Illinois

Will

696,355
2020 population
1840
first census record
19
census records

About Will

Will, Illinois, first appears in the United States federal census in 1840, when it recorded a population of 10,167. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 696,355.

The county's recorded population has risen across the decades to its highest level in 2020.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Fisher Site Conflict – Illinois, Oneota Village Conflict (Fisher Site Area), Fisher Site Oneota Conflicts, and 43 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
2020696,355
2010677,560
2000502,266
1990357,313
1980324,460
1970249,498
1960191,617
1950134,336
1940114,210
1930110,732
192092,911
191084,371
190074,764
189062,007
188053,422
187043,013
186029,321
185016,703
184010,167
Source

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

Battles & engagements in Will

Military engagements that took place in Will, Illinois.

Fisher Site Conflict – Illinois
1250
Oneota Village Conflict (Fisher Site Area)
1300
Fisher Site Oneota Conflicts
1350
Potawatomi Raids Allied with Black Hawk
1832

Historic places in Will

National Register of Historic Places listings in Will, Illinois.

Joliet Municipal Airport
Joliet
Illinois and Michigan Canal
Joliet
Peotone Mill
Peotone
U.S. Post Office
Joliet
Scutt, Hiram B., Mansion
Joliet
Downtown Peotone Historic District
Peotone
Rubens Rialto Square Theater
Joliet
Joilet YMCA
Joliet
Williamson County Jail
Marion
Joliet, Louis, Hotel
Joliet
Lockport Lock, Dam and Power House Historic District
Lockport
Joliet Steel Works
Joliet
Upper Bluff Historic District
Joliet
Flanders House
Plainfield
Heck, John, House
Lockport
Eagle Hotel
Wilmington
Milne, Robert, House
Lockport
Joliet Township High School
Joliet
Allen, Willis, House
Marion
Goddard Chapel
Marion
Beecher Mausoleum
Beecher
Brandon Road Lock and Dam Historic District
Joliet
Briscoe Mounds
Channahon
Union Station
Joliet
Browse all Illinoishistoric sites ›

Other counties in Illinois

Explore census history and historic records for more Illinois counties.

HamiltonHancockHardinHendersonHenryIroquoisJacksonJasperJeffersonJerseyJo DaviessJohnsonKaneKankakeeKendallKnoxLa SalleLakeLaSalleLawrence
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Everything a full report reveals about Will County, Illinois

This page charts the census history of Will 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 Will

When does Will first appear in the US census?
Will, Illinois first appears in the federal census in 1840, with a recorded population of 10,167.
What is the population of Will?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Will had a recorded population of 696,355.
Were any battles fought in Will?
4 documented military engagements took place in Will, including Fisher Site Conflict – Illinois, Oneota Village Conflict (Fisher Site Area), Fisher Site Oneota Conflicts.
How many historic places are in Will?
43 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Will, Illinois.
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