Jo Daviess County, Illinois

Infobox U.S. County
county = Jo Daviess County
state = Illinois


seallink =


map size = 150
founded = 1827
seat = Galena
largest city = Galena
area_total_sq_mi = 619
area_total_km2 = 1602
area_land_sq_mi = 601
area_land_km2 = 1557
area_water_sq_mi = 18
area_water_km2 = 46
area percentage = 2.85%
census yr = 2000
pop = 22289
density_sq_mi = 37
density_km2 = 14
time zone = Central
UTC offset = -6
DST offset= -5
footnotes =
web = www.jodaviess.org|

Jo Daviess County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of 2000, the population was 22,289. Its county seat is Galena, IllinoisGR|6.

Jo Daviess County is part of the Tri-State Area and the Dubuque, Iowa, Galena, Illinois, Platteville, Wisconsin, metropolitan area. Jo Daviess County's population holds 13-15% of the area's population.

As part of the Driftless Area, Jo Daviess County is known for its extraordinarily scenic stretches of road and valley views.

Within Jo Daviess County lies Charles Mound, the highest natural point in Illinois.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 619 square miles (1,602 km²), of which, 601 square miles (1,557 km²) of it is land and 18 square miles (46 km²) of it (2.85%) is water.

Townships

Apple River, Berreman, Council Hill, Derinda, Dunleith, East Galena, Elizabeth, Guilford, Hanover, Menominee, Nora, Pleasant Valley, Rawlins, Rice, Rush, Scale Mounds, Stockton, Thompson, Vinegar Hill, Wards Grove, Warren, West Galena, Woodbine

Adjacent counties

*Lafayette County, Wisconsin - north
*Stephenson County - east
*Carroll County - southeast
*Jackson County, Iowa - southwest (across the Mississippi River)
*Dubuque County, Iowa - northwest (across the Mississippi River)
*Grant County, Wisconsin - northwest

National protected area

* Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge (part)

History

Jo Daviess County was formed in 1827 out of Henry and Putnam Counties. It is named for Maj. Joseph Hamilton Daveiss, United States District Attorney for Kentucky, who was killed in 1811 at the Battle of Tippecanoe. Maj. Daveiss' name is universally misspelled, as in the name of this and other counties. The local pronunciation is "Davis."

County border changes

*1830- The northern border of Illinois and Wisconsin was formally established. Until that time, several Wisconsin towns actually were under the jurisdiction of Jo Daviess County. [http://www.galenahistorymuseum.org/courthouse.htm Jo Daviess County Courthouse: History Highlights]
*1831- Rock Island County was formed from a part of the county, along with a new northern extension of Henry County and Putnam County.
*1836- Whiteside, Ogle, and Winnebago counties were formed from the southern and eastern sections of the county.
*1837- Stephenson County was formed from the eastern section of the county.
*1839- Carroll County was formed from the southern section of the county. [http://www.myillinoisgenealogy.com/il_maps/il_cf.htm County Formation Maps, state of Illinois, 1790-1869]

It is now the host of a "proposed" wind farm in Nora, which would make the county ahead of the curve in the "green" revolution of renewable and alternative energy sources.

Population

USCensusPop
1900= 24533
1910= 22657
1920= 21917
1930= 20235
1940= 19989
1950= 21459
1960= 21821
1970= 21766
1980= 23520
1990= 21821
2000= 22289
footnote= [http://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/il190090.txt IL Counties 1900-1990] As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 22,289 people, 9,218 households, and 6,286 families residing in the county. The population density was 37 people per square mile (14/km²). There were 12,003 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.66% White, 0.20% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.34% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 1.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 46.9% were of German, 11.5% Irish, 10.5% American and 9.0% English ancestry according to Census 2000. 97.8% spoke English and 1.7% Spanish as their first language.

There were 9,218 households out of which 27.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 6.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 27.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county the population was spread out with 23.20% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 25.30% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 17.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,411, and the median income for a family was $48,335. Males had a median income of $32,231 versus $22,096 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,497. About 4.00% of families and 6.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.60% of those under age 18 and 7.50% of those age 65 or over.

Cities and towns

*Apple River
*East Dubuque
*Elizabeth
*Galena
*Hanover
*Menominee
*Nora
*Scales Mound
*Stockton
*Warren

ee also

*Charles Mound
*Stagecoach Trail

References

External links

* [http://www.galenahistorymuseum.org/jodaviessfacts.htm Who was Jo Daviess?]
* [http://jodaviess.org Welcome to Jo Daviess County, Illinois]