Ogle County
History
Ogle County was formed in 1836 out of Jo Daviess and LaSalle counties, and named in honor of Captain Joseph Ogle, a veteran of the Revolutionary War who settled in Illinois in 1785. Ogle County government was organized in 1837; before that time it remained assigned to Jo Daviess County for legislative, taxation, and judicial matters. In 1839, part of Ogle County was partitioned off to form Lee County.
Ogle County was a New England settlement. The founders of Oregon and Rochelle arrived from New England; they were "Yankees", descendants of English Puritans who had settled New England in the 1600s. They were part of a wave of farmers who migrated into the Northwest Territory in the early 1800s, their trek eased by completion of the Erie Canal in 1825. They found virgin forest and wild prairie, and quickly laid out farms, constructed roads, erected government buildings and established post routes. They brought a passion for education and strong abolitionism. They were members of the Congregationalist or Episcopalian Church. Culturally Ogle County, like much of northern Illinois would maintain values similar to those of New England.
-
Ogle County between 1836 and 1839
-
Ogle County after 1839, when Lee County was formed
Geography
According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 763 square miles (1,980 km), of which 759 square miles (1,970 km) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km) (0.6%) is water.
Adjacent counties
- Winnebago County - north
- Boone County - northeast
- Stephenson County - northwest
- DeKalb County - east
- Carroll County - west
- Lee County - south
- Whiteside County - southwest
Climate
Oregon, Illinois | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Climate chart (explanation) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
In recent years, average temperatures in Oregon have ranged from a low of 10 °F (−12 °C) in January to a high of 82 °F (28 °C) in July, although a record low of −27 °F (−33 °C) was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of 110 °F (43 °C) was recorded in July 1936. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.43 inches (36 mm) in February to 4.88 inches (124 mm) in June.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1840 | 3,479 | — | |
1850 | 10,020 | 188.0% | |
1860 | 22,888 | 128.4% | |
1870 | 27,492 | 20.1% | |
1880 | 29,937 | 8.9% | |
1890 | 28,710 | −4.1% | |
1900 | 29,129 | 1.5% | |
1910 | 27,864 | −4.3% | |
1920 | 26,830 | −3.7% | |
1930 | 28,118 | 4.8% | |
1940 | 29,869 | 6.2% | |
1950 | 33,429 | 11.9% | |
1960 | 38,106 | 14.0% | |
1970 | 42,867 | 12.5% | |
1980 | 46,338 | 8.1% | |
1990 | 45,957 | −0.8% | |
2000 | 51,032 | 11.0% | |
2010 | 53,497 | 4.8% | |
2020 | 51,788 | −3.2% | |
2023 (est.) | 51,265 | −1.0% | |
US Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 |
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000 | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 47,057 | 47,425 | 43,120 | 92.21% | 88.65% | 83.26% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 204 | 468 | 543 | 0.40% | 0.87% | 1.05% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 89 | 91 | 72 | 0.17% | 0.17% | 0.14% |
Asian alone (NH) | 209 | 241 | 259 | 0.41% | 0.45% | 0.50% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0.04% | 0.01% | 0.00% |
Other race alone (NH) | 19 | 19 | 104 | 0.04% | 0.04% | 0.20% |
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 369 | 507 | 1,893 | 0.72% | 0.95% | 3.66% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 3,066 | 4,741 | 5,797 | 6.01% | 8.86% | 11.19% |
Total | 51,032 | 53,497 | 51,788 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 53,497 people, 20,856 households, and 14,711 families residing in the county. The population density was 70.5 inhabitants per square mile (27.2/km). There were 22,561 housing units at an average density of 29.7 per square mile (11.5/km). The racial makeup of the county was 93.2% white, 0.9% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 3.8% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 38.0% were German, 15.3% were Irish, 10.2% were English, 6.4% were American, 5.3% were Swedish, and 5.3% were Norwegian.
Of the 20,856 households, 33.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.5% were non-families, and 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.01. The median age was 40.7 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $55,733 and the median income for a family was $64,927. Males had a median income of $49,996 versus $32,082 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,959. About 6.6% of families and 8.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.4% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
By 2000, 65% of the county labor force was employed as white-collar workers with an increase of 20 points in comparison with 1990 statistics. Manufacturing remains the leading employment sector absorbing more than 21.7% of the labor force though there was a decrease from 30,4% in 1995. However it is expected that services would replace manufacturing starting 2015 as the leading activity.
Agriculture remains important in Ogle county, mainly corn and soybeans. In 2003, the Illinois Department of Agriculture ranked Ogle County 17th in the State for crop cash receipts, and 14th in the state for livestock cash receipts. As for livestock production, hogs and pigs are still leading even though productions decreased from 57,000 units in 1998 to 48,900 in 2002.
The county also got some investment packages such as a $180 million truck-to-train cargo hub in 2006. In August 2006, it was announced that a new ethanol production facility would receive a package of $5.5 million Opportunity Returns grant from the State.
Politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2024 | 16,450 | 63.76% | 8,883 | 34.43% | 466 | 1.81% |
2020 | 16,248 | 61.69% | 9,428 | 35.79% | 664 | 2.52% |
2016 | 14,352 | 59.32% | 8,050 | 33.27% | 1,791 | 7.40% |
2012 | 13,422 | 57.44% | 9,514 | 40.72% | 431 | 1.84% |
2008 | 13,144 | 52.72% | 11,253 | 45.13% | 537 | 2.15% |
2004 | 14,918 | 61.92% | 9,018 | 37.43% | 155 | 0.64% |
2000 | 12,325 | 59.83% | 7,673 | 37.25% | 603 | 2.93% |
1996 | 9,558 | 52.13% | 6,765 | 36.90% | 2,012 | 10.97% |
1992 | 9,008 | 44.80% | 6,512 | 32.38% | 4,589 | 22.82% |
1988 | 11,644 | 66.94% | 5,641 | 32.43% | 109 | 0.63% |
1984 | 13,503 | 73.40% | 4,803 | 26.11% | 90 | 0.49% |
1980 | 12,533 | 66.41% | 4,067 | 21.55% | 2,271 | 12.03% |
1976 | 11,073 | 62.22% | 6,463 | 36.32% | 261 | 1.47% |
1972 | 13,512 | 73.88% | 4,743 | 25.93% | 35 | 0.19% |
1968 | 12,168 | 68.98% | 4,399 | 24.94% | 1,074 | 6.09% |
1964 | 10,430 | 60.13% | 6,917 | 39.87% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 13,226 | 73.38% | 4,792 | 26.59% | 7 | 0.04% |
1956 | 13,194 | 78.21% | 3,660 | 21.70% | 16 | 0.09% |
1952 | 13,351 | 77.79% | 3,796 | 22.12% | 16 | 0.09% |
1948 | 9,519 | 71.15% | 3,796 | 28.37% | 63 | 0.47% |
1944 | 10,680 | 72.59% | 3,951 | 26.86% | 81 | 0.55% |
1940 | 11,838 | 70.71% | 4,833 | 28.87% | 71 | 0.42% |
1936 | 9,576 | 61.60% | 5,776 | 37.15% | 194 | 1.25% |
1932 | 8,224 | 59.11% | 5,416 | 38.93% | 272 | 1.96% |
1928 | 9,808 | 78.18% | 2,691 | 21.45% | 47 | 0.37% |
1924 | 8,449 | 71.61% | 1,591 | 13.48% | 1,759 | 14.91% |
1920 | 9,322 | 82.99% | 1,720 | 15.31% | 191 | 1.70% |
1916 | 8,639 | 70.30% | 3,207 | 26.10% | 442 | 3.60% |
1912 | 2,014 | 29.86% | 1,750 | 25.95% | 2,981 | 44.20% |
1908 | 4,848 | 69.24% | 1,761 | 25.15% | 393 | 5.61% |
1904 | 5,109 | 75.14% | 1,209 | 17.78% | 481 | 7.07% |
1900 | 5,255 | 68.97% | 2,171 | 28.49% | 193 | 2.53% |
1896 | 5,210 | 69.20% | 2,142 | 28.45% | 177 | 2.35% |
1892 | 3,939 | 60.61% | 2,244 | 34.53% | 316 | 4.86% |
Along with its neighbor Lee County, Ogle County is one of the most consistently Republican counties in the nation when it comes to presidential elections. Except for the 1912 election when the GOP was divided between Progressive nominee Theodore Roosevelt and incumbent president William Howard Taft, Ogle County has voted Republican in every Presidential election since the Republican Party first participated in 1856. No Democratic candidate has ever won the county, which favored the Whig Party before the Republican Party was formed.
Historically, Republicans have easily carried the county in statewide and national Democratic landslides. Franklin D. Roosevelt never garnered more than 39 percent of the county's vote in any of his four runs for president, and Barry Goldwater won over 60 percent here in 1964–almost identical to Lyndon Johnson's winning margin statewide. Illinois' own Barack Obama is the only Democrat to ever win at least 40 percent of the county's vote.
The county is part of Illinois's 16th congressional district. represented by Republican Darin LaHood.
Transportation
Transit
Major highways
Airports
The following public-use airports are located in the county:
- Ogle County Airport (C55) - Mount Morris, Illinois
- Rochelle Municipal Airport (RPJ) - Rochelle, Illinois
Railroads
The Union Pacific line to Omaha (Chicago & North Western), BNSF line to Minneapolis (Burlington Route, later Burlington Northern), Canadian Pacific Kansas City line to Sabula (Milwaukee Road) all run through Ogle County.
Recreation
Parks
- Beach Cemetery Prairie Nature Preserve
- Douglas E. Wade Prairie Nature Preserve
- Jarrett Prairie Nature Preserve
- Nachusa Grasslands
Communities
Cities
Villages
Unincorporated communities
Census-designated places
Townships
- Brookville Township
- Buffalo Township
- Byron Township
- Dement Township
- Eagle Point Township
- Flagg Township
- Forreston Township
- Grand Detour Township
- Lafayette Township
- Leaf River Township
- Lincoln Township
- Lynnville Township
- Marion Township
- Maryland Township
- Monroe Township
- Mount Morris Township
- Oregon-Nashua Township
- Pine Creek Township
- Pine Rock Township
- Rockvale Township
- Scott Township
- Taylor Township
- White Rock Township
- Woosung Township
See also
- List of settlements in Ogle County, Illinois
- List of townships in Ogle County, Illinois
- List of cemeteries in Ogle County, Illinois
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Ogle County, Illinois
Bibliography
- Kauffman, Horace G.; Kauffman, Rebecca H., eds. (1909). Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Ogle County. Vol. 2. Chicago: Munsell Publishing Co. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
- The History of Ogle County, Illinois. Chicago: H. F. Kett & Co. 1878. Retrieved November 23, 2010.
References
- ^ "Ogle County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ White, Jesse. Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties. State of Illinois, March 2010, 9. [1]
- ^ The History of Ogle County, Illinois: Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics, Portraits of Early Settlers and Prominent Men, History of the Northwest, History of Illinois, p. 326
- ^ The Early History of Northern Illinois by Charles Knapp Carpenter, Ogle County Federation of Women's Clubs, 1948
- ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ^ "Monthly Averages for Oregon IL". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
- ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
- ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
- ^ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Ogle County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ogle County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Ogle County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the United States – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
- ^ "Amendatory Comprehensive Plan "2K4 update"" (PDF). oglecounty.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 12, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
- ^ "Special Report: Thinking Regional". rockcountyalliance.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
- ^ "Gov. Blagojevich announces a new $25 million investment". rockcountyalliance.com. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved July 12, 2007.
- ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ "Presidential election of 1840 - Map by counties". geoelections.free.fr. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ "Ogle County Public and Private Airports". www.tollfreeairline.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.