Iroquois County, Illinois

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Iroquois County
Old Iroquois County Courthouse.jpg
Map of Illinois highlighting Iroquois County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois in United States.svg
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°44′N87°49′W / 40.74°N 87.82°W / 40.74; -87.82
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Illinois.svg  Illinois
Founded1833
Named for Iroquois River
Seat Watseka
Largest cityWatseka
Area
  Total1,119 sq mi (2,900 km2)
  Land1,117 sq mi (2,890 km2)
  Water1.6 sq mi (4 km2)  0.1%
Population
 (2020)
  Total27,077
  Estimate 
(2023)
26,136 Decrease2.svg
  Density24/sq mi (9.3/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
  Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website www.co.iroquois.il.us

Iroquois County is a county located in the northeast part of the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States Census, it has a population of 27,077. [1] It is the only county in the United States named Iroquois. [2] The county seat is Watseka. [3] The county is located along the border with Indiana.

Contents

History

Iroquois County was created on February 26, 1833, out of a portion of Vermilion County. It was named for the Iroquois River, which was itself named for the Iroquois people. [4] [5] The first county seat was established at the town of Iroquois in 1837, though no official buildings were constructed there and offices were rented. Several other sites for the county seat were examined, and in 1839 it was moved to Middleport; a court house and jail were built there. There was a long battle between Middleport and Watseka (also known as South Middleport) as to which should be the county seat; in 1865, it was finally moved to Watseka. [6] The town of Middleport no longer exists, but there is a township of that name. A courthouse was built in Watseka in 1866 at a cost of $28,000 and included a jail in the basement; this building was expanded in 1881, and a new jail was built in 1893 just east of the courthouse. [7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,119 square miles (2,900 km2), of which 1,117 square miles (2,890 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.1%) is water. [8] It is the third-largest county in Illinois by land area [2] and the fifth-largest by total area.

The northern border of the county is about 60 miles (97 km) south of the city of Chicago. The county is bordered on the east by the state of Indiana and its counties of Benton and Newton. To the north lies Kankakee County. Vermilion County, out of which Iroquois County was originally formed, lies to the south. To the west is Ford County.

The Iroquois River enters the county from Indiana and flows westward along the south side of the village of Iroquois, then along the north side of the city of Watseka, whereupon it veers to the north and joins the larger Kankakee River near the city of Kankakee in the county of the same name; the Kankakee River then flows into the Illinois River further to the northwest in Will County. Sugar Creek, further to the south, also flows from the east to the west, entering from Indiana east of Stockland; it passes through the south edge of Milford, is joined by Mud Creek coming up from the south, and winds to the north past the village of Woodland and meets the Iroquois River near Watseka.

The Iroquois County State Wildlife Area, a 2,400-acre (970 ha) state park, is located in the northeast corner of the county. There are also three nature preserves: Bonnie's Prairie, [9] Hooper Branch Savanna, [10] and Loda Cemetery Prairie. [11]

Climate and weather

Watseka, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel [12]
Metric conversion
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Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Watseka have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −28 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of 105 °F (41 °C) was recorded in August 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.61 inches (41 mm) in January to 4.62 inches (117 mm) in June. [12]

Adjacent counties

Transportation

Transit service in the county is provided by SHOW Bus, which operates a local bus route within Watseka. Amtrak provides intercity passenger rail service on the Illini and Saluki at Gilman station.

Interstate 57 passes through the west part of the county on its route between Champaign and Chicago. From north to south, it passes through or near Chebanse, Clifton, Ashkum, Danforth, Gilman, Onarga, Buckley, and Loda.

The county is bisected by the east–west U.S. Route 24, which passes through Gilman, Crescent City, the county seat of Watseka, and Sheldon.

Several railroad lines pass through the county. The Toledo, Peoria and Western Railway operates a line that begins in Peoria and runs from east to west through Iroquois County, passing through Gilman and Watseka and continuing into Indiana. A Norfolk Southern Railway line runs nearly parallel with Interstate 57 on its way to Chicago. A CSX Transportation line passes from north to south through the eastern part of the county; a Union Pacific line joins it south of Woodland. Further east, the Kankakee, Beaverville and Southern Railroad operates a north–south line. [13]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1840 1,695
1850 4,149144.8%
1860 12,325197.1%
1870 25,782109.2%
1880 35,45137.5%
1890 35,167−0.8%
1900 38,0148.1%
1910 35,543−6.5%
1920 34,841−2.0%
1930 32,913−5.5%
1940 32,496−1.3%
1950 32,348−0.5%
1960 33,5623.8%
1970 33,532−0.1%
1980 32,976−1.7%
1990 30,787−6.6%
2000 31,3341.8%
2010 29,718−5.2%
2020 27,077−8.9%
2023 (est.)26,136 [14] −3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census [15]
1790-1960 [16] 1900-1990 [17]
1990-2000 [18] 2010-2013 [19]
2000 census age pyramid for Iroquois County USA Iroquois County, Illinois age pyramid.svg
2000 census age pyramid for Iroquois County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 29,718 people, 11,956 households, and 8,175 families residing in the county. [20] The population density was 26.6 inhabitants per square mile (10.3/km2). There were 13,452 housing units at an average density of 12.0 per square mile (4.6/km2). [8] The racial makeup of the county was 94.7% white, 0.8% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.6% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.3% of the population. [20] In terms of ancestry, 36.5% were German, 14.1% were Irish, 12.2% were American, and 10.1% were English. [21]

Of the 11,956 households, 30.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.7% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.6% were non-families, and 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.95. The median age was 43.4 years. [20]

The median income for a household in the county was $47,323 and the median income for a family was $56,541. Males had a median income of $43,416 versus $27,908 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,400. About 8.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.1% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over. [22]

Communities

Map of Iroquois County, with townships labeled in red Map of Iroquois County, Illinois.svg
Map of Iroquois County, with townships labeled in red

Cities

Villages

Townships

In 1855, a popular vote resulted in the adoption of township government, which was implemented in 1856. At that time, eleven townships were created; [23] they are listed below.

Over the next several decades, more townships were created from the existing ones, for a final total of twenty-six. The newer townships are listed below in order of creation.

Unincorporated Communities

Notable people

Politics

Throughout the rest of its history, Iroquois County has been among the most solidly Republican counties in Illinois. Since 1940 only Lyndon Johnson in his 1964 landslide has garnered forty percent of the county's vote for the Democratic Party, and only Bill Clinton in 1996 has topped 35 percent since 1968.

United States presidential election results for Iroquois County, Illinois [25]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.%No.%No.%
2020 10,87777.45%2,90820.71%2581.84%
2016 9,75074.42%2,50419.11%8486.47%
2012 9,12071.19%3,41326.64%2782.17%
2008 8,69563.82%4,64334.08%2862.10%
2004 9,91471.66%3,83227.70%890.64%
2000 8,68564.70%4,39732.75%3422.55%
1996 6,56451.53%4,55935.79%1,61412.67%
1992 6,94847.82%4,44030.56%3,14221.62%
1988 9,59669.11%4,22130.40%690.50%
1984 11,32777.13%3,30022.47%580.39%
1980 11,24773.38%3,36221.94%7184.68%
1976 10,12965.43%5,16733.38%1851.20%
1972 11,99575.99%3,72323.59%660.42%
1968 10,88567.89%3,89724.31%1,2517.80%
1964 9,42357.28%7,02942.72%00.00%
1960 11,37666.09%5,82133.82%160.09%
1956 12,10472.88%4,48727.02%180.11%
1952 12,45672.81%4,63427.09%170.10%
1948 9,05164.65%4,82334.45%1270.91%
1944 10,38966.39%5,16833.03%910.58%
1940 11,04760.73%7,03638.68%1080.59%
1936 7,90846.05%8,65450.39%6113.56%
1932 6,30339.65%9,43459.34%1611.01%
1928 8,45360.71%5,42138.94%490.35%
1924 7,49864.07%2,30319.68%1,90116.25%
1920 9,18677.79%2,42920.57%1941.64%
1916 8,50361.10%4,97735.76%4363.13%
1912 1,86624.83%2,47432.92%3,17642.26%
1908 4,85558.94%2,96636.01%4165.05%
1904 5,06762.44%2,37629.28%6728.28%
1900 5,24356.39%3,73640.19%3183.42%
1896 5,32558.01%3,65839.85%1962.14%
1892 3,93647.95%3,84846.88%4255.18%

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashkum, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Ashkum is a village in Ashkum Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 761 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beaverville, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Beaverville is a village in Beaverville Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 362 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buckley, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Buckley is a village in Artesia Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 600 at the 2010 census. Buckley celebrated its sesquicentennial in 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chebanse, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Chebanse is a village in Iroquois and Kankakee counties in the U.S. state of Illinois. The population was 1,044 at the 2020 census. The Kankakee County portion of Chebanse is included in the Kankakee-Bradley, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clifton, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Clifton is a village in Chebanse Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,468 at the 2010 census, up from 1,317 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilman, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Gilman is a city in Douglas Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,738 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Loda, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Loda is a village in Loda Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census its population was 407.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Milford, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Milford is a village in Milford Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,306 at the 2010 census. The village's name comes from its location, where the Old Hubbard Trail forded Sugar Creek and where a gristmill stood in 1836.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onarga, Illinois</span> Village in Illinois, United States

Onarga is a village in Onarga Township, Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,368 at the 2010 census, down from 1,438 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Watseka, Illinois</span> City in Illinois, United States

Watseka is a city in and the county seat of Iroquois County, Illinois, United States. It is located approximately 15 miles (24 km) west of the Illinois-Indiana state line on U.S. Route 24.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Iroquois River (Indiana-Illinois)</span> River in the United States

The Iroquois River is a 103-mile-long (166 km) tributary of the Kankakee River in the Central Corn Belt Plains of northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois in the United States. It was named for the Iroquois people. Via the Kankakee and Illinois rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aroma Township, Kankakee County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

Aroma Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 5,157 and it contained 2,203 housing units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otto Township, Kankakee County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

Otto Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 2,582 and it contained 937 housing units. It was formed from portions of Aroma and Limestone townships on December 11, 1855 as Carthage Township; its name was changed to Otto Township on March 11, 1857.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pilot Township, Kankakee County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

Pilot Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 2,086 and it contained 859 housing units. It was formed from a portion of Salina Township on March 11, 1857.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St. Anne Township, Kankakee County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

Saint Anne Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 2,191 and it contained 943 housing units. The township was created on March 11, 1857, from parts of Aroma Township.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashkum Township, Iroquois County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

Ashkum Township is one of twenty-six townships in Iroquois County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,542 and it contained 662 housing units. Ashkum Township formed from portions of Chebanse Township and Onarga Township in March, 1857.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middleport Township, Iroquois County, Illinois</span> Township in Illinois, United States

Middleport Township is one of twenty-six townships in Iroquois County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 4,375 and it contained 2,099 housing units. Middleport Township changed its name to Watseka Township in September 1863, but then changed back to Middleport Township on an unknown date.

The Iroquois County State Wildlife Area is an Illinois state park that occupies 2,480 acres (1,004 ha) in northeastern Iroquois County, near the border with Indiana. The nearest municipality is Beaverville, Illinois, and the nearest exit on a limited-access highway is Exit 302 on Interstate 57.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vermilion Valley Conference</span> High school conference in Illinois

The Vermilion Valley Conference is a high school conference in east-central Illinois, in the United States. The conference participates in athletics and activities in the Illinois High School Association. The conference comprises 13 small public high schools and one small private school, with enrollments between 100 and 400 students in Edgar, Iroquois and Vermilion counties.

References

  1. "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Iroquois County, Illinois".
  2. 1 2 Dowling 1968, p. 9.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  166.
  5. Callary, Edward (2009). Place Names of Illinois. Urbana: University of Illinois Press. p. 173. ISBN   978-0-252-03356-8.
  6. Kern 1907, p. 677.
  7. Kern 1907, p. 678.
  8. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  9. "Bonnie's Prairie". Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  10. "Hooper Branch Savanna". Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  11. "Loda Cemetery Prairie". Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Archived from the original on March 4, 2012. Retrieved October 15, 2010.
  12. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Watseka, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  13. "Illinois Railroad Map" (PDF). Illinois Department of Transportation. January 2006. Archived (PDF) from the original on May 3, 2006. Retrieved October 17, 2010.
  14. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  15. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  16. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  17. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  18. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  19. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  20. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  21. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  22. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  23. Dowling 1968, p. 21.
  24. Ray A. Laird obituary, Kerrville Daily Times, Kerrville, Texas, October 7, 1986
  25. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

Bibliography

Commons-logo.svg Media related to Iroquois County, Illinois at Wikimedia Commons

40°44′N87°49′W / 40.74°N 87.82°W / 40.74; -87.82