Editing Lee County, Illinois

{{Short description|County in Illinois, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
| county           = Lee County
| state            = Illinois
| seal             =
| founded          = February 27, 1839
| seat wl          = Dixon
| largest city     = Dixon
| area_total_sq_mi = 729
| area_land_sq_mi  = 725
| area_water_sq_mi = 4.1
| area percentage  = 0.6
| population_as_of = 2020
| population_total = 34145
| pop_est_as_of    = 2023
| population_est   = 33654 {{decrease}}
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| time zone        = Central
| web              = http://www.leecountyil.com/
| ex image         = Dixon Il Lee County Courthouse3.jpg
| ex image cap     = [[Lee County Courthouse (Illinois)|Lee County Courthouse]]
| district         = 16th
| named for        = [[Henry Lee III]] }}

'''Lee County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. According to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], it has a population of 34,145.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lee County, Illinois |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Lee_County,_Illinois?g=050XX00US17103 |access-date=June 10, 2023 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Dixon, Illinois|Dixon]].<ref>{{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}}</ref> The Dixon, IL [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]] includes all of Lee County.

==History==
The area's first non-native settlers were mostly from the six [[New England]] states.<ref>Stevens, Frank Everett. ''History of Lee County, Illinois, Vol. 1'' p. 382</ref> The early nineteenth century saw a wave of westward movement from New England, due largely to completion of the [[Erie Canal]] and the end of the [[Black Hawk War]].<ref>Holbrook, Stewart Hall. ''The Yankee Exodus: An Account of Migration from New England'', University of Washington Press (1968)</ref><ref>Shalev, Eran. ''American Zion: The Old Testament as a Political Text from the Revolution to ...'', Yale University Press (March 26, 2013) {{ISBN|9780300186925}} pp. 70-71</ref>

The area that included present-day Lee County was delineated as [[St. Clair County, Illinois|St. Clair County]] in 1809. In 1823, a large section of northern St. Clair County was partitioned off as [[Fulton County, Illinois|Fulton County]]. In 1825, the northwestern portion of that county was partitioned off as [[Putnam County, Illinois|Putnam County]]. In 1831, the area was further partitioned into [[Jo Daviess County, Illinois|Jo Daviess County]]. A section of that county was partitioned off in 1836 as [[Ogle County, Illinois|Ogle County]], and in 1839 the bottom half of Ogle County was split off as Lee County. It is largely understood that the county's name honors [[Henry Lee III|"Lighthorse Harry" Lee]], an officer in the [[American Revolutionary War]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gannett |first=Henry |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |year=1905 |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n183 184]}}</ref> An alternative theory suggests the name honors [[Richard Henry Lee]], a member of the [[Continental Congress]] (the [[United States Declaration of Independence|Declaration of Independence]] was adopted pursuant to the [[Lee Resolution]]).

President [[Ronald Reagan]] lived in Dixon as a boy and attended [[Dixon High School (Illinois)|Dixon High School]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=School House to White House: The Education of the Presidents |url=https://www.archives.gov/publications/prologue/2007/spring/schoolhouse.html |access-date=December 30, 2007 |publisher=National Archives and Records Administration}}</ref>
<gallery>
File:Lee County Illinois 1839.png|Lee County's boundaries have remained unchanged since its creation in 1839.
</gallery>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|US Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|729|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|725|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.1|sqmi}} (0.6%) is water.<ref name=CD/>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Ogle County, Illinois|Ogle County]] – north
* [[DeKalb County, Illinois|DeKalb County]] – east
* [[LaSalle County, Illinois|LaSalle County]] - southeast, south
* [[Bureau County, Illinois|Bureau County]] – south, southwest
* [[Whiteside County, Illinois|Whiteside County]] – west

===Climate and weather===
{{climate chart
|[[Dixon, Illinois]]
|10|26|1.60
|15|32|1.43
|27|44|2.55
|37|58|3.61
|48|70|4.32
|58|79|4.88
|62|82|3.45
|60|80|4.47
|51|73|3.31
|39|62|2.71
|28|45|2.82
|17|35|2.13
|float=right
|units=imperial
|clear=both
|source=The Weather Channel<ref name="WX">{{Cite web |title=Monthly Averages for Dixon IL |url=http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USIL0316 |access-date=January 27, 2011 |publisher=The Weather Channel}}</ref>}}
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Dixon have ranged from a low of {{convert|10|°F}} in January to a high of {{convert|82|°F}} in July, although a record low of {{convert|-27|°F}} was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of {{convert|110|°F}} was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranges from {{convert|1.43|in}} in February to {{convert|4.88|in}} in June.<ref name=WX/>

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:I-39.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 39]]
* [[Image:I-88.svg|20px]] [[Interstate 88 (Illinois)|Interstate 88]]
* [[Image:US 30.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 30]]
* [[Image:US 51.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 51]]
* [[Image:US 52.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Highway 52]]
* [[Image:Illinois 2.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 2]]
* [[Image:Illinois 26.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 26]]
* [[Image:Illinois 38.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 38]]
* [[Image:Illinois 110.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 110]]
* [[Image:Illinois 251.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 251]]
{{div col end}}

===Other features===
* [[Green River Ordnance Plant]]
* [[Mendota Hills Wind Farm]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 2035
|1850= 5292
|1860= 17651
|1870= 27171
|1880= 27491
|1890= 26187
|1900= 29894
|1910= 27750
|1920= 28004
|1930= 32329
|1940= 34604
|1950= 36451
|1960= 38749
|1970= 37947
|1980= 36328
|1990= 34392
|2000= 36062
|2010= 36031
|2020= 34145
|estyear=2023
|estimate=33654
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2023">{{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}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=US Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=July 6, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1790-1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=July 6, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt |access-date=July 6, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref><br/>1990-2000<ref>{{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 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |access-date=July 6, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17103.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623083012/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17/17103.html |archive-date=June 23, 2011 |access-date=July 6, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>
}}

As of the [[2010 United States Census]], there were 36,031&nbsp;people, 13,758&nbsp;households, and 9,064&nbsp;families residing in the county.<ref name="DP1">{{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/DPDP1/0500000US17103 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213014833/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US17103 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|49.7|PD/sqmi}}. There were 15,049 housing units at an average density of {{convert|20.8|/sqmi}}.<ref name="CD">{{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.CY10/0500000US17103 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212200821/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY10/0500000US17103 |archive-date=February 12, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 90.9% white, 4.8% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.9% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.0% of the population.<ref name=DP1/> In terms of ancestry, 38.0% were [[Germans|German]], 18.8% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 8.4% were [[English people|English]], and 8.2% were [[Americans|American]].<ref>{{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/DP02/0500000US17103 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021713/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US17103 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

Of the 13,758&nbsp;households, 30.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.1% were non-families, and 28.8% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 42.0 years.<ref name=DP1/>

The median income for a household in the county was $48,502 and the median income for a family was $60,759. Males had a median income of $42,114 versus $30,920 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,440. About 7.6% of families and 9.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.<ref>{{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/DP03/0500000US17103 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213032004/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US17103 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=July 12, 2015 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref>

==Communities==
[[Image:Illinois wind farm near I-39 exit 82.jpg|thumb|A [[wind farm]] in southeast Lee county at [[Interstate 39]] exit 82.]]

===Cities===
* [[Amboy, Illinois|Amboy]]
* [[Dixon, Illinois|Dixon]] (county seat)

===Villages===
{{div col}}
* [[Ashton, Illinois|Ashton]]
* [[Compton, Illinois|Compton]]
* [[Franklin Grove, Illinois|Franklin Grove]]
* [[Harmon, Illinois|Harmon]]
* [[Lee, Illinois|Lee]]
* [[Nelson, Illinois|Nelson]]
* [[Paw Paw, Illinois|Paw Paw]]
* [[Steward, Illinois|Steward]]
* [[Sublette, Illinois|Sublette]]
* [[West Brooklyn, Illinois|West Brooklyn]]
{{div col end}}

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col}}
* [[Binghampton, Illinois|Binghampton]]
* [[The Burg, Illinois|The Burg]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Alto Township, Lee County, Illinois|Alto]]
* [[Amboy Township, Lee County, Illinois|Amboy]]
* [[Ashton Township, Lee County, Illinois|Ashton]]
* [[Bradford Township, Lee County, Illinois|Bradford]]
* [[Brooklyn Township, Lee County, Illinois|Brooklyn]]
* [[Dixon Township, Lee County, Illinois|Dixon]]
* [[East Grove Township, Lee County, Illinois|East Grove]]
* [[Franklin Grove Township, Lee County, Illinois|Franklin Grove]]
* [[Hamilton Township, Lee County, Illinois|Hamilton]]
* [[Harmon Township, Lee County, Illinois|Harmon]]
* [[Lee Center Township, Lee County, Illinois|Lee Center]]
* [[Marion Township, Lee County, Illinois|Marion]]
* [[May Township, Lee County, Illinois|May]]
* [[Nachusa Township, Lee County, Illinois|Nachusa]]
* [[Nelson Township, Lee County, Illinois|Nelson]]
* [[Palmyra Township, Lee County, Illinois|Palmyra]]
* [[Reynolds Township, Lee County, Illinois|Reynolds]]
* [[South Dixon Township, Lee County, Illinois|South Dixon]]
* [[Sublette Township, Lee County, Illinois|Sublette]]
* [[Viola Township, Lee County, Illinois|Viola]]
* [[Willow Creek Township, Lee County, Illinois|Willow Creek]]
* [[Wyoming Township, Lee County, Illinois|Wyoming]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
Lee County is, together with neighboring [[Ogle County, Illinois|Ogle County]], the most consistently [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] county in Illinois. It is one of very few counties in the United States to have never supported a Democrat for President since the Civil War. The only occasion when the Republican candidate did not win the county in this time was in 1912, when [[Theodore Roosevelt]] carried it while running as a member of the [[Progressive Party (United States, 1912)|Progressive Party]], unofficially known as the "Bull Moose" party.

As of 2018, Lee County is in the [[Illinois's 16th congressional district|16th congressional district]], the 45th legislative district, and the 74th and 90th representative districts.<ref>[https://www.leecountyil.com/pdf/election/2018/November/FINAL_OFFICIAL_SOVC_REPORT_11_06_18.pdf 2018 Election Results - Lee County IL]</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Lee County, Illinois|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Atlas of US Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|9,680|6,105|387|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|9,630|6,407|403|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|8,612|5,528|1,349|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|8,059|6,937|352|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|8,258|7,765|334|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|9,307|6,416|153|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,069|6,111|440|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|6,677|5,895|1,610|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|6,652|5,530|3,235|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|8,903|4,608|85|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|11,178|3,919|58|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|11,373|3,170|895|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|8,674|6,076|326|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|10,636|4,788|65|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|9,598|4,727|930|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|8,445|7,315|0|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|10,835|5,896|8|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|11,653|4,531|5|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|11,941|4,700|10|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|9,001|4,368|72|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|10,397|4,899|21|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|11,228|6,005|52|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|8,914|6,845|473|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|7,802|7,182|177|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|9,238|4,476|46|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|8,363|2,367|1,327|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|7,615|1,715|316|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|7,985|4,087|414|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1912|Progressive|1,482|1,995|2,959|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|4,255|2,144|302|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|4,634|1,604|404|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|4,820|2,528|237|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|4,797|2,469|139|Illinois}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Republican|3,513|2,740|224|Illinois}}

==Education==
K-12 school districts include:<ref name=SDMap2020>{{cite web|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17103_lee/DC20SD_C17103.pdf|title=2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Lee County, IL|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=2024-12-13}} - [https://www2.census.gov/geo/maps/DC2020/PL20/st17_il/schooldistrict_maps/c17103_lee/DC20SD_C17103_SD2MS.txt Text list]</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[Amboy Community Unit School District 272]]
* [[Ashton Community Unit School District 275]]
* [[Bureau Valley Community Unit School District 340]]
* [[Dixon Unit School District 170]]
* [[Earlville Community Unit School District 9]]
* [[Indian Creek Community Unit District 425]]
* [[La Moille Community Unit School District 303]]
* [[Lee Center Community Unit School District 271]]
* [[Polo Community Unit School District 222]]
* [[Sterling Community Unit District 5]]
{{div col end}}

Secondary school districts include:<ref name=SDMap2020/>
* [[Mendota Township High School District 280]]
* [[Ohio Community High School District 505]]
* [[Rochelle Township High School District 212]]
* [[Rock Falls Township High School District 301]]

Elementary school districts include:<ref name=SDMap2020/>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
* [[;Creston Community Consolidated School District 161]]
* [[East Coloma-Nelson Consolidated Elementary School District 20]]
* [[Mendota Community Consolidated School District 289]]
* [[Montmorency Community Consolidated School District 145]]
* [[Ohio Community Consolidated School District 17]]
* [[Rochelle Community Consolidated District 231]]
* [[Steward Elementary School District 220]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee County, Illinois]]

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [http://www.outfitters.com/illinois/lee/ County Name]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20051226164233/http://www.leecountyhistory.com/lee_county/county.htm Alternate version of County Name]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060614084734/http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/archives/irad/lee.html Illinois State Archives]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Lee County, Illinois
|North     = [[Ogle County, Illinois|Ogle County]]
|East      = [[DeKalb County, Illinois|DeKalb County]]
|Southeast = [[LaSalle County, Illinois|LaSalle County]]
|Southwest = [[Bureau County, Illinois|Bureau County]]
|West      = [[Whiteside County, Illinois|Whiteside County]]
}}

{{Lee County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|41|45|N|89|18|W|region:US-IL_type:adm2nd_source:dewiki|display=title}}

[[Category:Lee County, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:Illinois counties]]
[[Category:1839 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1839]]