The Town Files

Richland County, Illinois

15,598 people. The median home is worth $112,000 (typical Illinois town: $156,600) and the median household earns $62,455.

Towns in Richland County

Towns in Richland County

TownPeopleMedian homeIncomeMedian age
Olney8,701$99,800$59,98041.0

People and housing

Richland CountyTypical Illinois town
Median home value$112,000$156,600
Median rent$805$960
Median household income$62,455$72,500
Median age42.340.4
Bachelor's degree or higher19.1%21.8%
Below the poverty line12.1%9.9%

Jobs and pay

5,834 jobs in 2024, average pay $50,035 a year.

Largest industries in Richland CountyTransportation & warehousing1,247 jobs · $53,652Health care & social assistan…945 jobs · $67,790Retail692 jobs · $35,059Hotels & restaurants521 jobs · $18,139Manufacturing377 jobs · $59,299Finance & insurance243 jobs · $68,831
BLS QCEW 2024.
Unemployment rate in Richland County0%2%4%6%8%10%12%2000200420082012201620202023 4.2%
BLS LAUS via USDA ERS, annual averages.

Storms since 1996

NOAA recorded 236 storm events in Richland County from 1996 to 2026, with 1 deaths.

Storm events in Richland County by type since 1996Hail35Heat8Flood6Drought8Tornado11High Wind6Heavy Snow10Flash Flood32Winter Storm11Excessive Heat6
NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database.

Federal disaster declarations

Richland County has been included in 8 FEMA declarations since 1953.

DeclaredIncidentDeclaration
March 26, 2020BiologicalDR-4489: Covid-19 Pandemic
March 13, 2020BiologicalEM-3435: Covid-19
March 17, 2011SnowstormDR-1960: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm
September 7, 2005HurricaneEM-3230: Hurricane Katrina Evacuation
February 1, 2005SnowstormEM-3199: Record/Near Record Snow
May 21, 2002TornadoDR-1416: Severe Storms, Tornadoes And Flooding
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2020–2024; BLS QCEW and LAUS; NOAA Storm Events; FEMA OpenFEMA (not endorsed by FEMA).