Winnebago County, Illinois

Infobox U.S. County
county = Winnebago County
state = Illinois




map size = 150
founded = 1834
seat = Rockford | area_total_sq_mi =519
area_land_sq_mi =514
area_water_sq_mi =6
area percentage = 1.07%
census yr = 2000
pop = 278418
density_km2 =11
web = www.co.winnebago.il.us
|

Winnebago County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 278,418. Its county seat is Rockford, IllinoisGR|6.

Winnebago County is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 519 square miles (1,345 km²), of which, 514 square miles (1,331 km²) of it is land and 6 square miles (14 km²) of it (1.07%) is water.

Townships

Burritt, Cherry Valley, Durand, Harlem, Harrison, Laona, Owen, Pecatonica, Rockford, Rockton, Roscoe, Seward, Shirland, Winnebago

Adjacent counties

*Rock County, Wisconsin (north)
*Boone County (east)
*DeKalb County (southeast)
*Ogle County (south)
*Stephenson County (west)
*Green County, Wisconsin (northwest)

History

Winnebago County was formed in 1836 out of Jo Daviess and LaSalle Counties. It was named for the Winnebago Tribe of Native Americans.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 278,418 people, 107,980 households, and 73,642 families residing in the county. The population density was 542 people per square mile (209/km²). There were 114,404 housing units at an average density of 223 per square mile (86/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.46% White, 10.53% Black or African American, 0.29% Native American, 1.72% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 3.11% from other races, and 1.86% from two or more races. 6.90% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 20.8% were of German, 9.2% Swedish, 8.9% Irish, 7.3% Italian, 6.6% English and 6.1% American ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 107,980 households out of which 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.30% were married couples living together, 11.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county the population was spread out with 26.40% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 29.80% from 25 to 44, 22.70% from 45 to 64, and 12.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $43,886, and the median income for a family was $52,456. Males had a median income of $40,289 versus $25,942 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,194. About 6.90% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.90% of those under age 18 and 6.80% of those age 65 or over.

Townships

Winnebago County is divided into these townships:

Cities and towns

ee also

*Winnebago County War Memorial

External links

* [http://www.co.winnebago.il.us/ Winnebago County Website]
* [http://genealogytrails.com/ill/winnebago/ History of Winnebago County]