# 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. Its county seat is Freeport. Stephenson County is included in the Freeport, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rockford-Freeport-Rochelle, IL Combined Statistical Area.

## History

The land that became Stephenson County was first settled by William Waddams in 1832, who founded Waddams Grove. 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.
* Marker marking Waddams' first settlement in Stephenson County
* Stephenson County at the time of its creation in 1837. Its boundaries have remained unchanged since then.

## Geography

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 565 square miles (1,460 km$^2$), of which 565 square miles (1,460 km$^2$) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km$^2$) (0.09%) is water.

### Climate and weather

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.

### 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

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 47,711 people, 19,845 households, and 13,015 families residing in the county. The population density was 84.5 inhabitants per square mile (32.6/km$^2$). There were 22,081 housing units at an average density of 39.1 per square mile (15.1/km$^2$). 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. In terms of ancestry, 46.6% were German, 12.5% were Irish, 10.0% were English, and 8.0% were American.
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.
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.

## Education

School districts include, no matter how much or little territory they have in the county, even if their schools are in other counties:
* 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 1,254
* Lena-Winslow High 299
* Dakota High 254
* Pearl City High 150
* Orangeville High 142
Private high school
* Aquin Catholic High 93

## Communities
### 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 :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | 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% |