2026 · Locust Township highway building 2026-07-03 · Wikimedia Commons
Locust’s story
161 years in pictures
2 postcards, papers and photographs from public archives.
- 1865Locust is settled
- 2026Locust Township highway building 2026-07-03
LocustIL
A town of 3,133, settled in 1865. Healthier than 63% of U.S. towns.
4 bordering townsMap →
Photo: User:Visviva · CC BY-SA 4.0
Population
3,133
+71.9% since 2010
Median home value
$152K
Census ACS
Household income
$71K
median
Median age
43.8
years
Jobs based here
318
A commuter town
What makes Locust stand out
The thing Locust does most differently from other towns.
A growing town
Locust has grown 71.9% since 2010
1,825 people in 2010; 3,133 today.
U.S. Census 2010 & 2020 · ACS
Locust’s report card
Now in Locust
Be the first to start the conversation.
Residents weigh in
Locust is #819 of 820 in IL for “Most walkable”. Fair?
Your answer becomes a post in Locust’s Town Square.
Start a conversation
The data
Ordered by what stands out in Locust. Another town gets a different order.
Work & commute
Most working residents commute out of Locust
Most working residents leave Locust for work: only 1% work in town. The top destinations are Assumption (9%), Pana (8%) and Springfield (7%). Half commute less than 32 miles.
1%work in town
Where working residents work
In Locust1%
Assumption9%
Pana8%
Springfield7%
Taylorville7%
32 mi
median commute distance
318
jobs based in Locust
A commuter town
jobs vs. working residents
Census LEHD 2023 · ACSCommute map →
Health
Healthier than 37% of U.S. towns
Locust beats the Illinois average on 1 of 32 CDC measures and trails it on 9.
C+Health Grade
32 measures vs. Illinois
1 better22 too close to call9 worse
| What stands out | Locust | IL |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer uninsured adults | 8% | 9.9% |
| More adults with COPD | 9.1% | 6.3% |
Taylorville Memorial Hospital
7.6 mi away · emergency room
3 of 3
care shortages: primary care, dental, mental health
24th
percentile among IL towns
CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CMS · HRSAFull health report →
Climate
Four seasons, pleasant summers
Locust has chilly winters and warm summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 86°, a January night drops to 20°, and about 15 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.
15″snow a winter
Typical low → high °F
Winter23–39°
Spring43–64°
Summer64–85°
Fall44–66°
Oct 23
typical first frost
Apr 17
typical last frost
+1.0°
vs. the 20th-century average
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Full climate →
Natural hazards
Moderate risk, with inland flooding at the top
Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 42% of U.S. communities.
42risk score of 100
FEMA risk score
Inland floodingCold wavesEarthquakes
FEMA National Risk Index · OpenFEMANatural hazards →
A commuter town
99% of working residents leave Locust for work
Where Locust’s working residents go each day. Line width shows the share.
318jobs based in Locust
1%of working residents work in town
32 mimedian commute distance
Census LEHD 2023
About Locust
Township in Illinois, United States
Locust Township is one of seventeen townships in Christian County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2020 census, its population was 3,137 and it contained 249 housing units. Taylorville Correctional Center is located in the township.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)
- Established
- 1865
- Population
- 3,137
- Area
- 36 sq mi
- Elevation
- 620 ft
Locust’s neighbors
4 towns share a border with Locust.
More about Locust
Still missing for Locust:local news coverageupcoming events