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Boone County, Illinois

Coordinates: 42°20′N 88°49′W / 42.33°N 88.81°W / 42.33; -88.81
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Boone County
County
Floyd Hopkins Block in the Belvidere North State Street Historic District
Floyd Hopkins Block in the Belvidere North State Street Historic District
Map of Illinois highlighting Boone County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 42°20′N 88°49′W / 42.33°N 88.81°W / 42.33; -88.81
Country United States
State Illinois
Founded1837
Named forDaniel Boone
SeatBelvidere
Largest cityBelvidere
Area
 • Total282.039 sq mi (730.48 km2)
 • Land280.741 sq mi (727.12 km2)
 • Water1.298 sq mi (3.36 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total53,448
 • Estimate 
(2023)
53,202 Decrease
 • Density190/sq mi (73/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts11th, 16th
Websitewww.boonecountyil.org

Boone County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,448. Its county seat is Belvidere.[1] Boone County is included in the Rockford, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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Unlike most of Illinois, much of Northern Illinois was not submerged in a shallow prehistoric sea. As a result, bedrock found in the area now bounded as Boone County is almost entirely Ordovician, as opposed to nearby counties like McHenry and Carroll which contain large areas of later Silurian bedrock. Till and outwash from the Illinoian glaciation covers area bedrock to a depth of several hundred feet. The county's proximity to the driftless area protected the region somewhat from the more recent Wisconsin glaciation. As a result, the county's northern townships resemble a driftless-like area, with higher peak elevations and more surface detail compared to the southern townships dominated by the broad flood plains of the Kishwaukee River and its tributaries.

By the time of the first identified human settlements, the region was made up of thickly wooded forested hills and grassy prairie plains. Archeological study at the Koster Site seems to indicate that humans had established complex societies ten thousand years ago along the river basins of the Illinois and Mississippi. By the time of European exploration, Upper Mississippian culture collapsed; westward expansion forced many Algonquin-speaking nations into conflict with each other as they moved after encroachment of their lands. Potowatomi and Mascouten tribes were still living in the region when white settlers arrived and statehood was declared in 1818.

As a political institution, Boone County was formed in 1837 out of Winnebago County. It was named for Kentucky frontiersman Daniel Boone.[2] The first non-Native American settlers arrived in what is now Boone County in 1835. They arrived as a result of the end of the Black Hawk War as well as the completion of the Erie Canal. They consisted entirely of settlers from New England. These were "Yankee" settlers, that is to say they were descended from the English Puritans who settled New England in the colonial era. They were primarily members of the Congregational Church though due to the Second Great Awakening many of them had converted to Methodism and some had become Baptists before coming to what is now Boone County. When the New England settlers arrived in what is now Boone County there was nothing but a dense virgin forest and wild prairie. In the late 1870s immigrants began arriving from Germany and Ireland.[3]

  • Boone County at the time of its creation in 1837
    Boone County at the time of its creation in 1837

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 282.039 square miles (730.48 km2) (99.5%), of which 280.741 square miles (727.12 km2) is land and 1.298 square miles (3.36 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Logan Avenue county route 40 Genoa Road (T-40) Garden Prairie Road county route 41 Poplar Grove Road county route 32 Capron Road (T-41)

Climate and weather

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Belvidere, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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1.5
 
 
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11
 
 
1.3
 
 
33
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2.4
 
 
45
26
 
 
3.7
 
 
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37
 
 
4.1
 
 
71
47
 
 
4.6
 
 
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3.9
 
 
85
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4.5
 
 
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3.3
 
 
75
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2.6
 
 
63
39
 
 
2.7
 
 
47
29
 
 
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33
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[5]
Metric conversion
J
F
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38
 
 
−2
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33
 
 
1
−9
 
 
61
 
 
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15
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22
8
 
 
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27
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98
 
 
29
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114
 
 
28
16
 
 
84
 
 
24
11
 
 
66
 
 
17
4
 
 
68
 
 
8
−2
 
 
50
 
 
1
−8
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Belvidere have ranged from a low of 11 °F (−12 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −29 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in January 1979 and a record high of 109 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.29 inches (33 mm) in February to 4.56 inches (116 mm) in June.[5]

Demographics

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2000 census age pyramid for Boone County.
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18401,705—
18507,624347.2%
186011,67853.2%
187012,94210.8%
188011,508−11.1%
189012,2036.0%
190015,79129.4%
191015,481−2.0%
192015,322−1.0%
193015,078−1.6%
194015,2020.8%
195017,07012.3%
196020,32619.1%
197025,44025.2%
198028,63012.5%
199030,8067.6%
200041,78635.6%
201054,16529.6%
202053,448−1.3%
2023 (est.)53,202[6]−0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[11]

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 53,448 people, 18,799 households, and 13,580 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 189.5 inhabitants per square mile (73.2/km2). There were 20,157 housing units at an average density of 71.5 per square mile (27.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 72.5% white, 2.3% black or African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.9% American Indian, 11.6% from other races, and 11.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 24.1% of the population.[13] The most common reported ancestries were German (23.7%), Irish (11.7%), Italian (7.4%), and Swedish (7.4%).

Of the 18,799 households, 31.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.5% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.8% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.82 and the average family size was 3.33.

The county's age distribution consisted of 24.7% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 23.1% from 25 to 44, 27.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.7 years. For every 100 females, there were 99.0 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $70.396 and the median income for a family was $84,450. Males had a median income of $50,213 versus $30,219 for females. The per capita income for the county was $32,659. About 5.0% of families and 8.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.5% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.[14]

2020 Census

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Boone County Racial Composition[15]
Race Num. Perc.
White (NH) 36,689 68.64%
Black or African American (NH) 1,171 2.2%
Native American (NH) 72 0.13%
Asian (NH) 637 1.2%
Pacific Islander (NH) 9 0.02%
Other/Mixed (NH) 1,990 3.72%
Hispanic or Latino 12,880 24.1%

Education

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Communities

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Community
 Community
type 		Population Total
Area 		Water
Area 		Land
Area 		Pop.
Density
Belvidere city 25,339 12.38 0.24 12.14 2,087.06
Caledonia village 183 1.03 0.00 1.03 176.81
Capron village 1,395 0.77 0.00 0.77 1,806.7
Cherry Valley village 2,905 8.66 0.25 8.40 345.63
Poplar Grove village 5,049 7.67 0.01 7.66 658.88
Timberlane village 906 1.76 0.02 1.75 518.90
Boone County county 53,448 282.039 1.298 280.741 190

Unincorporated communities

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Townships

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Boone County is divided into these nine townships:

Government

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Boone County is located in the Boone-Winnebago County Regional Office of Education #4.[16]

Boone County, with neighboring Winnebago County, is located in Illinois's 17th Judicial Circuit. The entirety of Boone County, along with portions of southeastern Winnebago County, is in the third subcircuit.[17]

Politics

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United States presidential election results for Boone County, Illinois[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 13,883 55.43% 10,542 42.09% 623 2.49%
2016 12,282 53.40% 8,986 39.07% 1,733 7.53%
2012 11,096 51.75% 9,883 46.09% 462 2.15%
2008 10,403 46.78% 11,333 50.96% 502 2.26%
2004 11,132 56.97% 8,286 42.40% 123 0.63%
2000 8,617 55.51% 6,481 41.75% 425 2.74%
1996 6,181 47.51% 5,345 41.09% 1,483 11.40%
1992 5,589 41.01% 5,114 37.53% 2,924 21.46%
1988 6,923 61.69% 4,234 37.73% 65 0.58%
1984 7,536 66.65% 3,717 32.88% 53 0.47%
1980 6,697 57.66% 3,175 27.34% 1,742 15.00%
1976 6,470 58.38% 4,458 40.23% 154 1.39%
1972 7,003 68.89% 3,131 30.80% 31 0.30%
1968 5,936 62.27% 2,801 29.38% 796 8.35%
1964 5,053 57.77% 3,694 42.23% 0 0.00%
1960 6,552 71.51% 2,605 28.43% 5 0.05%
1956 6,706 77.96% 1,890 21.97% 6 0.07%
1952 6,628 74.21% 2,287 25.60% 17 0.19%
1948 4,916 71.43% 1,941 28.20% 25 0.36%
1944 5,708 73.18% 2,074 26.59% 18 0.23%
1940 6,330 73.33% 2,277 26.38% 25 0.29%
1936 5,375 67.00% 2,383 29.71% 264 3.29%
1932 5,244 69.23% 2,239 29.56% 92 1.21%
1928 5,965 80.95% 1,371 18.60% 33 0.45%
1924 4,872 75.37% 348 5.38% 1,244 19.25%
1920 5,386 89.39% 496 8.23% 143 2.37%
1916 5,181 77.58% 1,211 18.13% 286 4.28%
1912 1,361 36.96% 540 14.67% 1,781 48.37%
1908 2,805 76.06% 587 15.92% 296 8.03%
1904 3,036 84.69% 302 8.42% 247 6.89%
1900 3,159 79.55% 704 17.73% 108 2.72%
1896 3,111 80.89% 657 17.08% 78 2.03%
1892 1,994 73.82% 518 19.18% 189 7.00%

As a historic Yankee settlement, Boone County in its early years was a major base for the Free Soil Party, being one of nine Illinois counties to vote for Martin van Buren in 1848. Its Free Soil affinities meant Boone became one of the first strongholds of the Republican Party and remained overwhelmingly Republican for the following century, although it did vote for Progressive Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 when the Republican Party was severely split. Between at least 1892 and 1928 no Democratic presidential candidate ever managed twenty percent of the county's vote, and in the century up to 1960 no Democrat reached thirty percent – a degree of GOP loyalty comparable to such famous bastions as Owsley County in Kentucky, Grant County in West Virginia, or Avery County in North Carolina. Even Barry Goldwater, who alienated the Yankee Northeast so much as to lose all but one county there, still won Boone County by 15.6 percentage points, and between 1968 and 1988 no Democrat did better than Jimmy Carter’s 40.2 percent.

The shift of the Republican Party towards an expanded Southern and Western base, and particularly its growing strength with social conservatives, alienated the Yankee North during the 1990s and 2000s, but Boone County remained in Republican hands. The candidacy of Ross Perot in 1992 and 1996 caused George H. W. Bush and Bob Dole both to win Boone County with mere pluralities against Bill Clinton, and in 2008, Illinois resident Barack Obama became the only Democrat to carry the county since James K. Polk in 1844. The 2010s have seen a reversal of this Democratic trend due to concern over employment declines in the “Rust Belt."

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ^ History of the Origin of the Place Names in Nine Northwestern States. 1908. p. 12.
  3. ^ The Past and Present of Boone County, Illinois. Chicago: H. F. Kett & Company, 1877, p. 226.
  4. ^ "Gazetteer Files". Census.gov. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Belvidere, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  6. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  7. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  10. ^ "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 3, 2014.
  11. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on August 15, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2014.
  12. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved July 1, 2022.
  13. ^ "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.
  14. ^ "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.
  15. ^ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Boone County, Illinois".
  16. ^ Chico, Gery J. (November 23, 2013). "Order of the State Board of Education Pursuant to 105 ILCS 5/3A-4 (a)" (PDF). Illinois State Board of Education. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 6, 2018. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
  17. ^ "Seventeenth Circuit Maps and Legal Descriptions". Illinois State Board of Elections. April 22, 2022. Retrieved April 22, 2022. Click View PDF
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

Further reading

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42°20′N 88°49′W / 42.33°N 88.81°W / 42.33; -88.81

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