Editing Stephenson County, Illinois

{{Short description|County in Illinois, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{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 (politician)|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 (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Illinois]]. According to the [[2020 United States census]], it had a population of 44,630.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/stephensoncountyillinois/PST045221 |access-date=January 23, 2021 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Freeport, Illinois|Freeport]].<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> Stephenson County is included in the Freeport, IL [[Micropolitan Statistical Area]], which is also included in the [[Rockford, Illinois|Rockford]]-Freeport-[[Rochelle, Illinois|Rochelle]], IL [[Rockford, Illinois metropolitan area|Combined Statistical Area]].

==History==
The land that became Stephenson County was first settled by William Waddams in 1832, who founded [[Waddams Grove, Illinois|Waddams Grove]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=October 1934 |title=Historical News |journal=Journal of the Illinois State Historical Society |volume=27 |issue=3 |page=347}}</ref> By 1837, population was sufficient to form Stephenson County, taking land from [[Jo Daviess County, Illinois|Jo Daviess]] and [[Winnebago County, Illinois|Winnebago]] counties. The county was named for Colonel [[Benjamin Stephenson (politician)|Benjamin Stephenson]], an official of the [[Illinois Territory]].<ref>{{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}}</ref>
<gallery>
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.
</gallery>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|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.<ref name=CD/>

===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<ref name="WX">{{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}}</ref>}}
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.<ref name=WX/>

===Adjacent counties===
{{div col}}
* [[Green County, Wisconsin|Green County]], [[Wisconsin]] (north)
* [[Winnebago County, Illinois|Winnebago County]] (east)
* [[Ogle County, Illinois|Ogle County]] (southeast)
* [[Carroll County, Illinois|Carroll County]] (southwest)
* [[Jo Daviess County, Illinois|Jo Daviess County]] (west)
* [[Lafayette County, Wisconsin|Lafayette County]], [[Wisconsin]] (northwest)
{{div col end}}

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
* [[Image:US 20.svg|20px]] [[US Highway 20]]
* [[Image:Illinois 26.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 26]]
* [[Image:Illinois 73.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 73]]
* [[Image:Illinois 75.svg|20px]] [[Illinois Route 75]]
{{div col end}}

==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=<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 8, 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 8, 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 8, 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 |access-date=July 8, 2014 |publisher=US Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2013<ref name=QF/>
}}

As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 47,711&nbsp;people, 19,845&nbsp;households, and 13,015&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/DPDP1/0500000US17177 |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}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|84.5|PD/sqmi}}. There were 22,081 housing units at an average density of {{convert|39.1|/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.CY10/0500000US17177 |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}}</ref> 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.<ref name=DP1/> In terms of ancestry, 46.6% were [[Germans|German]], 12.5% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 10.0% were [[English people|English]], and 8.0% 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/DP02/0500000US17177 |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}}</ref>

Of the 19,845&nbsp;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.<ref name=DP1/>

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.<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/DP03/0500000US17177 |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}}</ref>

==Education==
School districts include, no matter how much or little territory they have in the county, even if their schools are in other counties:<ref>{{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]</ref>
* [[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 Schools in the county: (approximate enrollment included)

'''Public high schools'''
* [[Freeport High School (Illinois)|Freeport High]] 1,254
* [[Lena-Winslow High School|Lena-Winslow High]] 299
* [[Dakota High School (Illinois)|Dakota High]] 254
* [[Pearl City High School (Illinois)|Pearl City High]] 150
* [[Orangeville High School|Orangeville High]] 142

'''Private high school'''
* [[Aquin Catholic Schools|Aquin Catholic High]] 93

==Communities==
[[Image:Kent Il Scenic view3.JPG|thumb|right|A northerly look across Stephenson County's western edge from an overlook near Kent]]

===City===
* [[Freeport, Illinois|Freeport]]

===Villages===
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Cedarville, Illinois|Cedarville]]
* [[Dakota, Illinois|Dakota]]
* [[Davis, Illinois|Davis]]
* [[German Valley, Illinois|German Valley]]
* [[Lena, Illinois|Lena]]
* [[Orangeville, Illinois|Orangeville]]
* [[Pearl City, Illinois|Pearl City]]
* [[Ridott, Illinois|Ridott]]
* [[Rock City, Illinois|Rock City]]
* [[Winslow, Illinois|Winslow]]
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated places===
* [[Baileyville, Illinois|Baileyville]] (part)
* [[Lake Summerset, Illinois|Lake Summerset]]
* [[Willow Lake, Illinois|Willow Lake]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Afolkey, Illinois|Afolkey]]
* [[Bolton, Illinois|Bolton]]
* [[Buckhorn Corners, Illinois|Buckhorn Corners]]
* [[Buena Vista, Illinois|Buena Vista]]
* [[Damascus, Illinois|Damascus]]
* [[Eleroy, Illinois|Eleroy]]
* [[Evarts, Illinois|Evarts]]
* [[Florence, Stephenson County, Illinois|Florence]]
* [[Kent, Illinois|Kent]]
* [[Loran, Illinois|Loran]]
* [[McConnell, Illinois|McConnell]]
* [[Oneco, Illinois|Oneco]]
* [[Red Oak, Illinois|Red Oak]]
* [[Rock Grove, Illinois|Rock Grove]]
* [[Scioto Mills, Illinois|Scioto Mills]]
* [[Waddams Grove, Illinois|Waddams Grove]]
* [[Winneshiek, Illinois|Winneshiek]]
* [[Yellow Creek, Illinois|Yellow Creek]]
{{div col end}}

===Townships===
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Buckeye Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Buckeye]]
* [[Dakota Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Dakota]]
* [[Erin Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Erin]]
* [[Florence Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Florence]]
* [[Freeport Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Freeport]]
* [[Harlem Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Harlem]]
* [[Jefferson Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Jefferson]]
* [[Kent Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Kent]]
* [[Lancaster Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Lancaster]]
* [[Loran Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Loran]]
* [[Oneco Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Oneco]]
* [[Ridott Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Ridott]]
* [[Rock Grove Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Rock Grove]]
* [[Rock Run Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Rock Run]]
* [[Silver Creek Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Silver Creek]]
* [[Waddams Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Waddams]]
* [[West Point Township, Illinois|West Point]]
* [[Winslow Township, Stephenson County, Illinois|Winslow]]
{{div col end}}

===Historic Sites===
{{Div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Kellogg's Grove]]
{{div col end}}

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Stephenson 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|12,347|8,278|451|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|12,521|9,055|535|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,083|7,768|1,492|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|10,512|10,165|451|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|9,909|11,349|399|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|12,212|8,913|195|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|10,715|8,062|601|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|8,871|7,145|2,109|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|9,005|7,899|4,752|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|11,342|7,460|143|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|14,237|6,723|171|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|10,779|6,195|3,414|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|11,678|7,192|267|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|13,584|6,404|31|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|11,821|7,040|1,067|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|9,252|10,854|0|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|13,872|8,055|68|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|14,245|6,349|20|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|14,446|6,605|35|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|10,564|7,409|149|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|11,948|7,755|118|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|14,040|8,911|94|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|9,943|10,567|832|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|8,963|10,728|507|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|11,992|5,579|72|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|8,638|2,452|5,126|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|9,570|2,772|479|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|8,620|5,463|681|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|3,476|3,850|1,734|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1908|Republican|4,605|4,076|360|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1904|Republican|4,876|3,275|460|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|4,677|3,983|250|Illinois}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|4,728|3,776|225|Illinois}}
{{PresFoot|1892|Democratic|3,574|3,717|352|Illinois}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Illinois}}
* [[List of counties in Illinois]]
* [[List of Illinois county name etymologies]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Stephenson County, Illinois]]

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

==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, Illinois|Winnebago County]]
|Southeast = [[Ogle County, Illinois|Ogle County]]
|Southwest = [[Carroll County, Illinois|Carroll County]]
|West      = [[Jo Daviess County, Illinois|Jo Daviess County]]
|Northwest = [[Lafayette County, Wisconsin]]
}}
{{Stephenson County, Illinois}}
{{Illinois}}
{{Authority control}}
{{Coord|42.35|-89.67|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-IL_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Stephenson County, Illinois| ]]
[[Category:1837 establishments in Illinois]]
[[Category:Illinois counties]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1837]]
[[Category:Rockford metropolitan area, Illinois|*]]