, adults, and seniors are provided access to any additional help they may require during difficult times.
Alexander County lawyers at America’s Consumer Lawyer can also assist during these difficult times including incidents of nursing home abuse and neglect, motor vehicle accidents, premises accidents, and child accidents, abuse, or neglect.
Communities
City: Cairo
Villages: East Cape Girardeau, McClure, Tamms, Thebes
Census-Designated Place: Olive Branch
Unincorporated Communities: Cache, Elco, Fayville, Future City, Gale, Klondike, Miller City, Urbandale
Education
Alexander County is home to five school districts, which include:
- Cairo Unified School District 1
- Century Community Unit School District 100
- Egyptian Community Unit School District 5
- Meridian Community Unit School District 101
- Shawnee Community Unit School District 84
When sending your child off to school you assume they will remain safe, however, this isn’t always the case. School bus accidents, gym and physical education accidents, lack of supervision, playground injuries, and school district negligence are just a few examples of the types of school injury cases America’s Consumer Lawyer has experience with.
Attractions
Alexander County is home to many outdoor activities, which include:
- Fort Defiance State Park
- Giant City State Park
- Little Grand Canyon
- White Cane Canoe Rentals
- Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour
While most of the time spent at these attractions will be enjoyable and uneventful, accidents can occur, including slip and falls, bicycle accidents, swimming, boating, and drowning accidents, camping injuries, and motor vehicle accidents.
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