Henry County, Illinois

Last updated

Henry County
County
Henry County Courthouse (Cambridge, Illinois).jpg
Henry County Courthouse
Map of Illinois highlighting Henry County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Illinois in United States.svg
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°21′N90°08′W / 41.35°N 90.14°W / 41.35; -90.14
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Illinois.svg Illinois
FoundedJanuary 13, 1825
Named after Patrick Henry
Seat Cambridge
Largest city Kewanee
Area
 • Total
826 sq mi (2,140 km2)
 • Land823 sq mi (2,130 km2)
 • Water2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
49,284
 • Estimate 
(2024)
48,177 Decrease2.svg [1]
 • Density60/sq mi (23/km2)
Time zone UTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts 16th, 17th
Website www.henrycty.com

Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. The 2020 United States census, listed its population at 49,284. [2] Its county seat is Cambridge. [3] Henry County is included in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area. [4]

Contents

History

Henry County was formed on January 13, 1825, out of Fulton County, Illinois. It is named for Revolutionary War figure Patrick Henry. [5] The county was settled by people from New England and western New York, descendants of English Puritans who settled New England in the colonial era. The New England settlers founded the five towns of Andover, Wethersfield, Geneseo, Morristown and La Grange. [6]

The settlement of Cambridge came about in 1843, when the owner of the land in that area (Rev. Ithamar Pillsbury) dedicated a section of his properties to a town council; lots were sold to incoming settlers, and construction of the town proper began on June 9, 1843. The incoming "Yankee" settlers made Henry County culturally similar to early New England culture. [7] [8]

Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 826 square miles (2,140 km2), of which 823 square miles (2,130 km2) is land and 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) (0.3%) is water. [9] It is the 29th largest of Illinois' 102 counties. The area is fairly flat, with elevations ranging from 650 feet above sea level in the northwest to 850 in the southeast. About 456,596 acres (1,847.78 km2) or 86.7% of the county's land area, is used for agriculture. [10]

Climate and weather

Cambridge, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel [11]
Metric conversion
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
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In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Cambridge have ranged from a low of 13 °F (−11 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in February 1996 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in July 1983. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.52 inches (39 mm) in January to 4.32 inches (110 mm) in August. [11]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1830 41—
1840 1,2602,973.2%
1850 3,807202.1%
1860 20,660442.7%
1870 35,50671.9%
1880 36,5973.1%
1890 33,338−8.9%
1900 40,04920.1%
1910 41,7364.2%
1920 45,1628.2%
1930 43,851−2.9%
1940 43,798−0.1%
1950 46,4926.2%
1960 49,3176.1%
1970 53,2177.9%
1980 57,9688.9%
1990 51,159−11.7%
2000 51,020−0.3%
2010 50,486−1.0%
2020 49,284−2.4%
2023 (est.)48,448 [12] −1.7%
US Decennial Census [13]
1790-1960 [14] 1900-1990 [15]
1990-2000 [16] 2010 [17]
2000 census age pyramid for Henry County USA Henry County, Illinois age pyramid.svg
2000 census age pyramid for Henry County

2020 census

Henry 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 [18] Pop 1990 [19] Pop 2000 [20] Pop 2010 [21] Pop 2020 [22] % 1980% 1990% 2000% 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)56,35249,52748,42546,49343,09497.21%96.81%94.91%92.09%87.44%
Black or African American alone (NH)6476455697621,0291.12%1.26%1.12%1.51%2.09%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)59544260630.10%0.11%0.08%0.12%0.13%
Asian alone (NH)881161271831920.15%0.23%0.25%0.36%0.39%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH)x [23] x [24] 41312xx0.01%0.03%0.02%
Other race alone (NH)30202112940.05%0.04%0.04%0.02%0.19%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)x [25] x [26] 3655611,630xx0.72%1.11%3.31%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)7927971,4672,4023,1701.37%1.56%2.88%4.76%6.43%
Total57,96851,15951,02050,48649,284 100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 50,486 people, 20,373 households, and 14,149 families residing in the county. [27] The population density was 61.3 inhabitants per square mile (23.7/km2). There were 22,161 housing units at an average density of 26.9 per square mile (10.4/km2). [9] The racial makeup of the county was 94.8% white, 1.6% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.6% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.8% of the population. [27] In terms of ancestry, 30.0% were German, 14.6% were Irish, 12.3% were Swedish, 11.5% were English, and 7.2% were American. [28]

Of the 20,373 households, 31.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.9% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 41.8 years. [27]

The median income for a household in the county was $49,164 and the median income for a family was $61,467. Males had a median income of $44,589 versus $30,992 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,915. About 6.8% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.9% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over. [29]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Villages

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Former communities

Townships

Politics

Henry County's political history is fairly typical of many Yankee-settled rural counties in Illinois. After being largely Democratic in its first few elections, the county turned powerfully Republican for the 110 years following the formation of that party. The only time it did not vote Republican between 1856 and 1960 was in 1912 when the GOP was mortally divided and Progressive Theodore Roosevelt won a majority of the county's ballots. In 1964, when the Republican Party nominated the Southern-oriented Barry Goldwater, Henry County voted Democratic for the first time since 1852, but as was typical for Yankee counties it returned to the Republicans with the selection of the more moderate Richard Nixon.

In the 1980s, the transition of the Republican Party into a party largely based around Southern Evangelicals severely alienated its historic Yankee base: Henry County turned to Democrat Michael Dukakis in 1988, and voted Democratic in every election between 1988 and 2012 except that of 2004 when George W. Bush carried the county by 5.1 percent. However, concern with unemployment and trade deals in the “Rust Belt” resulted in a powerful swing to Republican Donald Trump in 2016 – the worst Democratic result in the county since Jimmy Carter in 1980. In 2020, Trump built on his win in 2016, capturing 60% of the vote - the highest Republican percentage in 40 years.

United States presidential election results for Henry County, Illinois [30]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1892 4,26555.82%2,67034.95%7059.23%
1896 6,17766.03%2,97131.76%2072.21%
1900 6,89268.54%2,80927.94%3543.52%
1904 7,33174.52%1,39014.13%1,11711.35%
1908 6,38764.53%2,49925.25%1,01110.22%
1912 1,85920.29%2,21924.22%5,08555.49%
1916 11,40665.42%5,22029.94%8084.63%
1920 12,37978.96%2,53016.14%7684.90%
1924 13,15972.39%1,94410.69%3,07616.92%
1928 14,66670.83%5,85828.29%1830.88%
1932 11,37651.25%10,12245.60%7013.16%
1936 11,95349.61%11,49047.69%6512.70%
1940 14,97158.37%10,48140.86%1960.76%
1944 13,53959.48%9,13040.11%920.40%
1948 12,36358.84%8,48940.40%1590.76%
1952 16,30165.49%8,55834.38%330.13%
1956 15,89665.46%8,34934.38%390.16%
1960 14,29757.91%10,37242.01%210.09%
1964 10,64446.83%12,08553.17%00.00%
1968 12,52455.10%8,45537.20%1,7527.71%
1972 14,79663.82%8,36836.09%210.09%
1976 12,84956.03%9,82242.83%2631.15%
1980 14,50659.93%7,97732.95%1,7237.12%
1984 14,50457.41%10,67942.27%790.31%
1988 11,35849.28%11,59450.30%960.42%
1992 8,98936.88%11,07745.45%4,30517.66%
1996 8,39338.33%11,20151.15%2,30310.52%
2000 10,89646.43%11,92150.79%6532.78%
2004 13,21252.34%11,87747.05%1520.60%
2008 11,26345.33%13,18153.04%4051.63%
2012 11,58347.46%12,33250.53%4902.01%
2016 13,98556.75%8,87136.00%1,7877.25%
2020 15,30059.53%9,79738.12%6042.35%
2024 15,35960.99%9,22636.64%5962.37%

Education

K-12 school districts include: [31]

There is also an elementary school district, Colona School District 190, and a secondary school district, United Township High School District 30, that have portions of the county. [31]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020–2024". United States Census Bureau. U.S. Department of Commerce. March 2025. Retrieved August 31, 2025.
  2. ↑ "Henry County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ United States Office of Management and Budget. "Update of Statistical Area Definitions and Guidance on Their Uses" (PDF). pp. 5, 36. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 14, 2006. Retrieved July 21, 2006.
  5. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  155.
  6. ↑ The expansion of New England: the spread of New England settlement and institutions to the Mississippi River, 1620-1865, pp. 215-216
  7. ↑ History Henry County, Illinois H.F. Kett & Company (1877) pp. 177-178
  8. ↑ The expansion of New England: the spread of New England settlement and institutions to the Mississippi River, 1620-1865 by Louis Kimball Matthews, pp. 215-216
  9. 1 2 "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  10. ↑ Henry County website
  11. 1 2 "Monthly Averages for Cambridge IL". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  13. ↑ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  14. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  15. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  16. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  17. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  18. ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois- Table 14 - Persons by Race and Table 16 (p. 18-28) - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race (p. 29-39)" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  19. ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Illinois - Table 6 - Race and Hispanic Orogin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau .
  20. ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Henry County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  21. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Henry County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  22. ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Henry County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau .
  23. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
  24. ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
  25. ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
  26. ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
  27. 1 2 3 "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  29. ↑ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  30. ↑ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.
  31. 1 2 Geography Division (December 22, 2020). 2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Henry County, IL (PDF) (Map). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved June 16, 2025. - Text list

41°21′11″N90°07′53″W / 41.35306°N 90.13139°W / 41.35306; -90.13139

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