Mount Sterling

History

Mount Sterling was organized in 1854. It did not have a courthouse until 1868, although it was designated the county seat from when the county was organized. Mount Sterling was one of several Illinois towns that publicly competed for a new state prison in one of the state's prison sweepstakes competitions. During the 1987 competition, the town of Flora famously produced the "Is We Is or Is We Isn't/Gonna Get Ourselves A Prison" video. Ultimately, Mount Sterling won the 1987 competition and the state constructed the Western Illinois Correctional Center along State Highway 99 a mile south of town. In 1989 immediately prior to opening, the prison hosted a "Spend a night in prison" event for state and local dignitaries and prominent business-owners, an event that ultimately soured some of its participants on the economic value of prisons to small town economies.

Geography

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, Mount Sterling has a total area of , all land.

Race & ethnicity

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  431
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  371
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  350
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  346
• Red-bellied Woodpecker

  Melanerpes carolinus (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  316
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  301
• Downy Woodpecker

  Dryobates pubescens (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  277
• Tufted Titmouse

  Baeolophus bicolor (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  269