Brown County Demographics

A map of Brown County's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	4,686	4,764	74.1%	76.3%
Black	1,123	1,035	17.8%	16.6%
Hispanic	424	282	6.7%	4.5%
Multiracial	83	143	1.3%	2.3%
Asian	3	11	0.0%	0.2%
Native American/Other	3	9	0.0%	0.1%

Brown County, Illinois has an estimated population of 6,322, a slight increase from the 6,244 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 74.1% White, 17.8% Black, 6.7% Hispanic, 1.3% Multiracial, 0.0% Asian, and 0.0% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Brown County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Brown has become more racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Illinois overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Brown County, that probability was 38.8% in 2020 and 41.4% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Brown County is ranked the 91st most populous county in Illinois, out of 102 counties. Brown County was ranked the 93rd most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Brown County's White Population

4,686 residents of Brown County, or 74.1% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Brown County is significantly higher than in Illinois overall, where 58.1% of the population is White. Brown County ranks 81st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Brown County's White population has declined by an estimated 1.6%. White residents' share of Brown County's population has decreased from 76.3% to 74.1%.

Brown County is less White than neighboring Schuyler County (90.2% White), Pike County (94.7% White), Scott County (95.4% White), Adams County (90% White), and McDonough County (85.2% White).

Brown County's Black Population

1,123 residents of Brown County, or 17.8% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Brown County is slightly higher than in Illinois overall, where 13.3% of the population is Black. Brown County ranks 7th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Brown County's Black population has grown by an estimated 8.5%. Black residents' share of Brown County's population has increased from 16.6% to 17.8%.

Brown County is more Black than neighboring Schuyler County (3.7% Black), Pike County (0.6% Black), Scott County (1% Black), Adams County (2.8% Black), and McDonough County (5.6% Black).

Brown County's Asian Population

3 residents of Brown County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Brown County is lower than in Illinois overall, where 5.9% of the population is Asian. Brown County ranks 96th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Brown County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 72.7%. Asian residents' share of Brown County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Brown County is less Asian than neighboring Schuyler County (0.6% Asian), Pike County (0.3% Asian), Scott County (0.4% Asian), Adams County (0.7% Asian), and McDonough County (2.1% Asian).

Brown County's Hispanic Population

424 residents of Brown County, or 6.7% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Brown County is considerably lower than in Illinois overall, where 18.8% of the population is Hispanic. Brown County ranks 36th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Brown County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 50.4%. Hispanic residents' share of Brown County's population has increased from 4.5% to 6.7%.

Brown County is more Hispanic than neighboring Schuyler County (2.7% Hispanic), Pike County (2.1% Hispanic), Scott County (1.6% Hispanic), Adams County (2.1% Hispanic), and McDonough County (3.5% Hispanic).

Brown County's Native American/Other Population

3 residents of Brown County, or 0.0% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Brown County is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Brown County ranks 100th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Brown County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 66.7%. Native American/Other residents' share of Brown County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.0%.

Brown County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Pike County (0.4% Native American/Other), Scott County (0.1% Native American/Other), Adams County (0.3% Native American/Other), and McDonough County (0.5% Native American/Other).

Brown County's Multiracial Population

83 residents of Brown County, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Brown County is slightly lower than in Illinois overall, where 3.4% of the population is Multiracial. Brown County ranks 97th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 102 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Brown County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 42.0%. Multiracial residents' share of Brown County's population has decreased from 2.3% to 1.3%.

Brown County is less Multiracial than neighboring Schuyler County (2.7% Multiracial), Pike County (2% Multiracial), Scott County (1.4% Multiracial), Adams County (4.1% Multiracial), and McDonough County (3.1% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.