Wayne County, Illinois

Founding: 1819
Parent county: Edwards

Namesake: Anthony Wayne, Continental Army general
Seat: Fairfield (1821–)

Land area: 714 square miles

Population (2020): 16,179

Population (historic): 1,114 (1820); 6,825 (1850); 19,758 (1870); 27,626 (1900); 19,130 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1820–1900; 1930s; 1970s

Subdivisions: One city; nine villages; 20 townships

National Register listings: Three

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,156 (14.5%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 26.7%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 17.8%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 12.3%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $810
Average outbuilding value (1930): $554

Average farmhouse size (1940): 4.8 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 3,769
Average farm size (1920): 92.6 acres
Sources of settlement: Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee
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Fairfield

Namesake: A traditional name

Founding: 1819 (platting); 1820 (post office)

Population (2020): 4,883

Population (historic): 195 (1850); 719 (1870); 1,881 (1890); 2,479 (1910); 3,280 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1960; 1970s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 365 (13.2%)
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