Introduction
Jefferson County, with the county seat of Mount Vernon, has a population of 38,827 according to the most recent U.S. Census. The county is named in honor of Thomas Jefferson, who drafted the Northwest Ordinance.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Jefferson County has a total area of 584 square miles, of which 571 square miles consists of land and 13 square miles is water.
Major Highways
Jefferson County has a strong agricultural presence and many residents working in the medical field, farming, manufacturing, transportation, and retail, keeping its roadways busy. Unfortunately, this also means that motor vehicle accidents are common including agricultural truck accidents, parking and parking lot accidents, work zone accidents, car and truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and accidents involving animals.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in 2017, Jefferson County had 997 motor vehicle accidents. Of these accidents, 10 were fatal, 223 resulted in injuries, and 61 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 Jefferson County include: Interstate 57, Interstate 64, U.S. Highway 51, Illinois Route 15, Illinois Route 37, Illinois Route 142, and Illinois Route 148.
Climate and Weather
Jefferson County weather is typical for Illinois, with highs averaging 88 °F during the summer months and lows averaging 19 °F during winter. On average, Jefferson County gets 42.3 inches 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
Jefferson County has approximately 15,365 households with 50.0% of these households consisting of married couples and 30.1% with children under the age of 18. The median household income of Jefferson County is $41,161 and the median income for families is $51,262, making Jefferson County a middle-class, family-oriented community.
Jefferson 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.
Jefferson 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
Cities: Mount Vernon, Nason
Villages: Belle Rive, Bluford, Bonnie, Dix, Ina, Waltonville, Woodlawn
Census-Designated Place: Opdyke
Unincorporated Communities: Bakerville, Boyd, Camp Ground, Cravat, Divide, Drivers, Idlewood, Harmony, Marcoe, Marlow, Miller Lake, Roaches, Scheller, Summersville, Texico
Townships: Bald Hill, Blissville, Casner, Dodds, Elk Prairie, Farrington, Field, Grand Prairie, McClellan, Moore’s Prairie, Mt. Vernon, Pendleton, Rome, Shiloh, Spring Garden, Webber
Education
Public Schools
- Bethel School District 82
- Bluford Community Consolidated School District 114
- Farrington Community Consolidated School District 99
- Field Community Consolidated School District 3
- Grand Prairie Community Consolidated School District 6
- McClellan Community Consolidated School District 12
- Mount Vernon School District 80
- Mount Vernon Township High School District 201
- Opdyke-Belle Rive Community Consolidated School District 5
- Rome Community Consolidated School District 2
- Spring Garden School District 178
- Summersville School District 79
- Waltonville Community Unit School District 1
- Webber Township High School District 204
- Woodlawn Community Consolidated School District 4
- Woodlawn Community High School District 205
Colleges and Universities
- Rend Lake Community College District 521
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
Jefferson County has many activities and attractions to offer its residents and visitors, including:
- Rend Lake
- Cedarhurst Center for the Arts
- Wayne Fitzgerrell State Park
- O’Daniel Lodge Lake
- Aquatic Zoo Water Park
- Jefferson County Historical Village
- Mt Vernon City Park Office
While most of the time spent at these attractions will be enjoyable and uneventful, accidents can occur, including slip and falls, drowning accidents, dog bites, drunk driving, bicycle accidents, and motor vehicle accidents.
Agruss Personal Injury: People, First
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at work we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at America’s Consumer Lawyer, we put people first.
