Stephenson County, Illinois

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Stephenson County, Illinois
Stephenson County Courthouse
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. Its county seat is Freeport.

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. 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.

Marker marking Waddams' first settlement in Stephenson County

Stephenson County at the time of its creation in 1837. Its boundaries have remained unchanged since then.

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.

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	1.72   30 16
temperatures in °C • precipitation totals in mm source: The Weather Channel

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.

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

• US Highway 20
• Illinois Route 26
• Illinois Route 73
• Illinois Route 75

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 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020

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

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.

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.

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

• Freeport

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

United States presidential election results for Stephenson County, Illinois

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

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