Introduction
Calhoun County, with the county seat of Hardin, is the third-least populated county in Illinois with just 5,089 residents as of the last U.S. Census. Calhoun County is at the tip of the peninsula formed by the courses of the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers and is almost completely surrounded by water. Calhoun County is named for Vice President John C. Calhoun and the prominent Calhoun family which resided in the area in the 1820’s.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census, Calhoun County, a narrow 37-mile long peninsula, has a total of 284 square miles, of which 254 square miles is land and 30 square miles is water. Calhoun County is a major producer of peaches, as well as corn and other crops, as well as attracting thousands of migratory birds as part of the Mississippi Flyaway. Northern Calhoun County is home to the Center for American Archaeology which allows students and adults to participate in archaeological digs regarding the indigenous culture in the area.
Major Highways
Calhoun County is nestled between the Mississippi and Illinois rivers, making travel easiest by ferry. If crossing the Illinois River, the Brussels Ferry or the Kampsville Ferry is free of charge. Crossing the Mississippi River comes at a fee when using the Golden Eagle Ferry. The only bridge access to Calhoun County is in Hardin utilizing the Joe Paige Lift Bridge, which spans the Illinois River and connects to land routes in the north.
Known for Calhoun County peaches and apples, the multiple farms, orchards, and changing leaves in the area draw many day-trippers who visit by car, boat, bicycle, motorcycle, and tour busses. Unfortunately, this also means that motor vehicle accidents are common including agricultural truck accidents, work zone accidents, motorcycle accidents, and bicycle accidents.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in 2017, Calhoun County had 114 motor vehicle accidents. Of these accidents, zero (0) were fatal, 18 resulted in injuries, and 3 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 Calhoun County include: Illinois Route 16, Illinois Route 96, Illinois Route 100, and Illinois Route 108.
Climate and Weather
Calhoun County weather is typical for Illinois, with highs averaging 90 °F during the summer months and lows averaging 19 °F during winter. On average, Calhoun County gets 38.1 of measurable precipitation in the form of rain, snow, or hail, which not only contributes to motor vehicle accidents, but also slip and falls, pedestrian accidents, and bicycle accidents.
Demographics
Calhoun County has approximately 2,085 households with 59.2% of these households consisting of married couples and 28.1% with children under the age of 18. The median household income in Calhoun County is $44,891 with the median income for families being $57,627, making Calhoun County a middle-class, family-oriented community.
Calhoun 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.
Calhoun 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
Villages: Batchtown, Brussels, Hamburg, Hardin, Kampsville
Unincorporated Communities: Beechville, Belleview, Deer Plain, Gilead, Golden Eagle, Meppen, Michael, Mozier
Education
Calhoun County is home to two school districts.
- Brussels Community Unit School District 42
- Calhoun Community Unit School District 40
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
Calhoun County has many activities and attractions to offer its residents and visitors, including:
- Brussels Historic Village Jail
- Two Rivers National Wildlife Refuge
- Center for American Archaeology
- Calhoun County Historical Society Museum
- Village of Kampsville Campground
- Grafton Harbor Floating Winery
- Grafton Winery and Brewhaus
- The Winery at Aerie’s Resort
While most of the time spent at these attractions will be enjoyable and uneventful, accidents can occur, including slip and falls, dog bites, drunk driving accidents, bicycle accidents, swimming, boating, and drowning accidents, camping injuries, and motor vehicle accidents.
Agruss Personal Injury: People, First
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