Hardin County

Hardin County is the least populous county in the state of Illinois with a population of 3,649. It is growing smaller. In 2010, Hardin County had a population of 4,320, which is a loss of 18 percent of the population.

What is a growing number of the population is adults age 65 and over who make up 26.7 percent of the rural county. They are aging in place: more than 88 percent of the population has lived in the same house as 1 year ago.

Veteran status is 10.8 percent or about 1.5 times the rate in the United States at 7.3 percent

In the 1870s, it was discovered that fluorspar, which is the industrial name for fluorite, was useful in removing impurities during the steel production process. This created a fluorite mining boom in this region of Southern Illinois. While fluorite is no longer mined in the U.S., the American Fluorite Museum, located in the former office building of the Rosiclare Lead and Fluoride Mining Company, holds memorabilia as a reminder of this era of local history. During the first week of October, Hardin County celebrates the Fluorspar Festival.

Persons living below the poverty line, 13.1 percent, is a little higher than the rate in Illinois (12.5 percent) and a little less than the rate in the United States (13.4 percent).

Because of its small population size, the Hardin County Public School District houses its K-12 students in one building

The high school graduation rate is 79.6 percent, which is below the national average of 88 percent. Even fewer adults have a Bachelor's degree or higher: 10.8 percent.

Households subscribing to broadband Internet service is 76 percent for Hardin County compared to the national average of 88.3 percent.

Hardin County is faring worse than the average county in Illinois for Health Outcomes, and worse than the average county in the nation.

The Hardin County General Hospital and Clinic, the critical access hospital for the county, released its  Community Health Needs Assessment  in 2020. The report identified four priorities and developed a strategy for implementing ways to meet those health care needs.

1. Improve mental health and behavioral health services
2. Substance abuse prevention/education and treatment
3. Address chronic health conditions
4. Focus on lifestyle/dietary education services

Persons under age 65 years living with a disability is 16.4 percent (double the rate in the United States)

Click on the icon image to learn more about a school, library, clinic, or hospital.