Stephenson County, Illinois

{{Infobox U.S. county

| county = Stephenson County

| state = Illinois

| ex image = Stephenson County Courthouse.jpg

| ex image cap = Stephenson County Courthouse

| founded = 1837

| named for = Benjamin Stephenson

| seat wl = Freeport

| largest city = Freeport

| area_total_sq_mi = 565

| area_land_sq_mi = 565

| area_water_sq_mi = 0.5

| area percentage = 0.09

| population_as_of = 2020

| population_total = 44630

| pop_est_as_of = 2023

| population_est = 43105 {{decrease}}

| population_density_sq_mi = auto

| time zone = Central

| web = www.co.stephenson.il.us

| district = 16th

| district2 = 17th }}

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.{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/stephensoncountyillinois/PST045221 |access-date=January 23, 2021 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}} Its county seat is Freeport.{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}} 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.{{Cite journal |date=October 1934 |title=Historical News |journal=Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society |volume=27 |issue=3 |page=347}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Fifteenth Judicial Circuit |url=http://www.state.il.us/court/CircuitCourt/CircuitMap/15th.asp#Stephenson |access-date=February 20, 2016 |publisher=State of Illinois}}

File:Waddams hill.jpg|Marker marking Waddams' first settlement in Stephenson County

File:Stephenson County Illinois 1837.png|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 {{convert|565|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|565|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.5|sqmi}} (0.09%) is water.

=Climate and weather=

{{climate chart

|Freeport, Illinois

|9|25|1.33

|14|31|1.33

|25|43|2.14

|36|57|3.23

|47|69|3.96

|57|78|4.46

|62|82|3.57

|59|80|4.11

|50|73|3.67

|39|61|2.58

|28|44|2.69

|16|30|1.72

|float=right

|units=imperial

|clear=both

|source=The Weather Channel{{Cite web |title=Monthly Averages for Freeport IL |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0434 |access-date=January 27, 2011 |publisher=The Weather Channel}}}}

In recent years the average temperatures in the county seat of Freeport, have ranged from a low of {{convert|9|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|82|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-29|°F}} was recorded in January 2009 and a record high of {{convert|101|°F}} was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from {{convert|1.33|in}} in January to {{convert|4.46|in}} 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=

Demographics

{{US Census population

|1840= 2800

|1850= 11666

|1860= 25112

|1870= 30608

|1880= 31963

|1890= 31338

|1900= 34933

|1910= 36821

|1920= 37743

|1930= 40064

|1940= 40646

|1950= 41595

|1960= 46207

|1970= 48861

|1980= 49536

|1990= 48052

|2000= 48979

|2010= 47711

|2020 = 44630

|estyear=2023

|estimate=43105

|estref={{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023 |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.html |access-date=April 2, 2024 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}

|align-fn=center

|footnote=US Decennial Census{{Cite web |title=US Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}
1790–1960{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}} 1900–1990{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}
1990–2000{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}} 2010–2013

}}

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 47,711 people, 19,845 households, and 13,015 families residing in the county.{{Cite web |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17177 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013500/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17177 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}} The population density was {{convert|84.5|PD/sqmi}}. There were 22,081 housing units at an average density of {{convert|39.1|/sqmi}}.{{Cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17177 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212200302/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17177 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}} 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.{{Cite web |title=Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17177 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033400/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17177 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}

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.{{Cite web |title=Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17177 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020744/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17177 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}

Education

School districts include, no matter how much or little territory they have in the county, even if their schools are in other counties:{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17177_stephenson/DC20SD_C17177.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Stephenson County, IL|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=2024-10-29}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17177_stephenson/DC20SD_C17177_SD2MS.txt Text list]

There are five public high schools and one private high Schools in the county: (approximate enrollment included)

Public high schools

Private high school

Aquin Catholic High 93

Communities

Image:Kent Il Scenic view3.JPG

=City=

Freeport

=Villages=

=Census-designated places=

=Unincorporated communities=

=Townships=

=Historic Sites=

Kellogg's Grove

Politics

{{PresHead|place=Stephenson County, Illinois|source={{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |website=uselectionatlas.org}}}}

References

External links

[http://www.co.stephenson.il.us/ Stephenson County]
[http://www.stephcohs.org/ Stephenson County Historical Society & Museum]
[http://genealogytrails.com/ill/stephenson/ Genealogy Trails for Stephenson County]
[http://ihsa.org/Schools/EnrollmentsClassifications/AlphabeticalEnrollments.aspx Illinois High School Association – School Enrollments]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Stephenson County, Illinois

|North = Green County, Wisconsin

|East = Winnebago County

|Southeast = Ogle County

|Southwest = Carroll County

|West = Jo Daviess County

|Northwest = Lafayette County, Wisconsin

}}

{{Coord|42.35|-89.67|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:1837 establishments in Illinois

Category:Illinois counties