Illinois

Lee

34,145
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Lee

Lee, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,035. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 34,145.

Its recorded population peaked at 38,749 in 1960, and has since declined by roughly 12 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Dixon's Ferry / Fort Dixon Skirmishes, Raid on Indian Creek, and 10 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202034,145
201036,031
200036,062
199034,392
198036,328
197037,947
196038,749
195036,451
194034,604
193032,329
192028,004
191027,750
190029,894
189026,187
188027,491
187027,171
186017,651
18505,292
18402,035
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Lee

Military engagements that took place in Lee, Illinois.

Dixon's Ferry / Fort Dixon Skirmishes
1832
Raid on Indian Creek
1832

Historic places in Lee

National Register of Historic Places listings in Lee, Illinois.

Nachusa House
Dixon
Dixon Downtown Historic District
Dixon
Reagan's, Ronald, Boyhood Home
Dixon
Lowell Park
Dixon
Wright, Stephen, House
Paw Paw
Brookner, Christopher, House
Dixon
Illinois Central Stone Arch Railroad Bridges
Dixon
Whitney, Col. Nathan, House
Franklin Grove
Amboy Illinois Central Depot
Amboy
Van Epps, William H., House
Dixon

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Lee County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Lee 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 Lee

When does Lee first appear in the US census?
Lee, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,035.
What is the population of Lee?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Lee had a recorded population of 34,145.
When did Lee's population peak?
Lee's recorded population peaked at 38,749 in 1960.
Were any battles fought in Lee?
2 documented military engagements took place in Lee, including Dixon's Ferry / Fort Dixon Skirmishes, Raid on Indian Creek.
How many historic places are in Lee?
10 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Lee, Illinois.
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