Pope County, Illinois

Pope County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°25′N 88°34′W / 37.41°N 88.57°W / 37.41; -88.57
Country United States
State Illinois
Founded1816
Named afterNathaniel Pope
SeatGolconda
Largest cityGolconda
Area
  Total
374 sq mi (970 km2)
  Land369 sq mi (960 km2)
  Water5.5 sq mi (14 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
  Total
3,763
  Density10/sq mi (4/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district12th

Pope County is the southeasternmost county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it had a population of 3,763, making it the second-least populous county in Illinois. Its county seat is Golconda. The county was organized in 1816 from portions of Gallatin and Johnson counties and named after Nathaniel Pope, a politician and jurist from the Illinois Territory and State of Illinois.