Ogle County, Illinois source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ogle_County,_Illinois

Ogle County, Illinois
Oregon Il Ogle County Courthouse16.jpg
Map of Illinois highlighting Ogle County
Location in the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location in the U.S.
Founded January 16, 1836
Named for Joseph Ogle
Seat Oregon
Largest city Rochelle
Area
 • Total 763 sq mi (1,976 km2)
 • Land 759 sq mi (1,966 km2)
 • Water 4.4 sq mi (11 km2), 0.6%
Population
 • (2010) 53,497
 • Density 71/sq mi (27/km²)
Congressional district 16th
Time zone Central: UTC-6/-5
Website www.oglecounty.org

Ogle County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 53,497.[1] Its county seat is Oregon,[2] and its largest city is Rochelle.

Ogle County comprises Rochelle, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rockford-Freeport-Rochelle, IL Combined Statistical Area.

History[edit]

Ogle County was formed in 1836 out of Jo Daviess and LaSalle counties, and named in honor of Captain Joseph Ogle, a veteran of the Revolutionary War who came to Illinois in 1785. Ogle did not have an organized government until 1837, so for a year it remained attached to Jo Daviess County.[3] The county was divided three years later in 1839, when Lee County was formed.

Ogle County was a New England settlement. The original founders of Oregon and Rochelle consisted entirely of settlers from New England. These people were "Yankees", that is to say they were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the 1600s. They were part of a wave of New England farmers who headed west into what was then the wilds of the Northwest Territory during the early 1800s. Most of them arrived as a result of the completion of the Erie Canal. When they arrived in what is now Ogle County there was nothing but a virgin forest and wild prairie, the New Englanders laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings and established post routes. They brought with them many of their Yankee New England values, such as a passion for education, establishing many schools as well as staunch support for abolitionism. They were mostly members of the Congregationalist Church though some were Episcopalian. Culturally Ogle County, like much of northern Illinois would be culturally very continuous with early New England culture, for most of its history.[4][5]

  • Ogle County between 1836 and 1839

  • Ogle County in 1839, reduced to its present borders by the creation of Lee County

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 763 square miles (1,980 km2), of which 759 square miles (1,970 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (0.6%) is water.[6]

Climate[edit]

Oregon, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
1.6
 
 
26
10
 
 
1.4
 
 
32
15
 
 
2.6
 
 
44
27
 
 
3.6
 
 
58
37
 
 
4.3
 
 
70
48
 
 
4.9
 
 
79
58
 
 
3.5
 
 
82
62
 
 
4.5
 
 
80
60
 
 
3.3
 
 
73
51
 
 
2.7
 
 
62
39
 
 
2.8
 
 
45
28
 
 
2.1
 
 
31
17
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[7]

In recent years, average temperatures in Oregon have ranged from a low of 10 °F (−12 °C) in January to a high of 82 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −27 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of 110 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.43 inches (36 mm) in February to 4.88 inches (124 mm) in June.[7]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1840 3,479 —
1850 10,020 188.0%
1860 22,888 128.4%
1870 27,492 20.1%
1880 29,937 8.9%
1890 28,710 −4.1%
1900 29,129 1.5%
1910 27,864 −4.3%
1920 26,830 −3.7%
1930 28,118 4.8%
1940 29,869 6.2%
1950 33,429 11.9%
1960 38,106 14.0%
1970 42,867 12.5%
1980 46,338 8.1%
1990 45,957 −0.8%
2000 51,032 11.0%
2010 53,497 4.8%
Est. 2016 51,273 [8] −4.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 53,497 people, 20,856 households, and 14,711 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 70.5 inhabitants per square mile (27.2/km2). There were 22,561 housing units at an average density of 29.7 per square mile (11.5/km2).[6] The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% white, 0.9% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 3.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.9% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 38.0% were German, 15.3% were Irish, 10.2% were English, 6.4% were American, 5.3% were Swedish, and 5.3% were Norwegian.[14]

Of the 20,856 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.5% were non-families, and 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 40.7 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $55,733 and the median income for a family was $64,927. Males had a median income of $49,996 versus $32,082 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,959. About 6.6% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Politics[edit]

Along with its neighbor Lee County, Ogle County is one of the most consistently Republican counties in the nation when it comes to Presidential elections. In the last 150 years, Theodore Roosevelt's 1912 run as a Progressive was the only time a non-Republican carried the county. No Democratic candidate has ever won the county, which favored the Whig Party before the Republican Party was formed.[16] It is also represented by Republican Adam Kinzinger as a county in Illinois's 16th congressional district.

The Ogle County Judicial Center, across the street from the Old Ogle County Courthouse in Oregon, Illinois.
Presidential Elections Results[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 59.3% 14,352 33.3% 8,050 7.4% 1,791
2012 57.4% 13,422 40.7% 9,514 1.8% 431
2008 52.7% 13,144 45.1% 11,253 2.2% 537
2004 61.9% 14,918 37.4% 9,018 0.6% 155
2000 59.8% 12,325 37.3% 7,673 2.9% 603
1996 52.1% 9,558 36.9% 6,765 11.0% 2,012
1992 44.8% 9,008 32.4% 6,512 22.8% 4,589
1988 66.9% 11,644 32.4% 5,641 0.6% 109
1984 73.4% 13,503 26.1% 4,803 0.5% 90
1980 66.4% 12,533 21.6% 4,067 12.0% 2,271
1976 62.2% 11,073 36.3% 6,463 1.5% 261
1972 73.9% 13,512 25.9% 4,743 0.2% 35
1968 69.0% 12,168 24.9% 4,399 6.1% 1,074
1964 60.1% 10,430 39.9% 6,917 0.0% 0
1960 73.4% 13,226 26.6% 4,792 0.0% 7
1956 78.2% 13,194 21.7% 3,660 0.1% 16
1952 77.8% 13,351 22.1% 3,796 0.1% 16
1948 71.2% 9,519 28.4% 3,796 0.5% 63
1944 72.6% 10,680 26.9% 3,951 0.6% 81
1940 70.7% 11,838 28.9% 4,833 0.4% 71
1936 61.6% 9,576 37.2% 5,776 1.3% 194
1932 59.1% 8,224 38.9% 5,416 2.0% 272
1928 78.2% 9,808 21.5% 2,691 0.4% 47
1924 71.6% 8,449 13.5% 1,591 14.9% 1,759
1920 83.0% 9,322 15.3% 1,720 1.7% 191
1916 70.3% 8,639 26.1% 3,207 3.6% 442
1912 40.3% 2,720 26.0% 1,750 33.7% 2,275
1908 69.2% 4,848 25.2% 1,761 5.6% 393
1904 75.1% 5,109 17.8% 1,209 7.1% 481
1900 69.0% 5,255 28.5% 2,171 2.5% 193
1896 69.2% 5,210 28.5% 2,142 2.4% 177
1892 60.6% 3,939 34.5% 2,244 4.9% 316

Economy[edit]

By 2000, 65% of the county labor force was employed as white-collar workers with an increase of 20 points in comparison with 1990 statistics. Manufacturing remains the leading employment sector absorbing more than 21.7% of the labor force though there was a decrease from 30,4% in 1995. However it is expected that services would replace manufacturing starting 2015 as the leading activity.[18]

Agriculture remains an important sector of the county. The main products are corn and soybeans. In 2003, according to the Illinois Department of Agriculture, Ogle County was ranked 17th in the State for crop cash receipts, and 14th in the state for livestock cash receipts. As for livestock production, hogs and pigs are still leading even though productions decreased from 57,000 units in 1998 to 48,900 in 2002.[18]

The county also got some investment packages such as the building a $180 million truck-to-train cargo hub.[19] In August 2006, it was announced that a new ethanol production facility would receive a package of $5.5 million Opportunity Returns grant from the State.[20]

Transportation[edit]

Major highways[edit]

Airports[edit]

The following public-use airports are located in the county:[21]

Recreation[edit]

Parks[edit]

Nature Preserves[edit]

  • Beach Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve
  • Douglas E. Wade Prairie Nature Preserve
  • Jarrett Prairie Nature Preserve
  • Nachusa Grasslands

Communities[edit]

Cities[edit]

Villages[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Townships[edit]

See also[edit]

Bibliography[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  3. ^ White, Jesse. Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties. State of Illinois, March 2010, 9. [1]
  4. ^ The History of Ogle County, Illinois: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Illinois page 326
  5. ^ The Early History of Northern Illinois by Charles Knapp Carpenter, Ogle County Federation of Women's Clubs, 1948
  6. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  7. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Oregon, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
  8. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017. 
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved July 7, 2014. 
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 7, 2014. 
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014. 
  12. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014. 
  13. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  14. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  15. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  16. ^ Geographie Electorale
  17. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  18. ^ a b "Amendatory Comprehensive Plan "2K4 update"" (pdf). oglecounty.org. Retrieved 2007-07-12. 
  19. ^ "Special Report: Thinking Regional". rockcountyalliance.com. Archived from the original on 2007-06-13. Retrieved 2007-07-12. 
  20. ^ "Gov. Blagojevich announces a new $25 million investment". rockcountyalliance.com. Retrieved 2007-07-12. 
  21. ^ Public and Private Airports, Ogle County, Illinois

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 42°02′N 89°19′W / 42.04°N 89.32°W / 42.04; -89.32