It is named for Philip Schuyler, member of the Continental Congress and Senator from New York.

[6] As of the 2010 United States census, there were 7,544 people, 3,040 households, and 2,014 families residing in the county.

[16] The county is located in Illinois's 15th Congressional District and is currently represented by Republican Mary Miller.

In the Illinois General Assembly, the county is split between multiple legislative districts.

The northern portion of the county is located in the 47th legislative district and the 94th house district represented by Senator Neil Anderson and Representative Norine Hammond respectively.

Since 1944, the Democratic candidate has won a majority of the vote in Schuyler County only once (in 1964).