Woodford County, Illinois

Woodford County is a county in the state of Illinois. According to the 2020 United States census, it had a population of 38,467 people. The main town, called the county seat, is Eureka. Woodford County is part of the larger Peoria metropolitan area, which means it is close to the city of Peoria.

The county is named after General William Woodford, a soldier who fought in the American Revolutionary War. He was known for his service during a very hard winter at a place called Valley Forge in Pennsylvania.

History

Establishment

Woodford County was home to several Native American peoples, including the Potawatomi, Meskwaki, and Sauk. It was located near the Illiniwek lands. During the American Revolutionary War, different colonies claimed the area, but it became part of Illinois Territory in 1809 and later a state in 1818.

The first settlers arrived in the 1820s near Spring Bay, close to the Illinois River. The county’s current boundaries were set in 1841 when it was created from parts of Tazewell County. It was named after Woodford County in Kentucky, honoring General William Woodford, who served with George Washington.

Pioneer life

Early settlers lived in simple log cabins with few comforts. They hunted, farmed, and made their own clothes from materials like linen and wool. Life was basic, with meals often consisting of roasted meat and cornbread. Families worked together, with men focusing on farming and women on household tasks.

Antebellum years

By 1850, Woodford County’s population had grown to over 5,000. Many people in Illinois opposed slavery, and some helped escaped slaves find freedom through the Underground Railroad. Local leaders played important roles in supporting those seeking freedom.

Early administrative structure

Woodford County’s first temporary seat was Versailles, but Metamora became the official seat in 1843. A courthouse was built there in 1844. The county was divided into townships in 1855, changing its government structure. Later, Eureka became the county seat after several votes.

Civil War years

When the American Civil War began in 1861, Woodford County had over 13,000 people. Many joined the Union forces, with some serving in notable battles like Shiloh and Vicksburg. The war brought challenges, but support for the Union remained strong.

Eureka College

Eureka College, a liberal arts school, has been important to Woodford County for over 150 years. It was founded in 1848 and later became affiliated with the Christian Church. One of its famous alumni is Ronald Reagan, the US President.

Geography

Woodford County in Illinois covers an area of 543 square miles. Most of it is prairie land, with some areas that used to have trees on hills.

The weather in Eureka, the county’s main town, changes a lot. Winters can be very cold, and summers can get quite hot. The town gets rain each month, with May usually being the wettest.

Demographics

2020 census

According to the 2020 census, Woodford County had a population of 38,467 people. The average age was 41.1 years, with about 24.6% of people being younger than 18 and 19.4% being 65 or older. For every 100 girls and women, there were about 99.8 boys and men, and for people aged 18 and above, there were about 97.4 boys and men for every 100 girls and women.

The people in the county were mostly White, making up 93.9% of the population. Other groups included 0.7% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, and 0.6% Asian.

2010 census

The 2010 United States census recorded 38,664 people living in Woodford County. Most people were White, accounting for 97.4% of the population. Smaller groups included 0.6% Asian, 0.5% Black or African American, and 0.2% American Indian. About 1.4% of the people were of Hispanic or Latino origin.

Many families lived in the county, with 34.8% of households having children under 18. Most households, about 63.7%, were made up of married couples. The average family size was about 3.07 people. The median income for a family was $75,601, and about 7.0% of the population lived below the poverty line.

Governance

Woodford County is run by a group of 15 elected leaders called the County Board. Each leader serves for four years, and every two years they choose one person to be the chair. The County Board makes important decisions for the county, like creating budgets, collecting taxes, and setting rules. They meet once a month.

The 15 board members come from three different areas, called electoral districts. Each district chooses five members to be on the board. District 1 includes towns like Clayton and El Paso. District 2 includes towns like Cazenovia and Spring Bay. District 3 includes towns like Cruger and Metamora. The board also has five smaller groups, called standing committees, that meet monthly to discuss specific topics.

Education

Woodford County has many schools for children from kindergarten through high school. Some of the school districts include El Paso-Gridley Community Unit School District 11, McLean County Unit School District 5, and Olympia Community Unit School District 16.

Some of the high schools in the county are Eureka High School, Lowpoint-Washburn High School, and Roanoke-Benson High School. Since 1949, Eureka has been part of the Congerville-Eureka-Goodfield Community Unit School District 140, which covers 113 square miles. El Paso is part of the El Paso-Gridley Community Unit School District 11.

Politics

Woodford County in Illinois is known for voting Republican in presidential elections. The last time a Republican candidate got less than half of the votes in the county was in 1992, when George H. W. Bush still won the county. Even in 1964, when Barry Goldwater lost the state by a large margin, he still won Woodford County.

Media

Early Woodford County had several newspapers. The first was called the Woodford County Times and it started in 1854. By 1880, there were five weekly papers in the county: Woodford Sentinel, El Paso Journal, Eureka Journal, Minonk Blade, and Washburn News. Eureka College also made a monthly magazine named the Eureka College Messenger.

Notable people of Woodford County

Woodford County has been home to many interesting and accomplished people. Donald Attig, a boat designer and yachtsman, graduated from Eureka College. Emik Avakian, an inventor with many patents, also graduated from Eureka College in 1948. Emma Smith DeVoe was a suffragist and political activist who taught at Eureka College. J. Frank Duryea, co-inventor of the gas-powered automobile, was born in Washburn.

Frank Frantz, a Rough Rider and the final Governor of Oklahoma Territory, attended Eureka College for two years. Glen Gray, a famous jazz saxophonist and orchestra leader, was born in Roanoke. Oliver Perry Hay, a professor and expert on vertebrate paleontology, graduated from Eureka College in 1870. Many other notable individuals, including comedian Dan McCoy, football coach Ralph "Mac" McKinzie, and former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, all have ties to Woodford County.

Townships

Woodford County, Illinois, is divided into several areas called townships. These townships help organize the county and include:

• Cazenovia Township
• Clayton Township
• Cruger Township
• El Paso Township
• Greene Township
• Kansas Township
• Linn Township
• Metamora Township
• Minonk Township
• Montgomery Township
• Olio Township
• Palestine Township
• Panola Township
• Partridge Township
• Roanoke Township
• Spring Bay Township
• Worth Township

Communities

Woodford County has several cities, including El Paso (which is also partly in McLean County), Eureka (the county seat), and Minonk.

The county also includes villages such as Bay View Gardens, Benson, Congerville, Deer Creek (partly in Tazewell County), Germantown Hills, Goodfield (partly in Tazewell County), Kappa, Metamora, Panola, Peoria Heights (mostly in Peoria County), Roanoke, Secor, Spring Bay, and Washburn (partly in Marshall County).

There is one census-designated place, Lowpoint, and several unincorporated communities, including Cazenovia, Cruger, and Woodford.