# Kendall County, Illinois

Kendall County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois, within the Chicago metropolitan area. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 131,869. Its county seat is Yorkville, and its most populous municipality is Oswego.
Kendall County is part of the Chicago metropolitan area and was the fastest-growing county in the United States between 2000 and 2010.

## History

Kendall County was formed in 1841 out of LaSalle and Kane Counties.
The county is named after Amos Kendall, who was the editor of the Frankfort, Kentucky, newspaper, and went on to be an important advisor to President Andrew Jackson. Kendall became the U.S. Postmaster General in 1835.

### Early Settlement and Native American Presence

Before European settlers arrived, the land that would become Kendall County was inhabited by several Native American tribes, including the Potawatomi, Fox, and Kickapoo. These tribes lived in semi-permanent villages along the Fox River and relied on hunting, fishing, and agriculture for their sustenance. The presence of these indigenous peoples influenced the early European settlers' interactions and land use practices.

### Pioneer Life and Establishment of Towns

The first European-American settlers arrived in the 1820s, primarily from New England and New York. They were attracted to the region's fertile soil and abundant waterways. These pioneers faced numerous challenges, including harsh winters, prairie fires, and conflicts with Native American tribes. Despite these obstacles, they established homesteads, farms, and small communities. Towns like Newark, Lisbon, and Plattville began to take shape, serving as centers of commerce and social activity for the burgeoning population.

### Role in the Underground Railroad

Kendall County played a significant role in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses used by enslaved African Americans to escape to free states and Canada. Abolitionist sentiments ran strong in the area, and many residents actively participated in assisting runaway slaves. Notable figures like the Lewis and Sackett families in Oswego provided shelter and support to freedom seekers, risking their own safety in the process.

### Civil War and Military Contributions

During the American Civil War, Kendall County made substantial contributions to the Union cause. Hundreds of local men enlisted in the Union Army, serving in regiments such as the 36th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment and the 104th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment. Additionally, Kendall County residents organized relief efforts, raised funds, and supported families of soldiers serving on the front lines.

### Industrialization and Economic Growth

The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed the rapid industrialization of Kendall County. The construction of railroads, particularly the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, spurred economic development by facilitating the transportation of goods and materials. Industrial centers emerged in towns like Yorkville, Plano, and Sandwich, where factories, mills, and foundries produced agricultural implements, machinery, and other goods.

### Impact of Agriculture

Agriculture remained the backbone of Kendall County's economy well into the 20th century. The county's rich soil and favorable climate made it ideal for farming, especially for corn, soybeans, and dairy products. Family-owned farms and agricultural cooperatives played a crucial role in sustaining rural communities and providing food and commodities to urban markets.

### Suburbanization and Population Growth

Following World War II, Kendall County experienced a population boom as suburbanization swept across the United States. Improved transportation infrastructure, including the construction of Interstate 88 and Interstate 55, facilitated commuting to nearby urban centers like Chicago. Subdivisions and housing developments sprang up throughout the county, catering to the needs of a growing population seeking the tranquility of suburban life.
* Kendall County at the time of its creation in 1841

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 322 square miles (830 km$^2$), of which 320 square miles (830 km$^2$) are land and 2.0 square miles (5.2 km$^2$) (0.6%) are covered by water.
Kendall County is a small but rapidly growing county that has the majority of its population in the northeast and along the Fox River (the only river in the county), which runs through the county's northwestern section. Many new subdivisions have been constructed in this county, which has produced considerable population growth. Southern Kendall still remains largely agricultural. Kendall County has two primary ranges of low-lying hills formed by what is known as an end moraine. Ransom, the more predominant of the two moraines, runs through the west and north-central part of the county. This moraine has created elevations over 800 feet (240 m), in contrast to elevations in southern Kendall County that drop to the lower 500-foot (150 m) range. Minooka, the other major end moraine ridge in Kendall County, runs along its entire eastern border with Will County. The two moraines intersect at almost a right angle in the township of Oswego. The county's only designated state park is Silver Springs State Fish and Wildlife Area.

### Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Yorkville have ranged from a low of 10 °F (−12 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 111 °F (44 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.52 inches (39 mm) in February to 4.39 inches (112 mm) in July.

### Major highways

* Interstate 80
* U.S. Highway 30
* U.S. Highway 34
* U.S. Highway 52
* Illinois Route 25
* Illinois Route 31
* Illinois Route 47
* Illinois Route 71
* Illinois Route 126

### Adjacent counties

* DeKalb County - northwest
* Kane County - north
* DuPage County - northeast
* Will County - east
* Grundy County - south
* LaSalle County - west

## Demographics

As of the 2010 United States census, 114,736 people, 38,022 households, and 30,067 families were residing in the county. The population density was 358.2 inhabitants per square mile (138.3/km$^2$). The 40,321 housing units averaged 125.9 per square mile (48.6/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 83.6% White, 5.7% African American, 3.0% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 5.0% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 15.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 28.0% were German, 16.0% were Irish, 9.5% were Polish, 9.4% were Italian, 7.5% were English, and 3.2% were American.
Of the 38,022 households, 47.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.8% were married couples living together, 9.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 20.9% were not families, and 16.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.01, and the average family size was 3.41. The median age was 32.9 years.
The county's median household income was $79,897, and its median family income was $87,309. Males had a median income of $64,048 versus $42,679 for females. The county's per capita income was $30,565. About 2.9% of families and 3.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 4.6% of those under age 18 and 3.4% of those age 65 or over.
Kendall County was listed as the fastest-growing county in the US from 2000 to 2009, experiencing a population growth rate of 110.4% in this period. The reason for this growth is heavy suburbanization from the metropolitan Chicago area.

## Communities
### Cities

* Aurora (part)
* Joliet (part)
* Plano
* Sandwich (part)
* Yorkville (mostly)

### Villages

* Lisbon
* Millbrook
* Millington (mostly)
* Minooka (mostly)
* Montgomery (part)
* Newark
* Oswego (mostly)
* Plainfield (part)
* Plattville

### Census-designated place

* Boulder Hill

### Other unincorporated communities

* Ament Corners
* Bristol
* Fox
* Helmar
* Little Rock

### Townships

The county is an 18-mile (29 km) square, which is divided up into 9 townships. Each township is divided into 36 one-mile-square sections, except that the Fox River is used as a township border, resulting in Bristol being the smallest township with the extra area being assigned to Oswego and Kendall Townships. Two exceptions to the section grid reflect Indian land grants under the Treaty of Prairie du Chien in 1829: the Mo-Ah-Way Reservation in Oswego Township and the Waish-Kee-shaw Reservation in Na-Au-Say Township. These areas were eventually sold to European settlers.
* Big Grove Township
* Bristol Township
* Fox Township
* Kendall Township
* Lisbon Township
* Little Rock Township
* Na-au-say Township
* Oswego Township
* Seward Township

## Government

County board members run in two districts. All other officers run county-wide:
* County Board Members (District 1): Ruben Rodriguez, Scott Gengler, Brian DeBolt, Seth Wormley, Jason Peterson;
* County Board Members (District 2): Elizabeth Flowers, Brooke Shanley, Zach Bachman, Matt Kellogg, Dan Koukol;
* County Board Chairman – Matt Kellogg
* Forest Preserve President – Brian DeBolt
* Clerk of the Circuit Court – Matthew G. Prochaska
* Coroner – Jacquie Purcell
* County Clerk and Recorder – Debbie Gillette
* Sheriff – Dwight Baird
* State's Attorney – Eric Weis
* Treasurer – Jill Ferko

### Politics

For years, Kendall County was one of the most Republican counties in Illinois. Between the 1856 and 2004 elections, the only time Kendall County did not give a plurality to the GOP presidential nominee was in 1912, when the Republican Party was mortally divided and Progressive Party candidate Theodore Roosevelt won 57.56% of the county's vote against conservative incumbent president William Howard Taft. Moreover, only one Democratic presidential candidate – Franklin Delano Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936 – ever cracked 40% of Kendall County's vote during this span of 38 presidential elections.
In 2008, Illinois native Barack Obama became the first Democrat to carry the county since Franklin Pierce in 1852. Obama did not repeat this feat against Mitt Romney in 2012, nor did Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016.
Joe Biden won the county with a majority in 2020. Kamala Harris in 2024 became the first Democratic presidential nominee to carry the county despite losing the presidential election.
Kendall County is one of only thirteen counties to have voted for Obama in 2008, Romney in 2012, Trump in 2016, and Biden in 2020.
United States presidential election results for Kendall County, Illinois :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 31,970 | 48.04% | 32,977 | 49.55% | 1,602 | 2.41% |
| 2020 | 29,492 | 45.93% | 33,168 | 51.66% | 1,545 | 2.41% |
| 2016 | 24,961 | 46.18% | 24,884 | 46.03% | 4,210 | 7.79% |
| 2012 | 24,047 | 50.71% | 22,471 | 47.39% | 900 | 1.90% |
| 2008 | 21,380 | 45.75% | 24,742 | 52.95% | 609 | 1.30% |
| 2004 | 19,776 | 60.80% | 12,497 | 38.42% | 254 | 0.78% |
| 2000 | 13,688 | 60.12% | 8,444 | 37.09% | 637 | 2.80% |
| 1996 | 8,958 | 50.69% | 6,499 | 36.78% | 2,215 | 12.53% |
| 1992 | 8,521 | 46.29% | 5,423 | 29.46% | 4,462 | 24.24% |
| 1988 | 10,653 | 70.62% | 4,347 | 28.82% | 84 | 0.56% |
| 1984 | 10,872 | 73.81% | 3,789 | 25.72% | 69 | 0.47% |
| 1980 | 10,028 | 69.99% | 3,143 | 21.94% | 1,156 | 8.07% |
| 1976 | 9,011 | 67.50% | 4,202 | 31.48% | 136 | 1.02% |
| 1972 | 9,373 | 78.65% | 2,525 | 21.19% | 19 | 0.16% |
| 1968 | 7,184 | 70.45% | 2,228 | 21.85% | 786 | 7.71% |
| 1964 | 5,710 | 62.47% | 3,430 | 37.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 5,975 | 72.62% | 2,242 | 27.25% | 11 | 0.13% |
| 1956 | 5,057 | 78.15% | 1,407 | 21.74% | 7 | 0.11% |
| 1952 | 4,982 | 77.11% | 1,476 | 22.84% | 3 | 0.05% |
| 1948 | 3,925 | 71.77% | 1,517 | 27.74% | 27 | 0.49% |
| 1944 | 4,022 | 70.55% | 1,673 | 29.35% | 6 | 0.11% |
| 1940 | 4,200 | 67.79% | 1,978 | 31.92% | 18 | 0.29% |
| 1936 | 3,138 | 54.86% | 2,374 | 41.50% | 208 | 3.64% |
| 1932 | 2,749 | 52.77% | 2,398 | 46.04% | 62 | 1.19% |
| 1928 | 3,589 | 75.53% | 1,154 | 24.28% | 9 | 0.19% |
| 1924 | 3,513 | 79.68% | 432 | 9.80% | 464 | 10.52% |
| 1920 | 3,459 | 87.99% | 439 | 11.17% | 33 | 0.84% |
| 1916 | 3,316 | 75.38% | 1,008 | 22.91% | 75 | 1.70% |
| 1912 | 534 | 20.14% | 531 | 20.03% | 1,586 | 59.83% |
| 1908 | 1,948 | 73.87% | 556 | 21.08% | 133 | 5.04% |
| 1904 | 2,120 | 78.84% | 423 | 15.73% | 146 | 5.43% |
| 1900 | 2,121 | 72.04% | 713 | 24.22% | 110 | 3.74% |
| 1896 | 2,128 | 71.51% | 774 | 26.01% | 74 | 2.49% |
| 1892 | 1,691 | 59.46% | 848 | 29.82% | 305 | 10.72% |

### Property values

Kendall County was the fastest growing county in the US, more than doubling in population between the 2000 and 2010 censuses.
All five Kendall County communities analyzed saw their real home prices fall dramatically from 2007 to 2015, from a low of 17 percent in Montgomery to a high of 44 percent in Plano. Minooka and Oswego both saw their home values fall 34 percent. In Yorkville, they fell 36 percent.

## Education

* Lisbon Community Consolidated School District 90
* Newark Community Consolidated School District 66
* Newark Community High School District 18
* Oswego Community Unit School District 308
* Plano Community Unit School District 88
* Yorkville Community Unit School District 115
* School District #101
* School District #201
* School District #202
* School District #429
* School District #430 (Sandwich Community School District #430)
The northern half of the county is in Community College District 516 and is served by Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Aurora, and Plano. The southern half is in Community College District 525 and is served by Joliet Junior College in Joliet.

## In popular culture

Locations within and around the City of Plano were stand-ins for Clark Kent's hometown of Smallville, Kansas, in the 2013 film Man of Steel as well as the 2016 film Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Plano has also been used in the film Witless Protection, with both films having been filmed in Plano's historic downtown area. Filming has also taken place south of Plano at the Farnsworth House, a modern architectural landmark for documentaries and commercials.