Elk Township is one of sixteen townships in Jackson County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2020 census, its population was 1,746 and it contained 849 housing units.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

Town numbers

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Living in Elk

Work & commute in Elk

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Most working residents leave Elk for work: only 3% work in town. The top destinations are Carbondale (22%), Murphysboro (9%) and Du Quoin (7%). Half commute less than 14 miles.

Carbondale

22%

Murphysboro

Du Quoin

Marion

3%Work in townlive and work in Elk 14 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 128Jobs based herea commuter town

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Elk →

Health in Elk

C⁻

Health Grade C−

Healthier than 19% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 54% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Illinois

15worse than IL

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 17 are too close to call.

Conditions 10▼ 2 close Habits 1▼ 3 close Care 1▼ 6 close Mind 3▼ 2 close Everyday needs all close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

10.3%More adults with COPDIL 6.3% · worse 17.7%More smokersIL 12.1% · worse 14.8%More older adults who have lost all their teethIL 10.3% · worse

Care nearby

Marshall Browning HospitalDu Quoin · 8.3 mi · ER · rural critical access

Rea Clinic - Du QuoinDu Quoin · 5 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · ZIP codes 62932, 62927, 62832 · CMS · HRSAHealth in Elk →

Natural hazards in Elk

Very high

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 84% of U.S. communities.

🏚️ Earthquakes🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves

12Does Elk flood?paid flood claims since 1993 NoneDisasters that paid out hereof 13 declared for Jackson County MapElk vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Elk →

Climate in Elk

Full climate →

Elk has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 88°, a January night drops to 24°, and about 12 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

44° / 27°Winter

67° / 45°Spring

87° / 65°Summer

69° / 46°Fall

How much snow does Elk get?About 12 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 22, with the last in spring around Apr 6.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+0.9° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Elk →

Schools in Elk

All Elk schools →

B⁻

School Grade B-

The public schools Elk’s kids attend trail 52% of Illinois’s districts on state tests. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

DistrictElverado CUSD 196Schools2

Elverado Primary SchoolElementary · Grades PK–2 · 102 students Elverado High School C-High · Grades 9–12 · 102 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results, graded within IL. Ratings are from neighbors.