Illinois

Wayne

16,179
2020 population
1820
first census record
21
census records

About Wayne

Wayne, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1820, when it recorded a population of 1,114. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 16,179.

Its recorded population peaked at 27,626 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 41 percent.

On the ground today, 3 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202016,179
201016,760
200017,151
199017,241
198018,059
197017,004
196019,008
195020,933
194022,092
193019,130
192022,772
191025,697
190027,626
189023,806
188021,291
187019,758
186012,223
18506,825
18405,133
18302,553
18201,114
Source

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

Historic places in Wayne

National Register of Historic Places listings in Wayne, Illinois.

Mayberry Mound and Village Site
Sims
George, G.J., House
Fairfield
Turney-Hall House (Additional Documentation)
Fairfield

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Everything a full report reveals about Wayne County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Wayne 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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Illinoishistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Illinois›

Frequently asked about Wayne

When does Wayne first appear in the US census?
Wayne, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1820, with a recorded population of 1,114.
What is the population of Wayne?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wayne had a recorded population of 16,179.
When did Wayne's population peak?
Wayne's recorded population peaked at 27,626 in 1900.
How many historic places are in Wayne?
3 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wayne, Illinois.
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