DeKalb County, Illinois
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
DeKalb County, Illinois | |
Map | |
Location in the state of Illinois |
|
Illinois's location in the U.S. |
|
Statistics | |
Founded | 1836 |
---|---|
Seat | Sycamore |
Area - Total - Land - Water |
634 sq mi (1,642 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.13% |
Population - (2000) - Density |
88,969 140/sq mi (54/km²) |
Website: www.dekalbcounty.org |
DeKalb County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. In 2000, the population was 88,969. As of 2007, the population is estimated at 103,729. Its county seat is Sycamore, Illinois[1]. DeKalb County is part of the Chicago metropolitan statistical area.
Contents |
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 635 square miles (1,645 km²), of which 634 square miles (1,642 km²) is land and 1 square mile (2 km²) (0.13%) is water.
[edit] Adjacent counties
- Boone County - north
- McHenry County - northeast
- Kane County - east
- Kendall County - southeast
- LaSalle County - south
- Lee County - west
- Ogle County - west
- Winnebago County - northwest
[edit] History
DeKalb County Population by year |
|
2000 - 88,969 |
DeKalb County was formed in 1837 out of Kane County, Illinois. The County was named in honor of Johann de Kalb a German (Bavarian) hero of the American Revolutionary War. Kalb was with Gen. Washington at Valley Forge. He was killed at the Battle of Camden.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 88,969 people, 31,674 households, and 19,954 families residing in the county. The population density was 140 people per square mile (54/km²). There were 32,988 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile (20/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.46% White, 4.59% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 2.35% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 2.74% from other races, and 1.57% from two or more races. 6.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 25.6% were of German, 10.8% Irish, 7.2% English, 5.9% American and 5.0% Norwegian ancestry according to Census 2000. 90.8% spoke English and 5.7% Spanish as their first language.
There were 31,674 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.90% were married couples living together, 8.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.00% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 3.11.
In the county the population was spread out with 23.10% under the age of 18, 22.00% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 17.40% from 45 to 64, and 9.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,828, and the median income for a family was $58,194. Males had a median income of $41,111 versus $26,690 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,462. About 5.10% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 4.50% of those age 65 or over.
[edit] Townships
DeKalb County is divided into nineteen townships:
[edit] Cities and towns
- Cortland
- DeKalb
- Genoa
- Hinckley
- Kingston
- Kirkland
- Lee
- Malta
- Maple Park - Mostly in Kane County, Illinois
- Sandwich
- Shabbona
- Somonauk
- Sycamore
- Waterman
[edit] Pronunciation
Area residents pronounce the county name, as well as the name of the city of DeKalb, IPA: /dɨˈkeɪlb/ "di-KAYLB" with the L sound, unlike similarly spelled locations where the L is silent, such as DeKalb County, Georgia.
[edit] External links
- History pages for DeKalb County towns and cities
- De Kalb County at the Open Directory Project
- DeKalb County Youth Service Bureau
- Taming the Wild Prairie: A History of DeKalb County, Illinois, 1837-1900, Illinois Historical Digitization Projects at Northern Illinois University Libraries
[edit] References
- Forstall, Richard L. (editor) (1996). Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 : from the twenty-one decennial censuses. United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division. ISBN 0-934213-48-8.
|