Illinois

Whiteside

55,691
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Whiteside

Whiteside, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 2,514. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 55,691.

Its recorded population peaked at 65,970 in 1980, and has since declined by roughly 16 percent.

On the ground today, 2 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Battle of Epps' Ferry, St. Vrain's Battle / Encampment Fight, and 24 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202055,691
201058,498
200060,653
199060,186
198065,970
197062,877
196059,887
195049,336
194043,338
193039,019
192036,174
191034,507
190034,710
189030,854
188030,885
187027,503
186018,737
18505,361
18402,514
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Whiteside

Military engagements that took place in Whiteside, Illinois.

Battle of Epps' Ferry
1832
St. Vrain's Battle / Encampment Fight
1832

Historic places in Whiteside

National Register of Historic Places listings in Whiteside, Illinois.

McCune Mound and Village Site
Sterling
Odell Building
Morrison
Albany Mounds Site
Albany
Sterling Masonic Temple
Sterling
Martin House
Fulton
Kirk, Col. Edward N., House
Sterling
Lock and Dam No. 13 Historic District
Fulton
First Congregational Church of Sterling
Sterling
Lyndon Bridge
Lyndon
Fulton Commercial Historic District
Fulton
Morrison Main Street Historic District
Morrison
Main Street Historic District
Tampico
Malvern Roller Mill
Morrison
Sinnissippi Site
Sterling
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 Whiteside County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Whiteside 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 Whiteside

When does Whiteside first appear in the US census?
Whiteside, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 2,514.
What is the population of Whiteside?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Whiteside had a recorded population of 55,691.
When did Whiteside's population peak?
Whiteside's recorded population peaked at 65,970 in 1980.
Were any battles fought in Whiteside?
2 documented military engagements took place in Whiteside, including Battle of Epps' Ferry, St. Vrain's Battle / Encampment Fight.
How many historic places are in Whiteside?
24 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Whiteside, Illinois.
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