Illinois

Stephenson

44,630
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Stephenson

Stephenson, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,800. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 44,630.

Its recorded population peaked at 49,536 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 10 percent.

On the ground today, 10 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Fox Wars — Defeat of Fox, Kellogg's Grove First Fight, Battle of Kellogg's Grove Illinois 1832, and 16 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202044,630
201047,711
200048,979
199048,052
198049,536
197048,861
196046,207
195041,595
194040,646
193040,064
192037,743
191036,821
190034,933
189031,338
188031,963
187030,608
186025,112
185011,666
18402,800
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Stephenson

Military engagements that took place in Stephenson, Illinois.

Fox Wars — Defeat of Fox
1730
Kellogg's Grove First Fight
1832
Battle of Kellogg's Grove Illinois 1832
1832
Battle of Kellogg's Grove
1832
Battle of Kellogg's Grove — Second Skirmish (June 25, 1832)
1832
Skirmish at Yellow Creek
1832
Battle of Kellogg's Grove — First Skirmish (June 16, 1832)
1832
Kellogg's Grove Second Fight
1832
Battle of Kellogg's Grove (Second)
1832
Massacre at Rock Creek
1832

Historic places in Stephenson

National Register of Historic Places listings in Stephenson, Illinois.

Addams, John H., Homestead
Cedarville
Lena Water Tower
Lena
Central House
Orangeville
Soldiers' Monument
Freeport
Stephenson County Courthouse
Freeport
Union House
Orangeville
Bruce, James, Round Barn
Freeport
People's State Bank
Orangeville
Jensen, Chris, Round Barn
Lena
Kellogg's Grove
Kent
AF and AM Lodge 687, Orangeville
Orangeville
Harbach, Gerald, Round Barn
Eleroy
Taylor, Oscar, House
Freeport
Ritzman, William, House
Orangeville
Fehr, Charles, Round Barn
Orangeville
Otte, Dennis, Round Barn
Eleroy

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Stephenson County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Stephenson 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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Explore Illinois records

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Frequently asked about Stephenson

When does Stephenson first appear in the US census?
Stephenson, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,800.
What is the population of Stephenson?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Stephenson had a recorded population of 44,630.
When did Stephenson's population peak?
Stephenson's recorded population peaked at 49,536 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Stephenson?
10 documented military engagements took place in Stephenson, including Fox Wars — Defeat of Fox, Kellogg's Grove First Fight, Battle of Kellogg's Grove Illinois 1832.
How many historic places are in Stephenson?
16 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Stephenson, Illinois.
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