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Grundy County, Illinois

Coordinates: 41°17′N 88°26′W / 41.29°N 88.43°W / 41.29; -88.43
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Grundy County
County
Grundy County Courthouse
Grundy County Courthouse
Flag of Grundy County
Flag
Official seal of Grundy County
Seal
Map of Illinois highlighting Grundy County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 41°17′N 88°26′W / 41.29°N 88.43°W / 41.29; -88.43
Country United States
State Illinois
FoundedFebruary 17, 1841
Named forFelix Grundy
SeatMorris
Largest cityMorris
Area
 • Total430 sq mi (1,100 km2)
 • Land418 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  2.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total52,533
 • Density120/sq mi (47/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional district16th
Websitewww.grundyco.org

Grundy County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 52,533.[1] Its county seat is Morris.[2]

Grundy County is part of the Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In 2010, the center of population of Illinois was in Grundy County, just northeast of the village of Mazon.[3]

Illinois's state fossil, the unique and bizarre Tully Monster, was first found in Mazon Creek. Grundy County is home to Dresden Generating Station—the first privately financed nuclear power plant built in the United States—and the Morris Operation—the only de facto high-level radioactive waste storage site in the United States.

History

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Grundy County was established on February 17, 1841. It was formed out of LaSalle County and named after U.S. Attorney General Felix Grundy (1777–1840).[4] The county was well known for its coal mines[5] and attracted miners from Pennsylvania and other regions to work its deposits. The 1883 Diamond Mine Disaster occurred in Grundy County. The disaster took the lives of 69 men and boys who were trapped underground when water broke through into the mine after days of heavy rain and the pumps could not keep up with the rising water. 22 bodies were eventually recovered, the remaining 44 were left in the mine and the mine was sealed. Today a marker stands near where it was believed the majority of victims were entombed.[6]

  • Grundy County at the time of its creation in 1841
    Grundy County at the time of its creation in 1841

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 430 square miles (1,100 km2), of which 418 square miles (1,080 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (2.9%) is water.[7]

Climate and weather

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Morris, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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3.1
 
 
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[8]
Metric conversion
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44
 
 
−1
−11
 
 
40
 
 
2
−8
 
 
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94
 
 
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24
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18
5
 
 
78
 
 
9
−1
 
 
60
 
 
2
−7
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Morris have ranged from a low of 13 °F (−11 °C) in January to a high of 85 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −24 °F (−31 °C) was recorded in January 1985 and a record high of 103 °F (39 °C) was recorded in June 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.59 inches (40 mm) in February to 4.16 inches (106 mm) in June.[8]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,023—
186010,379243.3%
187014,93843.9%
188016,73212.0%
189021,02425.7%
190024,13614.8%
191024,1620.1%
192018,580−23.1%
193018,6780.5%
194018,398−1.5%
195019,2174.5%
196022,35016.3%
197026,53518.7%
198030,58215.3%
199032,3375.7%
200037,53516.1%
201050,06333.4%
202052,5334.9%
2023 (est.)53,578[9]2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010[14]
2000 census age pyramid for Grundy County

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 50,063 people, 18,546 households, and 13,431 families residing in the county.[15] The population density was 119.8 inhabitants per square mile (46.3/km2). There were 19,996 housing units at an average density of 47.8 per square mile (18.5/km2).[7] The racial makeup of the county was 93.7% white, 1.2% black or African American, 0.7% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 2.7% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 8.2% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 28.3% were German, 23.0% were Irish, 12.7% were Italian, 9.4% were Polish, 8.6% were English, 7.1% were Norwegian, and 3.0% were American.[16]

Of the 18,546 households, 38.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.8% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 27.6% were non-families, and 22.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.16. The median age was 36.1 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $64,297 and the median income for a family was $75,000. Males had a median income of $58,491 versus $36,592 for females. The per capita income for the county was $27,895. About 5.2% of families and 6.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 6.5% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Communities

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Map of Grundy County, Illinois.
Map of Grundy County, Illinois.

City

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Villages

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Former Communities

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Townships

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Grundy County is divided into seventeen townships:

Unincorporated communities

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Grundy County, Illinois[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 16,523 61.75% 9,626 35.98% 607 2.27%
2016 13,454 57.90% 8,065 34.71% 1,718 7.39%
2012 11,343 53.22% 9,451 44.34% 519 2.44%
2008 10,687 48.07% 11,063 49.76% 482 2.17%
2004 11,198 56.47% 8,463 42.68% 170 0.86%
2000 8,709 52.51% 7,516 45.32% 359 2.16%
1996 6,177 41.45% 6,759 45.36% 1,966 13.19%
1992 6,346 39.02% 6,122 37.64% 3,797 23.34%
1988 8,743 60.88% 5,525 38.47% 93 0.65%
1984 9,595 66.98% 4,671 32.61% 59 0.41%
1980 8,397 63.59% 3,970 30.07% 837 6.34%
1976 7,581 57.43% 5,534 41.92% 86 0.65%
1972 8,725 70.70% 3,584 29.04% 32 0.26%
1968 6,607 59.50% 3,407 30.68% 1,091 9.82%
1964 5,522 51.28% 5,246 48.72% 0 0.00%
1960 6,948 61.88% 4,276 38.08% 4 0.04%
1956 7,640 74.46% 2,618 25.51% 3 0.03%
1952 7,347 70.12% 3,118 29.76% 13 0.12%
1948 5,954 64.44% 3,255 35.23% 31 0.34%
1944 6,310 63.89% 3,544 35.88% 22 0.22%
1940 6,593 61.38% 4,105 38.22% 43 0.40%
1936 5,360 52.63% 4,481 44.00% 344 3.38%
1932 4,491 48.21% 4,755 51.05% 69 0.74%
1928 5,126 61.54% 3,174 38.11% 29 0.35%
1924 4,337 63.97% 742 10.94% 1,701 25.09%
1920 4,647 80.05% 803 13.83% 355 6.12%
1916 4,811 66.37% 2,241 30.91% 197 2.72%
1912 1,919 36.41% 1,172 22.24% 2,179 41.35%
1908 3,127 63.08% 1,359 27.42% 471 9.50%
1904 3,448 69.73% 841 17.01% 656 13.27%
1900 3,735 65.50% 1,687 29.59% 280 4.91%
1896 3,246 59.68% 2,074 38.13% 119 2.19%
1892 2,159 50.26% 1,892 44.04% 245 5.70%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Grundy County, Illinois". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved June 9, 2023.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  4. ^ Adams, James N; Volkel, Lowell M (1989). Keller, William E (ed.). Illinois Place Names. Springfield: Illinois State Historical Society. ISBN 978-0-912226-24-8.
  5. ^ History of Grundy County, Illinois: Containing a History from the Earliest Settlement to the Present Time ... , Biographical Sketches, Portraits of Some of the Early Settlers, Prominent Men, Etc. Vol. 1–2. O.L. Basken & Company, Historical Publishers. 1882. OCLC 27722005.
  6. ^ "Diamond Mine Disaster Victims – February 16, 1883". Grundy County ILGenWeb. February 5, 2015. Retrieved August 11, 2019.
  7. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  8. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Morris, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  14. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 5, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  16. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  17. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
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41°17′N 88°26′W / 41.29°N 88.43°W / 41.29; -88.43

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