Brown County, Illinois
According to the 2000 Census, Brown County, Illinois has a population of 6,950 people. Of those, 5,580 (80%) are White, 1,265 (18%) are Black, and 273 (4%) are Latino[1]. However, 1,912 (or 28% of the 6,950 people) are not residents by choice but are people in prison.
Even though prisoners cannot participate in the local community, the Census Bureau nevertheless counts them as residents of the county where they are incarcerated.
A more accurate description would not include the prisoners. This would give Brown County a population of 5,038 with a demographic that is 99% White, 0% Black, and 1% Latino.
| Reported in Census 2000 |
Incarcerated population |
Actual population |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Total | 6,950 | 1,912 | 5,038 |
| White | 5,580 | 610 | 4,970 |
| Black | 1,265 | 1,260 | 5 |
| Latino | 273 | 236 | 37 |
Notes:
[1]The numbers for Whites, Blacks and Latinos may not add up to the total number because we have not included racial groups other than Whites and Blacks and because the Census Bureau considers "Latino" to be an ethnicity, not a race. Most of the people reported as being Latino are also counted as being White or Black.
Recommended Reading:
About the Prison Policy Initiative
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The Racial Geography of Mass Incarceration
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