Illinois's 21st congressional district
Encyclopedia
The 21st Congressional District of Illinois was a congressional district
for the United States House of Representatives
in Illinois
. It was eliminated as a result of the 1990 Census
. It was last represented by Jerry Costello
who was redistricted into the 12th District.
Congressional district
A congressional district is “a geographical division of a state from which one member of the House of Representatives is elected.”Congressional Districts are made up of three main components, a representative, constituents, and the specific land area that both the representative and the...
for the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
in Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. It was eliminated as a result of the 1990 Census
United States Census, 1990
The Twenty-first United States Census, conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States to be 248,709,873, an increase of 9.8 percent over the 226,545,805 persons enumerated during the 1980 Census....
. It was last represented by Jerry Costello
Jerry Costello
Jerry Francis Costello is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1988. He is a member of the Democratic Party and the dean of Illinois's 21-member Congressional delegation. The 12th district includes the St. Louis area suburb cities and stretches to deep Southern Illinois.-Early life,...
who was redistricted into the 12th District.
List of representatives
| Representative | Party | Years | District home | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| District created March 4, 1895 | ||||
| Everett J. Murphy Everett J. Murphy Everett Jerome Murphy was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Nashville, Washington County, Illinois, Murphy moved with his parents to Sparta, Illinois.He attended the public and high schools.... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
March 4, 1895 - March 3, 1897 | ||
| Jehu Baker Jehu Baker Jehu Baker was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born near Lexington, Kentucky, Baker moved with his father to Lebanon, Illinois, in 1829.... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
March 4, 1897 - March 3, 1899 | ||
| William A. Rodenberg William A. Rodenberg William August Rodenberg was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born near Chester, Illinois, Rodenberg attended the public schools.He graduated from Central Wesleyan College, Warrenton, Missouri, in 1884.... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
March 4, 1899 - March 3, 1901 | ||
| Fred J. Kern Fred J. Kern Frederick John Kern was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.-Early life:Kern was born on a farm near Millstadt, St. Clair County, Illinois, and attended the public schools of Millstadt, and attended Illinois State Normal University in Normal, Illinois. Kern was employed as a coal miner, and later... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
March 4, 1901 - March 3, 1903 | ||
| Ben F. Caldwell Ben F. Caldwell Ben Franklin Caldwell was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born near Carrollton, Illinois, Caldwell moved to Illinois in April 1853 with his parents, who settled near Chatham, Illinois. He attended the public schools, and thereafter engaged in agricultural pursuits... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
March 4, 1903 - March 3, 1905 | Redistricted from the | |
| Zeno J. Rives Zeno J. Rives Zeno John Rives was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born near Greenfield, Indiana, Rives moved with his parents to Litchfield, Illinois, in 1880.He attended the public schools.He studied law.... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
March 4, 1905 - March 3, 1907 | ||
| Ben F. Caldwell Ben F. Caldwell Ben Franklin Caldwell was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born near Carrollton, Illinois, Caldwell moved to Illinois in April 1853 with his parents, who settled near Chatham, Illinois. He attended the public schools, and thereafter engaged in agricultural pursuits... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
March 4, 1907 - March 3, 1909 | ||
| James M. Graham James McMahon Graham James McMahon Graham was a United States Representative from Illinois. Born in Castleblayney, County Monaghan, Ireland, he immigrated to the United States and settled in Sangamon County, Illinois in 1868... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
March 4, 1909 - March 3, 1915 | ||
| Loren E. Wheeler Loren E. Wheeler Loren Edgar Wheeler was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Havana, Illinois, Wheeler attended the public schools and Graylock Institute, South Williamstown, Massachusetts.... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
March 4, 1915 - March 3, 1923 | ||
| J. Earl Major J. Earl Major James Earl Major was a U.S. Representative from Illinois and a United States federal judge.Born in Donellson, Illinois, Major attended the common and high schools of his native city.... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
March 4, 1923 - March 3, 1925 | ||
| Loren E. Wheeler Loren E. Wheeler Loren Edgar Wheeler was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Havana, Illinois, Wheeler attended the public schools and Graylock Institute, South Williamstown, Massachusetts.... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
March 4, 1925 - March 3, 1927 | ||
| J. Earl Major J. Earl Major James Earl Major was a U.S. Representative from Illinois and a United States federal judge.Born in Donellson, Illinois, Major attended the common and high schools of his native city.... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
March 4, 1927 - March 3, 1929 | ||
| Frank M. Ramey Frank M. Ramey Frank Marion Ramey was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Hillsboro, Illinois, Ramey attended the public schools and was graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1900.... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
March 4, 1929 - March 3, 1931 | ||
| J. Earl Major J. Earl Major James Earl Major was a U.S. Representative from Illinois and a United States federal judge.Born in Donellson, Illinois, Major attended the common and high schools of his native city.... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
March 4, 1931 - October 6, 1933 | Resigned after becoming judge of the US District Court for the Southern District of Illinois | |
| Vacant | October 6, 1933 - January 3, 1935 | |||
| Harry H. Mason Harry H. Mason Harry Howland Mason was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born on a farm in McLean County, near Farmer City, Illinois, Mason moved to Delavan, Tazewell County, with his parents and attended the public schools.... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
January 3, 1935 - January 3, 1937 | ||
| Frank W. Fries Frank W. Fries Frank William Fries was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Hornsby, Cahokia Township, Macoupin County, Illinois, Fries moved with his parents to Gillespie, Illinois, in 1904.He attended the public schools.... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
January 3, 1937 - January 3, 1941 | ||
| George E. Howell George Evan Howell George Evan Howell was a U.S. Representative from Illinois and judge on the United States Court of Claims.Born in Marion, Illinois, Howell attended the public schools at Villa Grove, Illinois.... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
January 3, 1941 - October 5, 1947 | Resigned after becoming judge of the US Court of Claims | |
| Vacant | October 5, 1947 - January 3, 1949 | |||
| Peter F. Mack, Jr. Peter F. Mack, Jr. Peter Francis Mack, Jr. was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in Carlinville, Illinois, Mack attended the public schools and Blackburn College in Carlinville, Illinois, and St. Louis University.... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
January 3, 1949 - January 3, 1963 | ||
| Kenneth J. Gray Kenneth J. Gray Kenneth James Gray was a U.S. Representative from Illinois.Born in West Frankfort, Illinois, Gray attended the West Frankfort and Pope County elementary schools and graduated from Frankfort Community High School. He was owner of Gray Motors, West Frankfort, Illinois from 1942 to 1954... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
January 3, 1963 - January 3, 1973 | Redistricted from the , Redistricted to the | |
| Edward R. Madigan Edward Rell Madigan Edward Rell Madigan was a businessman and a Republican Party politician from Lincoln, Illinois. He served almost twenty years in the United States House of Representatives and was U.S. Secretary of Agriculture for George H. W. Bush.Madigan was born in Lincoln and attended Lincoln [Junior] College... |
Republican Republican Party (United States) The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S... |
January 3, 1973 - January 3, 1983 | Redistricted to the | |
| Melvin Price Charles Melvin Price Charles Melvin Price was a longtime member of the United States House of Representatives. Most notably, he served as the chairman of the United States House Committee on Armed Services between 1975 and 1985. He lost this position at the beginning of the 99th Congress... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
January 3, 1983 - April 22, 1988 | Redistricted from the , Died | |
| Vacant | April 22, 1988 - August 9, 1988 | |||
| Jerry Costello Jerry Costello Jerry Francis Costello is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 1988. He is a member of the Democratic Party and the dean of Illinois's 21-member Congressional delegation. The 12th district includes the St. Louis area suburb cities and stretches to deep Southern Illinois.-Early life,... |
Democratic Democratic Party (United States) The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous... |
August 9, 1988 - January 3, 1993 | Redistricted to the | |
| District inactive January 3, 1993 - Present | ||||