sentences:  Their descendants today comprise nearly one-third of the population of the county.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.9%) is water.In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Metropolis have ranged from a low of in January to a high of in July, although a record low of was recorded in January 1984 and a record high of was recorded in July 1999.