Henry County, Illinois

Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. The 2020 United States Census, listed its population at 49,284.[1] Its county seat is Cambridge.[2]

Not to be confused with Henry, Illinois or McHenry County, Illinois.

Henry County
County
Henry County Courthouse
Henry County Courthouse
Map of Illinois highlighting Henry County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°21′N 90°08′W
Country United States
State Illinois
Founded13 January 1825
Named forPatrick Henry
SeatCambridge
Largest cityKewanee
Area
 • Total826 sq mi (2,140 km2)
 • Land823 sq mi (2,130 km2)
 • Water2.7 sq mi (7 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total49,284
 • Density60/sq mi (23/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts16th, 17th
Websitewww.henrycty.com

Henry County is included in the Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.[3]

History

Henry County was formed on January 13, 1825, out of Fulton County, Illinois. It is named for Patrick Henry,[4] Revolutionary War firebrand and champion of individual rights, to whom the slogan "give me liberty, or give me death" is attributed. 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.[5]

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 9 June 1843. The incoming "Yankee" settlers made Henry County culturally similar to early New England culture.[6][7]

  • Henry County from the time of its creation to 1827
    Henry County from the time of its creation to 1827
  • The county between 1827 and 1831
    The county between 1827 and 1831
  • Henry between 1831 and 1836
    Henry between 1831 and 1836
  • Henry in 1836, after Whiteside County was created
    Henry in 1836, after Whiteside County was created

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.[8] 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.[9]

Climate and weather
Cambridge, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
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1.5
 
 
29
13
 
 
1.6
 
 
35
19
 
 
2.7
 
 
47
30
 
 
3.7
 
 
61
40
 
 
4.2
 
 
73
52
 
 
4.2
 
 
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3.9
 
 
86
66
 
 
4.3
 
 
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3.3
 
 
76
55
 
 
3
 
 
63
43
 
 
2.8
 
 
47
31
 
 
2.2
 
 
33
19
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source:The Weather Channel[10]
Metric conversion
J
F
M
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39
 
 
−2
−11
 
 
40
 
 
2
−7
 
 
68
 
 
8
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95
 
 
16
4
 
 
107
 
 
23
11
 
 
107
 
 
28
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99
 
 
30
19
 
 
110
 
 
28
17
 
 
84
 
 
24
13
 
 
76
 
 
17
6
 
 
72
 
 
8
−1
 
 
55
 
 
1
−7
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

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.[10]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
183041—
18401,2602,973.2%
18503,807202.1%
186020,660442.7%
187035,50671.9%
188036,5973.1%
189033,338−8.9%
190040,04920.1%
191041,7364.2%
192045,1628.2%
193043,851−2.9%
194043,798−0.1%
195046,4926.2%
196049,3176.1%
197053,2177.9%
198057,9688.9%
199051,159−11.7%
200051,020−0.3%
201050,486−1.0%
202049,284−2.4%
US Decennial Census[11]
1790-1960[12] 1900-1990[13]
1990-2000[14] 2010[15]
2000 census age pyramid for Henry County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 50,486 people, 20,373 households, and 14,149 families residing in the county.[16] 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).[8] 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.[16] 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.[17]

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.[16]

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.[18]

Communities

Cities

Towns

Villages

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[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 15,300 59.53% 9,797 38.12% 604 2.35%
2016 13,985 56.75% 8,871 36.00% 1,787 7.25%
2012 11,583 47.46% 12,332 50.53% 490 2.01%
2008 11,263 45.33% 13,181 53.04% 405 1.63%
2004 13,212 52.34% 11,877 47.05% 152 0.60%
2000 10,896 46.43% 11,921 50.79% 653 2.78%
1996 8,393 38.33% 11,201 51.15% 2,303 10.52%
1992 8,989 36.88% 11,077 45.45% 4,305 17.66%
1988 11,358 49.28% 11,594 50.30% 96 0.42%
1984 14,504 57.41% 10,679 42.27% 79 0.31%
1980 14,506 59.93% 7,977 32.95% 1,723 7.12%
1976 12,849 56.03% 9,822 42.83% 263 1.15%
1972 14,796 63.82% 8,368 36.09% 21 0.09%
1968 12,524 55.10% 8,455 37.20% 1,752 7.71%
1964 10,644 46.83% 12,085 53.17% 0 0.00%
1960 14,297 57.91% 10,372 42.01% 21 0.09%
1956 15,896 65.46% 8,349 34.38% 39 0.16%
1952 16,301 65.49% 8,558 34.38% 33 0.13%
1948 12,363 58.84% 8,489 40.40% 159 0.76%
1944 13,539 59.48% 9,130 40.11% 92 0.40%
1940 14,971 58.37% 10,481 40.86% 196 0.76%
1936 11,953 49.61% 11,490 47.69% 651 2.70%
1932 11,376 51.25% 10,122 45.60% 701 3.16%
1928 14,666 70.83% 5,858 28.29% 183 0.88%
1924 13,159 72.39% 1,944 10.69% 3,076 16.92%
1920 12,379 78.96% 2,530 16.14% 768 4.90%
1916 11,406 65.42% 5,220 29.94% 808 4.63%
1912 1,859 20.29% 2,219 24.22% 5,085 55.49%
1908 6,387 64.53% 2,499 25.25% 1,011 10.22%
1904 7,331 74.52% 1,390 14.13% 1,117 11.35%
1900 6,892 68.54% 2,809 27.94% 354 3.52%
1896 6,177 66.03% 2,971 31.76% 207 2.21%
1892 4,265 55.82% 2,670 34.95% 705 9.23%

See also

References
  1. "Henry County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. 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.
  4. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 155.
  5. The expansion of New England: the spread of New England settlement and institutions to the Mississippi River, 1620-1865, pp. 215-216
  6. History Henry County, Illinois H.F. Kett & Company (1877) pp. 177-178
  7. 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
  8. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  9. Henry County website
  10. "Monthly Averages for Cambridge IL". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on October 23, 2012. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  11. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  14. "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.
  15. "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  16. "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.
  17. "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.
  18. "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.
  19. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 1, 2018.

41°21′11″N 90°07′53″W

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