Wayne County Public RecordsIllinois

Wayne County, IL has approximately 8 public schools, including Wayne City High School and Fairfield Community High School. The high school graduation rate is around 88%, while about 13% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. School safety is rated average, with minimal major incidents reported annually. Average standardized test scores fall slightly below the state average. Adult education opportunities include community college partnerships and GED programs. Educational programs feature agriculture, vocational training, and dual credit classes for high school students, supporting both college-bound and career-focused learners in the county.

Wayne County, IL has an employment rate of approximately 55.4%. Major industries include health care and social assistance (20.8%), retail trade (14.7%), and education services (13.9%). The most common occupations are in management, business, science, and arts (27.1%), followed by service occupations (22.4%). About 80% of workers commute by car, with an average commute time of 21.2 minutes; 77.7% work within the county while others travel to neighboring areas. The unemployment rate hovers around 4.9% as of early 2024.

Wayne County, IL, has a homeownership rate of around 76%, with median home values near $82,000 and typical monthly rents about $700. The housing market trends stable, with modest appreciation of roughly 2% annually. Most properties are single-family homes; neighborhoods like Fairfield offer affordable housing options. Property taxes average 1.6% of assessed value, equating to about $1,300 annually for a median-priced home. Rental options are limited but available in towns.

Wayne County, IL, has a relatively low crime rate compared to state averages. According to the latest available statistics, the overall crime rate is around 900 incidents per 100,000 residents annually, with violent crime accounting for about 110 incidents and property crime for roughly 790 incidents. The local sheriff’s department actively reports and monitors crime through regular public updates. In recent years, there has been a slight decrease in reported offenses. Most crimes are non-violent, and community policing efforts have contributed to maintaining public safety.

Wayne County, IL, has approximately 11,000 registered voters as of 2024. Elections include local, state, and federal offices, with recent turnout averaging around 55%. The two main parties are Republican and Democrat, with Republicans typically receiving over 65% of the vote in general elections. There are 15 polling locations across the county. Key issues include agriculture, tax policy, and infrastructure. Elections are administered by the County Clerk’s office. In the 2022 general election, Republican candidates won most races by margins of 40% or more, reflecting the county’s conservative lean.

As of the 2020 Census, Wayne County, Illinois, had a population of 16,179. The median age was 44.8 years, with 20.1% under 18 and 21.2% aged 65 or older. The gender split was approximately 49.5% male and 50.5% female. Racially, the county was 96.9% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.8% two or more races, and 1.2% Hispanic or Latino of any race.