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Stephenson County, Illinois | |
Stephenson County Courthouse
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Location in the state of Illinois | |
Illinois's location in the U.S. | |
Founded | 1837 |
---|---|
Named for | Benjamin Stephenson |
Seat | Freeport |
Largest city | Freeport |
Area - Total - Land - Water |
565 sq mi (1,463 km²) 565 sq mi (1,463 km²) 0.5 sq mi (1 km²), 0.09 |
Population - (2020) - Density |
44,630 |
Congressional district | 17th |
Time zone | Central: UTC-6/-5 |
Website | www.co.stephenson.il.us |
Stephenson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States Census, it had a population of 44,630.[1] Its county seat is Freeport.[2]
Stephenson County is included in the Freeport, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rockford-Freeport-Rochelle, IL Combined Statistical Area.
History[]
The land that became Stephenson County was first settled by William Waddams in 1832, who founded Waddams Grove.[3] By 1837, population was sufficient to form Stephenson County, taking land from Jo Daviess and Winnebago counties. The county was named for Colonel Benjamin Stephenson, an official of the Illinois Territory.[4]
Geography[]
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 565 square miles (1,460 km2), of which 565 square miles (1,460 km2) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km2) (0.09%) is water.[5]
Climate and weather[]
Climate chart for Freeport, Illinois | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
1.33
25
9
|
1.33
31
14
|
2.14
43
25
|
3.23
57
36
|
3.96
69
47
|
4.46
78
57
|
3.57
82
62
|
4.11
80
59
|
3.67
73
50
|
2.58
61
39
|
2.69
44
28
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1.72
30
16
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temperatures in °C • precipitation totals in mm source: The Weather Channel[6] |
In recent years the average temperatures in the county seat of Freeport, have ranged from a low of 9 °F (−13 °C) in January to a high of 82 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −29 °F (−33.9 °C) was recorded in January 2009 and a record high of 101 °F (38 °C) was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.33 inches (34 mm) in January to 4.46 inches (113 mm) in June.[6]
Adjacent counties[]
- Green County, Wisconsin (north)
- Winnebago County (east)
- Ogle County (southeast)
- Carroll County (southwest)
- Jo Daviess County (west)
- Lafayette County, Wisconsin (northwest)
Major highways[]
Demographics[]
Historical populations | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1840 | 2,800 | ||
1850 | 11,666 | 316.6% | |
1860 | 25,112 | 115.3% | |
1870 | 30,608 | 21.9% | |
1880 | 31,963 | 4.4% | |
1890 | 31,338 | −2.0% | |
1900 | 34,933 | 11.5% | |
1910 | 36,821 | 5.4% | |
1920 | 37,743 | 2.5% | |
1930 | 40,064 | 6.1% | |
1940 | 40,646 | 1.5% | |
1950 | 41,595 | 2.3% | |
1960 | 46,207 | 11.1% | |
1970 | 48,861 | 5.7% | |
1980 | 49,536 | 1.4% | |
1990 | 48,052 | −3.0% | |
2000 | 48,979 | 1.9% | |
2010 | 47,711 | −2.6% | |
US Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010-2020[1] |
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 47,711 people, 19,845 households, and 13,015 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was 84.5 inhabitants per square mile (32.6 /km2). There were 22,081 housing units at an average density of 39.1 per square mile (15.1 /km2).[5] The racial makeup of the county was 86.5% white, 9.0% black or African American, 0.6% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.2% from other races, and 2.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 2.9% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 46.6% were German, 12.5% were Irish, 10.0% were English, and 8.0% were American.[12]
Of the 19,845 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.3% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.4% were non-families, and 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 43.1 years.[11]
The median income for a household in the county was $43,304 and the median income for a family was $54,224. Males had a median income of $41,672 versus $29,510 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,608. About 12.3% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.1% of those under age 18 and 7.3% of those age 65 or over.[13]
Education[]
There are five public high schools and one private high Schools in the county: (approximate enrollment included)
Public high schools
- Freeport High 1,254
- Lena-Winslow High 299
- Dakota High 254
- Pearl City High 150
- Orangeville High 142
Private high school
- Aquin Catholic High 93
Communities[]
A northerly look across Stephenson County's western edge from an overlook near Kent
City[]
Town[]
- Dakota
Villages[]
- Cedarville
- Davis
- German Valley
- Lena
- Orangeville
- Pearl City
- Ridott
- Rock City
- Winslow
Census-designated places[]
- Baileyville (part)
- Lake Summerset
- Willow Lake
Unincorporated communities[]
- Afolkey
- Bolton
- Buckhorn Corners
- Buena Vista
- Damascus
- Eleroy
- Evarts
- Florence
- Kent
- Loran
- McConnell
- Oneco
- Red Oak
- Rock Grove
- Scioto Mills
- Waddams Grove
- Winneshiek
- Yellow Creek
Townships[]
- Buckeye
- Dakota
- Erin
- Florence
- Freeport
- Harlem
- Jefferson
- Kent
- Lancaster
- Loran
- Oneco
- Ridott
- Rock Grove
- Rock Run
- Silver Creek
- Waddams
- West Point
- Winslow
Historic Sites[]
- Kellogg's Grove
Politics[]
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 12,521 | 56.63% | 9,055 | 40.95% | 535 | 2.42% |
2016 | 11,083 | 54.48% | 7,768 | 38.19% | 1,492 | 7.33% |
2012 | 10,512 | 49.75% | 10,165 | 48.11% | 451 | 2.13% |
2008 | 9,909 | 45.75% | 11,349 | 52.40% | 399 | 1.84% |
2004 | 12,212 | 57.28% | 8,913 | 41.81% | 195 | 0.91% |
2000 | 10,715 | 55.29% | 8,062 | 41.60% | 601 | 3.10% |
1996 | 8,871 | 48.94% | 7,145 | 39.42% | 2,109 | 11.64% |
1992 | 9,005 | 41.58% | 7,899 | 36.47% | 4,752 | 21.94% |
1988 | 11,342 | 59.87% | 7,460 | 39.38% | 143 | 0.75% |
1984 | 14,237 | 67.37% | 6,723 | 31.82% | 171 | 0.81% |
1980 | 10,779 | 52.87% | 6,195 | 30.39% | 3,414 | 16.75% |
1976 | 11,678 | 61.02% | 7,192 | 37.58% | 267 | 1.40% |
1972 | 13,584 | 67.86% | 6,404 | 31.99% | 31 | 0.15% |
1968 | 11,821 | 59.32% | 7,040 | 35.33% | 1,067 | 5.35% |
1964 | 9,252 | 46.02% | 10,854 | 53.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 13,872 | 63.07% | 8,055 | 36.62% | 68 | 0.31% |
1956 | 14,245 | 69.10% | 6,349 | 30.80% | 20 | 0.10% |
1952 | 14,446 | 68.51% | 6,605 | 31.32% | 35 | 0.17% |
1948 | 10,564 | 58.29% | 7,409 | 40.88% | 149 | 0.82% |
1944 | 11,948 | 60.28% | 7,755 | 39.13% | 118 | 0.60% |
1940 | 14,040 | 60.92% | 8,911 | 38.67% | 94 | 0.41% |
1936 | 9,943 | 46.59% | 10,567 | 49.51% | 832 | 3.90% |
1932 | 8,963 | 44.38% | 10,728 | 53.11% | 507 | 2.51% |
1928 | 11,992 | 67.97% | 5,579 | 31.62% | 72 | 0.41% |
1924 | 8,638 | 53.27% | 2,452 | 15.12% | 5,126 | 31.61% |
1920 | 9,570 | 74.64% | 2,772 | 21.62% | 479 | 3.74% |
1916 | 8,620 | 58.39% | 5,463 | 37.00% | 681 | 4.61% |
1912 | 3,476 | 38.37% | 3,850 | 42.49% | 1,734 | 19.14% |
1908 | 4,605 | 50.93% | 4,076 | 45.08% | 360 | 3.98% |
1904 | 4,876 | 56.63% | 3,275 | 38.03% | 460 | 5.34% |
1900 | 4,677 | 52.49% | 3,983 | 44.70% | 250 | 2.81% |
1896 | 4,728 | 54.16% | 3,776 | 43.26% | 225 | 2.58% |
1892 | 3,574 | 46.76% | 3,717 | 48.63% | 352 | 4.61% |
See also[]
- List of counties in Illinois
- List of Illinois county name etymologies
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Stephenson County, Illinois
References[]
- ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17177.html.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx.
- ^ (October 1934) "Historical News". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society 27 (3).
- ^ "Fifteenth Judicial Circuit". State of Illinois. http://www.state.il.us/court/CircuitCourt/CircuitMap/15th.asp#Stephenson.
- ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17177.
- ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Freeport IL". The Weather Channel. http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0434.
- ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf.
- ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17177.
- ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17177.
- ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17177.
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS.
External links[]
- Stephenson County
- Benjamin Stephenson House Restoration Project
- Stephenson County Historical Society & Museum
- Freeport/Stephenson County Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Illinois Ancestors Stephenson Tombstone Project
- Genealogy Trails for Stephenson County
- Illinois High School Association – School Enrollments
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Lafayette County, Wisconsin | Green County, Wisconsin | ![]() | |
Jo Daviess County | Winnebago County | |||
![]() ![]() Stephenson County, Illinois | ||||
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Carroll County | Ogle County |
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