Illinois

Kankakee

107,502
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Kankakee

Kankakee, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 15,412. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 107,502.

Its recorded population peaked at 113,449 in 2010, and has since declined by roughly 5 percent.

On the ground today, 15 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020107,502
2010113,449
2000103,833
199096,255
1980102,926
197097,250
196092,063
195073,524
194060,877
193050,095
192044,940
191040,752
190037,154
189028,732
188025,047
187024,352
186015,412
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Historic places in Kankakee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Kankakee, Illinois.

Illinois Central Railroad Depot
Kankakee
Windrose Site
Bourbonnais
Hunter-Hattenburg House
Kankakee
Durham-Perry Farmstead
Bourbonnais
Downtown Momence Historic District
Momence
Chipman, Edward, Public Library
Momence
Pope Brace Company Building
Kankakee
Point School
Grant Park
Bradley, B. Harley, House and Stable
Kankakee
Riverview Historic District
Kankakee
Kankakee County Courthouse
Kankakee
Hickox, Warren, House
Kankakee
Milk, Lemuel, Carriage House
Kankakee
Swannell, Charles E., House
Kankakee
Browse all Illinoishistoric sites ›

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Kankakee County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Kankakee County, Illinois. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Kankakee

When does Kankakee first appear in the US census?
Kankakee, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 15,412.
What is the population of Kankakee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Kankakee had a recorded population of 107,502.
When did Kankakee's population peak?
Kankakee's recorded population peaked at 113,449 in 2010.
How many historic places are in Kankakee?
15 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Kankakee, Illinois.
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