Kankakee County, Illinois

Infobox U.S. County
county = Kankakee County
state = Illinois


map size = 150
founded = February 11, 1853
seat = Kankakee | area_total_sq_mi =681
area_land_sq_mi =677
area_water_sq_mi =5
area percentage = 0.69%
census yr = 2000
pop = 103833
density_km2 =59
web = www.co.kankakee.il.us
|

Kankakee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 103,833. Its county seat is Kankakee, IllinoisGR|6.

The Kankakee-Bradley Metropolitan Statistical Area includes all of Kankakee County. The county is also part of the larger Chicago–Naperville–Michigan City, IL-IN-WI Combined Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 681 square miles (1,765 km²), of which, 677 square miles (1,753 km²) of it is land and 5 square miles (12 km²) of it (0.69%) is water.

Townships

Aroma Park, Bourbonnais, Essex, Kankakee, Limestone, Manteno, Momence, Pembroke, St. Anne, Bradley

Adjacent counties

*Will County - north
*Lake County, Indiana - northeast
*Newton County, Indiana - east
*Iroquois County - south
*Ford County - southwest
*Livingston County - southwest
*Grundy County - northwest

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 103,833 people, 38,182 households, and 26,765 families residing in the county. The population density was 153 people per square mile (59/km²). There were 40,610 housing units at an average density of 60 per square mile (23/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.89% White, 15.47% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 2.38% from other races, and 1.38% from two or more races. 4.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 21.3% were of German, 9.9% Irish, 8.7% French, 6.6% American and 5.4% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 94.1% spoke English and 4.3% Spanish as their first language.

There were 38,182 households out of which 34.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.80% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.90% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.12.

In the county the population was spread out with 27.10% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 22.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,532, and the median income for a family was $48,975. Males had a median income of $37,776 versus $25,287 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,055. About 8.70% of families and 11.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.60% of those under age 18 and 7.20% of those age 65 or over.

History

Settlers came to Kankakee County in 1834, after the federal government signed the Treaty of Camp Tippecanoe in 1832. As word spread about the government acquiring the land, many immigrants of New York and Vermont moved their way west, mostly locating in Momence, Illinois.

An act of the Illinois Legislature created Kankakee County out of the north part of Iroquois County and the south part of Will County on February 11, 1853. The six original townships were: Yellowhead, Rockville, Bourbonnais, Momence, Aroma Park, and Limestone. The population of the new county was about 8,000. It wasn’t until 1855 that the two western townships of Norton and Essex were taken from Vermilion County and added to Kankakee County.

The County was named for the Kankakee River.

See the [http://www.kcc.cc.il.us/hss/jpaul/french%20canadian/ "The French-Canadian Interview Project"] , an oral history of Kankakee County descendants of original settlers by the students of Professor James F. Paul of Kankakee Community College.

Kankakee County has produced three governors: Len Small (R), Samuel Shapiro (D) and George H. Ryan (R)

Townships

Kankakee County is divided into seventeen townships:

Unincorporated places

*Pembroke
*Sollitt

External links

* [http://kvaa.com/ Greater Kankakee Airport]
* [http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/illinois/preserves/art1121.html Illinois Preserves]
* [http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R2/MAZONIA.HTM Mazonia Park]
* [http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/Landmgt/PARKS/R2/KANKAKEE.HTM Kankakee Parks]
* [http://www.k-v-s-o.com/ KVSO]
* [http://kvta.org/ KVTA]
* [http://www.bourbonnaisfestival.com/ Bourbonnais Friendship Festival]
* [http://www.gladfest.com/ Momence Gladiolus Festival]
* [http://www.theatiki.org/ Theatiki]
* [http://www.splashvalley.com/ Splash Valley]
* [http://www.kankakeecountymuseum.com/ Kankakee County Museum]
* [http://www.kcc.cc.il.us/ Kankakee Community College]
* [http://www.govst.edu/ Governor's State University]
* [http://www.daily-journal.com/ The Daily Journal Newspaper]
* [http://tfdc.org/ Theatiki Fife and Drum Core]

References

*cite book
first = Richard L. (editor)
last = Forstall
year = 1996
title = Population of states and counties of the United States: 1790 to 1990 : from the twenty-one decennial censuses
publisher = United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census, Population Division
id = ISBN 0-934213-48-8----