Stephenson County, Illinois

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.

Stephenson County
County
Stephenson County Courthouse
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°21′N 89°40′W
Country	United States
State	Illinois
Founded	1837
Named after	Benjamin Stephenson
Seat	Freeport
Largest city	Freeport
Area
• Total	565 sq mi (1,460 km2)
• Land	565 sq mi (1,460 km2)
• Water	0.5 sq mi (1 km2)  0.09%
Population  (2020)
• Total	44,630
• Estimate  (2023)	43,105
• Density	79/sq mi (30/km2)
Time zone	UTC−6 (Central)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts	16th, 17th
Website	www.co.stephenson.il.us

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]

• 
  Marker marking Waddams' first settlement in Stephenson County

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

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]
Metric conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     34     −4 −13     34     −1 −10     54     6 −4     82     14 2     101     21 8     113     26 14     91     28 17     104     27 15     93     23 10     66     16 4     68     7 −2     44     −1 −9 █ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C █ Precipitation totals in mm

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 (−34 °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

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

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
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%
2020	44,630		−6.5%
2023 (est.)	43,105	[7]	−3.4%
US Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010–2013[1]

2020 census

Stephenson County, Illinois – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 1980[12]	Pop 1990[13]	Pop 2000[14]	Pop 2010[15]	Pop 2020[16]	% 1980	% 1990	% 2000	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	46,344	44,320	43,404	40,612	35,405	93.56%	92.23%	88.62%	85.12%	79.33%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,699	3,069	3,732	4,226	4,374	5.45%	6.39%	7.62%	8.86%	9.80%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	40	52	63	68	80	0.08%	0.11%	0.13%	0.14%	0.18%
Asian alone (NH)	138	303	332	295	306	0.28%	0.63%	0.68%	0.62%	0.69%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)	x [17]	x [18]	14	13	11	x	x	0.03%	0.03%	0.02%
Other race alone (NH)	70	25	35	44	155	0.14%	0.05%	0.07%	0.09%	0.35%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	x [19]	x [20]	652	1,047	2,045	x	x	1.33%	2.19%	4.58%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	245	283	747	1,406	2,254	0.49%	0.59%	1.53%	2.95%	5.05%
Total	49,536	48,052	48,979	47,711	44,630	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%	100.00%

2010 census

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.^[21]

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.^[22]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 47,711 people, 19,845 households, and 13,015 families residing in the county.^[21] 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.^[21] In terms of ancestry, 46.6% were German, 12.5% were Irish, 10.0% were English, and 8.0% were American.^[23]

Education

School districts include, no matter how much or little territory they have in the county, even if their schools are in other counties:^[24]

• Dakota Community Unit School District 201
• Durand Community Unit School District 322
• Eastland Community Unit School District 308
• Forrestville Valley Community Unit School District 221
• Freeport School District 145
• Lena-Winslow Community Unit School District 202
• Orangeville Community Unit School District 203
• Pearl City Community Unit School District 200
• Pecatonica Community Unit School District 321
• Warren Community Unit School District 205
• Winnebago Community Unit School District 323

There are five public high schools and one private high school 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

Villages

• Cedarville
• Dakota
• 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^[25]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	12,347	58.58%	8,278	39.28%	451	2.14%
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

• Illinois portal

• List of counties in Illinois
• List of Illinois county name etymologies
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Stephenson County, Illinois