Stephenson County, Illinois source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephenson_County,_Illinois

Stephenson County, Illinois
Stephenson County Courthouse.jpg
Map of Illinois highlighting Stephenson County
Location in the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location in the U.S.
Founded 1837
Named for Benjamin Stephenson
Seat Freeport
Largest city Freeport
Area
 • Total 565 sq mi (1,463 km2)
 • Land 565 sq mi (1,463 km2)
 • Water 0.5 sq mi (1 km2), 0.09%
Population
 • (2010) 47,711
 • Density 85/sq mi (33/km²)
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 2010 census, it had a population of 47,711.[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[edit]

The land that became Stephenson County was first settled by William Waddams in 1832, who founded Waddams Grove.[3] Five years later in 1837, Stephenson County was formed out of Jo Daviess and Winnebago counties. The county was named for Colonel Benjamin Stephenson, an official of the Illinois Territory.[4]

  • Today, this marker denotes the location of Waddams' first settlement in Stephenson County

  • Stephenson County at the time of its creation in 1837

Geography[edit]

According to the U.S. 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[edit]

Freeport, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D
 
 
1.3
 
 
25
9
 
 
1.3
 
 
31
14
 
 
2.1
 
 
43
25
 
 
3.2
 
 
57
36
 
 
4
 
 
69
47
 
 
4.5
 
 
78
57
 
 
3.6
 
 
82
62
 
 
4.1
 
 
80
59
 
 
3.7
 
 
73
50
 
 
2.6
 
 
61
39
 
 
2.7
 
 
44
28
 
 
1.7
 
 
30
16
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
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 −27 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in January 1985 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[edit]

Major highways[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
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%
Est. 2016 45,624 [7] −4.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 47,711 people, 19,845 households, and 13,015 families residing in the county.[12] 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.[12] In terms of ancestry, 46.6% were German, 12.5% were Irish, 10.0% were English, and 8.0% were American.[13]

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.[12]

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.[14]

Education[edit]

There are five public high schools and one private high Schools in the county, enrollment figures, are included.

Public high schools

Private high school

  • Aquin Catholic High 93

Communities[edit]

A northerly look across Stephenson County's western edge from an overlook near Kent, Illinois

City[edit]

Town[edit]

Villages[edit]

Census-designated place[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Townships[edit]

Politics[edit]

Presidential Elections Results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 54.5% 11,083 38.2% 7,768 7.3% 1,492
2012 49.8% 10,512 48.1% 10,165 2.1% 451
2008 45.8% 9,909 52.4% 11,349 1.8% 399
2004 57.3% 12,212 41.8% 8,913 0.9% 195
2000 55.3% 10,715 41.6% 8,062 3.1% 601
1996 48.9% 8,871 39.4% 7,145 11.6% 2,109
1992 41.6% 9,005 36.5% 7,899 22.0% 4,752
1988 59.9% 11,342 39.4% 7,460 0.8% 143
1984 67.4% 14,237 31.8% 6,723 0.8% 171
1980 52.9% 10,779 30.4% 6,195 16.8% 3,414
1976 61.0% 11,678 37.6% 7,192 1.4% 267
1972 67.9% 13,584 32.0% 6,404 0.2% 31
1968 59.3% 11,821 35.3% 7,040 5.4% 1,067
1964 46.0% 9,252 54.0% 10,854 0.0% 0
1960 63.1% 13,872 36.6% 8,055 0.3% 68
1956 69.1% 14,245 30.8% 6,349 0.1% 20
1952 68.5% 14,446 31.3% 6,605 0.2% 35
1948 58.3% 10,564 40.9% 7,409 0.8% 149
1944 60.3% 11,948 39.1% 7,755 0.6% 118
1940 60.9% 14,040 38.7% 8,911 0.4% 94
1936 46.6% 9,943 49.5% 10,567 3.9% 832
1932 44.4% 8,963 53.1% 10,728 2.5% 507
1928 68.0% 11,992 31.6% 5,579 0.4% 72
1924 53.3% 8,638 15.1% 2,452 31.6% 5,126
1920 74.6% 9,570 21.6% 2,772 3.7% 479
1916 58.4% 8,620 37.0% 5,463 4.6% 681
1912 38.4% 3,476 42.5% 3,850 19.1% 1,734
1908 50.9% 4,605 45.1% 4,076 4.0% 360
1904 56.6% 4,876 38.0% 3,275 5.3% 460
1900 52.5% 4,677 44.7% 3,983 2.8% 250
1896 54.2% 4,728 43.3% 3,776 2.6% 225
1892 46.8% 3,574 48.6% 3,717 4.6% 352

See also[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
  3. ^ "Historical News". Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society (1908-1984). 27 (3): 347. October 1934. 
  4. ^ "Fifteenth Judicial Circuit". State of Illinois. Retrieved 2016-02-20. 
  5. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  6. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Freeport, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
  7. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017. 
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014. 
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 8, 2014. 
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014. 
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 8, 2014. 
  12. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  13. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  14. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2015-07-12. 
  15. ^ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS

References[edit]

External links[edit]

Coordinates: 42°21′N 89°40′W / 42.35°N 89.67°W / 42.35; -89.67