Hillsboro

History

The community was founded in 1823 There is some doubt about the origin of the city's name. The local terrain is quite hilly, as a result of the drainage of the Shoal Creek watershed, causing widespread belief that this is the name's source. Alternatively, there is the belief that it was named for Hillsborough, North Carolina, the home of some of the early settlers, including Hiram Rountree and John Nussman.

Geography

Hillsboro is located south of the center of Montgomery County and is bordered to the east by Schram City and to the south by Taylor Springs. Illinois Route 16 passes through the city center, leading west to Litchfield and northeast to Pana. Illinois Route 127 enters Hillsboro from the northwest with IL 16 but continues south as Vandalia Road; IL 127 leads north-northwest to Raymond and south to Greenville. Vandalia is to the southeast via Illinois Route 185. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Hillsboro has a total area of , of which are land and , or 16.84%, are water. }}

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Turkey Vulture

  Cathartes aura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  281
• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  256
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  253
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  252
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  252
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  240
• House Sparrow

  Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  233
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  218

Largest nearby schools

• Beckemeyer Elem School
  Elementary · Hillsboro · 656 students · 15.3:1 ratio
• Hillsboro High School
  High · Hillsboro · 468 students · 13.8:1 ratio
• Litchfield Senior High School
  High · Litchfield · 411 students · 15.2:1 ratio
• Hillsboro Jr High School
  Middle · Hillsboro · 345 students · 13.3:1 ratio
• Litchfield Middle School
  Middle · Litchfield · 246 students · 10.3:1 ratio
• Russell Elem School
  Elementary · Litchfield · 192 students · 14.8:1 ratio
• Madison Park Elem School
  Elementary · Litchfield · 179 students · 14.9:1 ratio
• J D Colt Elem School
  Elementary · Litchfield · 178 students · 13.7:1 ratio

Most recent

• M 3.8 — 2026-01-20
  4 km NW of Ohlman, Illinois
• M 2.81 — 2024-03-28
  1 km NNE of Germantown, Illinois
• M 2.58 — 2023-10-26
  6 km SSE of Herrick, Illinois
• M 3.12 — 2017-07-01
  9 km SSE of Mulberry Grove, Illinois
• M 2.7 — 2005-12-06
  3 km SW of Irvington, Illinois
• M 2.9 — 2004-09-05
  3 km WNW of Saint Peter, Illinois