Poorest County in the State

Jackson County is, according to this. I'd have guessed one of the counties south of us. However, our high proportion of poor college students likely has a lot to do with the results.

13. JACKSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS

> County median household income: $32,681
> State median household income: $57,166
> Poverty rate: 32.3%
> Unemployment: 6.6%

Jackson is the poorest county in Illinois. Higher educational attainment typically correlates with higher incomes. However, more than one in three adults in the area have at least a bachelor’s degree, higher than the statewide college attainment rate of 31.9%. As in the poorest counties in most other states, Jackson's poverty rate of 32.3% is more than double the corresponding statewide rate.