Kankakee County, Illinois
Encyclopedia
Kankakee County is a county located in the U.S. state
of Illinois
. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 113,449, which is an increase of 9.3% from 103,833 in 2000. Its county seat
is Kankakee
.
The Kankakee-Bradley
Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Kankakee County. The county is also part of the larger Chicago–Naperville
–Michigan City
, IL-IN
-WI
Combined Statistical Area.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 103,833 people, 38,182 households, and 26,765 families residing in the county. The population density
was 153 people per square mile (59/km²). There were 40,610 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile (23/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.89% White
, 15.47% Black
or African American
, 0.18% Native American
, 0.68% Asian
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
, 2.38% from other races
, and 1.38% from two or more races. 4.78% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race. 21.3% were of German
, 9.9% Irish
, 8.7% French
, 6.6% American
and 5.4% English
ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.1% spoke English
and 4.3% Spanish
as their first language.
There were 38,182 households out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.80% were married couples
living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,532, and the median income for a family was $48,975. Males had a median income of $37,776 versus $25,287 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $19,055. About 8.70% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.
(D), 47% for John McCain
(R). In the 2004 Presidential Election
, Kankakee County voted 55% in favor of George Bush
(R) and 44% for John Kerry
(D).
Kankakee County is in Illinois's 11th congressional district, represented by Republican Adam Kinzinger
(R-Manteno).
Kankakee County has produced three governors: Len Small
(R), Samuel Shapiro (D), and George H. Ryan (R).
Settlers came to Kankakee County in 1834, after the federal government signed the Treaty of Camp Tippecanoe in 1832. As word spread about the government acquiring the land, many immigrants of New York
and Vermont
moved their way west, mostly locating in Momence
, Illinois
.
An act of the Illinois Legislature created Kankakee County out of the north part of Iroquois County
and the south part of Will County
on February 11, 1853. The six original townships were: Yellowhead, Rockville, Bourbonnais
, Momence
, Aroma Park
, and Limestone. The population of the new county was about 8,000. It wasn’t until 1855 that the two western townships of Norton and Essex were taken from Vermilion County and added to Kankakee County. The County was named for the Kankakee River
.
:
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 113,449, which is an increase of 9.3% from 103,833 in 2000. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Kankakee
Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,561, and 26,840 as of a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Kankakee County...
.
The Kankakee-Bradley
Bradley, Illinois
Bradley is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 12,784 at the 2000 census, and 15,070 in 2009....
Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Kankakee County. The county is also part of the larger Chicago–Naperville
Naperville, Illinois
Naperville is a city in DuPage and Will Counties in Illinois in the United States, voted the second best place to live in the United States by Money Magazine in 2006. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 141,853. It is the fifth largest city in the state, behind Chicago,...
–Michigan City
Michigan City, Indiana
Michigan City's origins date to 1830, when the land for the city was first purchased by Isaac C. Elston. Elston Middle School, formerly Elston High School, located at 317 Detroit St., is named after the founder....
, IL-IN
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
-WI
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
Combined Statistical Area.
Geography
According to the 2010 census, the county has a total area of 681.36 square miles (1,764.7 km²), of which 676.56 square miles (1,752.3 km²) (or 99.30%) is land and 4.81 square miles (12.5 km²) (or 0.71%) is water.Major highways
U.S. Highway 52
U.S. Highway 45
Adjacent counties
- Will CountyWill County, IllinoisAs of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...
- north - Lake CountyLake County, IndianaLake County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. In 2010, its population was 496,005, making it Indiana's second-most populous county. The county seat is Crown Point. This county is part of Northwest Indiana and the Chicago metropolitan area. The county contains a mix of urban,...
, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
- northeast - Newton CountyNewton County, IndianaNewton County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. As of 2010, the population was 14,244. The county seat is Kentland.- History :...
, IndianaIndianaIndiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
- east - Iroquois CountyIroquois County, IllinoisIroquois County is a county located in the northeast part of the U.S. state of Illinois along the border with Indiana. It is the third largest county in the state in terms of area, covering over . According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 29,718, which is a decrease of 5.2% from 31,334...
- south - Ford County - southwest
- Livingston CountyLivingston County, IllinoisLivingston County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 38,950, which is a decrease of 1.8% from 39,678 in 2000. Its county seat is Pontiac....
- southwest - Grundy County - northwest
Demographics
As of the census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 103,833 people, 38,182 households, and 26,765 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 153 people per square mile (59/km²). There were 40,610 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile (23/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.89% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 15.47% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.18% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.68% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.02% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 2.38% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.38% from two or more races. 4.78% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race. 21.3% were of German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
, 9.9% Irish
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
, 8.7% French
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
, 6.6% American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and 5.4% English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.1% spoke English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and 4.3% Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
as their first language.
There were 38,182 households out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.80% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.12.
In the county the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $41,532, and the median income for a family was $48,975. Males had a median income of $37,776 versus $25,287 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $19,055. About 8.70% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Kankakee County is considered a swing county. In the 2008 Presidential Election Kankakee County voted 52% in favor of Illinois native Barack ObamaBarack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
(D), 47% for John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
(R). In the 2004 Presidential Election
2004 presidential election
The 2004 presidential election may refer to:* Afghan presidential election, 2004* Algerian presidential election, 2004* Austrian presidential election, 2004* Dominican Republic presidential election, 2004* Georgia presidential election, 2004...
, Kankakee County voted 55% in favor of George Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
(R) and 44% for John Kerry
John Kerry
John Forbes Kerry is the senior United States Senator from Massachusetts, the 10th most senior U.S. Senator and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He was the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2004 presidential election, but lost to former President George W...
(D).
Kankakee County is in Illinois's 11th congressional district, represented by Republican Adam Kinzinger
Adam Kinzinger
Adam Daniel Kinzinger is the U.S. Representative for . He is a member of the Republican Party.-Early life, education and career:...
(R-Manteno).
Kankakee County has produced three governors: Len Small
Len Small
Lennington Small was the 26th Governor of Illinois, serving from 1921 to 1929. He also served as a member of the Illinois state senate from the 16th District from 1901 to 1903 and was Illinois state treasurer, 1905–07 and 1917-19.Small was born in Kankakee County, Illinois.Lennington Small was...
(R), Samuel Shapiro (D), and George H. Ryan (R).
History
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
moved their way west, mostly locating in Momence
Momence, Illinois
Momence is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,171 at the 2000 census, and 3,063 in 2009. It is part of the Kankakee–Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Chicago–Naperville–Michigan City, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
.
An act of the Illinois Legislature created Kankakee County out of the north part of Iroquois County
Iroquois County, Illinois
Iroquois County is a county located in the northeast part of the U.S. state of Illinois along the border with Indiana. It is the third largest county in the state in terms of area, covering over . According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 29,718, which is a decrease of 5.2% from 31,334...
and the south part of Will County
Will County, Illinois
As of the census of 2000, there were 502,266 people, 167,542 households, and 131,017 families residing in the county. The population density was 600 people per square mile . There were 175,524 housing units at an average density of 210 per square mile...
on February 11, 1853. The six original townships were: Yellowhead, Rockville, Bourbonnais
Bourbonnais, Illinois
Bourbonnais is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,256 at the 2000 census, but it was estimated to have grown to 19,119 in 2009...
, Momence
Momence, Illinois
Momence is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 3,171 at the 2000 census, and 3,063 in 2009. It is part of the Kankakee–Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Chicago–Naperville–Michigan City, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical...
, Aroma Park
Aroma Park, Illinois
Aroma Park is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, along the Kankakee River opposite the mouth of the Iroquois River. Aroma Park's population was 821 at the 2000 census...
, and Limestone. The population of the new county was about 8,000. It wasn’t until 1855 that the two western townships of Norton and Essex were taken from Vermilion County and added to Kankakee County. The County was named for the Kankakee River
Kankakee River
The Kankakee River is a tributary of the Illinois River, approximately long, in northwestern Indiana and northeastern Illinois in the United States. At one time the river drained one of the largest wetlands in North America and furnished a significant portage between the Great Lakes and the...
.
Townships
Kankakee County is divided into seventeen townshipsTownship (United States)
A township in the United States is a small geographic area. Townships range in size from 6 to 54 square miles , with being the norm.The term is used in three ways....
:
|
Manteno Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Manteno Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 7,846, which makes it the third largest township in the county. It was formed from Rockville Township on March 12, 1855.-Geography:... Momence Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Momence Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 3,884. Momence Township is one of the original six townships of Kankakee County, Illinois; when first created the township encompassed land now in Sumner, Ganeer, and... Norton Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Norton Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. At the 2000 census, its population was 1,067. Norton Township was organized in 1857 out of Essex Township.-Geography:... Otto Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Otto Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,430. It was formed from portions of Aroma and Limestone townships on December 11, 1855 as Carthage Township; its name was changed to Otto Township on March 11,... Pembroke Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Pembroke Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,784. Pembroke Township was formed from parts of Momence township on February 17, 1877.-Geography:... Pilot Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Pilot Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,065. It was formed from a portion of Salina Township on March 11, 1857.-Geography:... |
Rockville Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Rockville Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 786. It was formerly a township of Will County until Kankakee County was created... St. Anne Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Saint Anne Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,108. The township was created on March 11, 1857 from parts of Aroma Township.-Geography:... Salina Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Salina Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 1,317. It was formed from part of Limestone Township on April 7, 1854.-Geography:... Sumner Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Sumner Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 879. It was formed as Union Township from part of Yellow Head Township on October 8, 1855; its name changed to Sumner Township on June 27, 1856.-Township Headquarters:The... Yellowhead Township, Kankakee County, Illinois Yellowhead Township is one of seventeen townships in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 2,567. Yellowhead Township derives its name from the Potawatomi warrior, Yellow Head, whose village was located at what is now Yellowhead Point.-Geography:According to... |
Villages
|
Grant Park, Illinois Grant Park is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. Grant Park was incorporated in 1883.. In 2000, Grant Park, IL had a population of 1,358, and in 2009, a population of 1,701. It is part of the Kankakee–Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area and the... Herscher, Illinois Herscher is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,523 at the 2000 census, and 1,619 as of a 2009 estimate... Hopkins Park, Illinois Hopkins Park is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 711 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Kankakee–Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Chicago–Naperville–Michigan City, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical Area.-Geography:Hopkins Park... Irwin, Illinois Irwin is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 92 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Kankakee-Bradley, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Irwin is located at .... Limestone, Illinois Limestone is a village in Limestone Township, Kankakee County, Illinois . It was incorporated in 2006 and had an estimated population of 1,646 in 2009.... Manteno, Illinois Manteno is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 8,575 in 2009. It is part of the Kankakee–Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Chicago–Naperville–Michigan City, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical Area.-General information:Manteno, Illinois... St. Anne, Illinois St. Anne is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,212 at the 2000 census, and 1,247 in 2009. It is part of the Kankakee–Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Chicago–Naperville–Michigan City, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical... |
Reddick, Illinois Reddick is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. A very small portion of the village extends into Livingston County. The population was 219 at the 2000 census.... Sammons Point, Illinois Sammons Point is a village in Otto Township in south central Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. It had an estimated population of 305 in 2007... Sun River Terrace, Illinois Sun River Terrace is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 383 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Kankakee-Bradley, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Sun River Terrace is located at .... Union Hill, Illinois Union Hill is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 66 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Kankakee-Bradley, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Union Hill is located at .... |
Unincorporated places
- Pembroke
- Sollitt
- Yeager
- Pewing