De Soto is a village in Jackson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,407 at the 2020 census. It is named for Hernando de Soto, the discoverer of the Mississippi River.

De Soto is located in northeastern Jackson County at 37°48′56″N 89°13′41″W / 37.815660°N 89.228184°W / 37.815660; -89.228184. U.S. Route 51 passes through the center of the village, leading north 13 miles (21 km) to Du Quoin and south 6 miles (10 km) to Carbondale. Illinois Route 149 crosses US-51 in the village center, leading southwest 7 miles (11 km) to Murphysboro, the Jackson county seat, and east 5 miles (8 km) to Hurst.

According to the 2021 census gazetteer files, De Soto has a total area of 0.92 square miles (2.38 km), of which 0.91 square miles (2.36 km) (or 98.70%) is land and 0.01 square miles (0.03 km) (or 1.30%) is water. The Big Muddy River, a tributary of the Mississippi River, flows to the east and south of the village limits.

De Soto was laid out in 1854 when the railroad was extended to that point. The village's name honors Hernando de Soto (c. 1496/1497–1542), a Spanish conquistador who explored the region in 1541-2. A post office has been in operation at De Soto since 1855.

De Soto was largely destroyed by the Great Tri-State Tornado of 1925. Sixty-nine people died in De Soto when approximately 30% of the town was destroyed, and of this total 33 were children at a local school that collapsed from the winds. The tornado affected Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 and injuring over 2,000.

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	376		—
1900	560		48.9%
1910	644		15.0%
1920	703		9.2%
1930	673		−4.3%
1940	656		−2.5%
1950	646		−1.5%
1960	723		11.9%
1970	966		33.6%
1980	1,589		64.5%
1990	1,500		−5.6%
2000	1,653		10.2%
2010	1,590		−3.8%
2020	1,407		−11.5%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the 2020 census there were 1,407 people, 645 households, and 401 families residing in the village. The population density was 1,522.73 inhabitants per square mile (587.93/km). There were 708 housing units at an average density of 766.23 per square mile (295.84/km). The racial makeup of the village was 87.49% White, 4.12% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.00% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.78% from other races, and 7.18% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.20% of the population.

There were 645 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.90% were married couples living together, 15.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.83% were non-families. 28.68% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.39% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.93 and the average family size was 2.42.

The village's age distribution consisted of 24.0% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 29.3% from 45 to 64, and 13.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 108.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 108.6 males.

The median income for a household in the village was $44,744, and the median income for a family was $65,216. Males had a median income of $35,635 versus $27,703 for females. The per capita income for the village was $23,418. About 5.7% of families and 17.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.5% of those under age 18 and 21.4% of those age 65 or over.

• Village of DeSoto official website