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McLean County, Illinois

Coordinates: 40°29′N 88°51′W / 40.49°N 88.85°W / 40.49; -88.85
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McLean County
County
Old McLean County Courthouse
Old McLean County Courthouse
Map of Illinois highlighting McLean County
Location within the U.S. state of Illinois
Map of the United States highlighting Illinois
Illinois's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 40°29′N 88°51′W / 40.49°N 88.85°W / 40.49; -88.85
Country United States
State Illinois
FoundedDecember 25, 1830
Named forJohn McLean
SeatBloomington
Largest cityBloomington
Area
 • Total
1,186 sq mi (3,070 km2)
 • Land1,183 sq mi (3,060 km2)
 • Water2.9 sq mi (8 km2)  0.2%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
170,954
 • Density140/sq mi (56/km2)
Time zoneUTC−6 (Central)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−5 (CDT)
Congressional districts16th, 17th
Websitewww.mcleancountyil.gov

McLean County is the largest county by land area in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 Census, it had a population of 170,954.[1] Its county seat is Bloomington.[2] McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Pronunciation

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Locally, the second syllable of McLean is pronounced with a 'long a' (ā, IPA /ei/) sound (i.e. "muh-KLAIN") (as with native son McLean Stevenson), not with a 'long e' (ē, IPA /i/) sound ("muh-KLEEN").

History

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The first white settlers in what became McLean County arrived around 1821.[3]: 69  The first settlement was Blooming Grove, established in 1822 near present-day Bloomington.[3]: 69  McLean County was formed on December 25, 1830, out of Tazewell County. It was named for John McLean, United States Senator for Illinois, who died in 1830.[4]

  • McLean County from the time of its creation to 1837
    McLean County from the time of its creation to 1837
  • McLean County between 1837 and 1841
    McLean County between 1837 and 1841
  • McLean County in 1841, reduced to its present borders
    McLean County in 1841, reduced to its present borders

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,186 square miles (3,070 km2), of which 1,183 square miles (3,060 km2) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2) (0.2%) is water.[5] It is the largest county in Illinois by land area and third-largest by total area after Cook and Lake Counties, which have large portions of their areas on Lake Michigan. McLean County is actually larger than the land area of Rhode Island (1045 sq mi).

Climate and weather

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Bloomington, Illinois
Climate chart (explanation)
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches
Source: The Weather Channel[6]
Metric conversion
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−1
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█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Bloomington have ranged from a low of 14 °F (−10 °C) in January to a high of 86 °F (30 °C) in July, although a record low of −23 °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 1.71 inches (43 mm) in February to 4.52 inches (115 mm) in May.[6]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Transit

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18406,565—
185010,16354.8%
186028,772183.1%
187053,98887.6%
188060,10011.3%
189063,0364.9%
190067,8437.6%
191068,0080.2%
192070,1073.1%
193073,1174.3%
194073,9301.1%
195076,5773.6%
196083,8779.5%
1970104,38924.5%
1980119,14914.1%
1990129,1808.4%
2000150,43316.5%
2010169,57212.7%
2020170,9540.8%
2023 (est.)170,441[7]−0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2019[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 169,572 people, 65,104 households, and 40,124 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 143.3 inhabitants per square mile (55.3/km2). There were 69,656 housing units at an average density of 58.9 per square mile (22.7/km2).[5] The racial makeup of the county was 84.3% white, 7.3% black or African American, 4.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.5% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 4.4% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 31.2% were German, 15.4% were Irish, 11.4% were American, and 11.0% were English.[13]

Of the 65,104 households, 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.4% were non-families, and 28.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 3.02. The median age was 32.1 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $57,642 and the median income for a family was $77,093. Males had a median income of $52,271 versus $39,685 for females. The per capita income for the county was $28,167. About 6.2% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.4% of those under age 18 and 5.5% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Communities

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Cities

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Town

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Villages

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Map of McLean County, Illinois

Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated communities

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Townships

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McLean County is divided into these townships:

Ghost towns

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Government

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McLean County has a twenty-member board representing ten districts within the county. Each district elects two members. Districts 1-3 encompass all of the county outside of Bloomington and Normal. Districts 4-6 are within the town limits of Normal, and districts 7-10 are within Bloomington city limits.

Politics

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Like most of central Illinois, McLean County is historically Republican-leaning. The only Democrats to gain an absolute majority of the county's vote before the 21st century have been Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1932 and 1936, and Lyndon Johnson by a mere 1.2% in 1964. Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and Illinois resident Barack Obama in 2008 both carried the county by narrow pluralities.

In recent years, however, McLean has trended sufficiently Democratic that Hillary Clinton in 2016 lost the county by just 1.3 percent, while Joe Biden won the county in 2020 with a narrow majority.

Further solidifying the county's leftward shift in the 2020s, Governor J. B. Pritzker won the county by 1.3% in 2022, making it the first time since 1948 it supported a Democrat for governor. In 2024, Kamala Harris became the first Democratic presidential nominee to win McLean County yet lose the presidential election.

McLean County is one of only thirteen counties to have voted for Obama in 2008, Romney in 2012, Trump in 2016, and Biden in 2020.[a]

United States presidential election results for McLean County, Illinois[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 39,891 46.92% 43,797 51.51% 1,340 1.58%
2020 40,502 46.35% 43,933 50.27% 2,952 3.38%
2016 37,237 45.79% 36,196 44.51% 7,891 9.70%
2012 39,947 54.37% 31,883 43.40% 1,639 2.23%
2008 36,767 48.46% 37,689 49.67% 1,422 1.87%
2004 41,276 57.63% 29,877 41.72% 467 0.65%
2000 34,008 55.84% 24,936 40.95% 1,954 3.21%
1996 26,428 49.46% 22,708 42.50% 4,299 8.05%
1992 25,726 43.39% 23,090 38.95% 10,469 17.66%
1988 30,572 61.75% 18,659 37.69% 280 0.57%
1984 32,221 66.64% 15,880 32.84% 248 0.51%
1980 30,096 61.13% 13,587 27.60% 5,549 11.27%
1976 28,493 62.10% 16,601 36.18% 785 1.71%
1972 31,060 67.59% 14,824 32.26% 71 0.15%
1968 22,284 59.22% 12,779 33.96% 2,567 6.82%
1964 19,120 49.44% 19,550 50.56% 0 0.00%
1960 24,758 63.87% 13,971 36.04% 32 0.08%
1956 25,758 67.59% 12,332 32.36% 21 0.06%
1952 24,494 64.75% 13,296 35.15% 36 0.10%
1948 18,430 58.48% 12,904 40.94% 183 0.58%
1944 19,366 57.70% 14,011 41.75% 185 0.55%
1940 21,865 54.44% 18,024 44.87% 277 0.69%
1936 16,826 43.00% 21,508 54.96% 798 2.04%
1932 15,450 43.07% 19,535 54.46% 886 2.47%
1928 20,780 65.37% 10,742 33.79% 267 0.84%
1924 16,550 55.95% 6,826 23.07% 6,206 20.98%
1920 16,680 65.27% 6,411 25.09% 2,464 9.64%
1916 14,988 53.22% 11,699 41.54% 1,473 5.23%
1912 4,624 30.23% 5,356 35.02% 5,314 34.75%
1908 8,953 55.88% 5,982 37.33% 1,088 6.79%
1904 8,772 58.66% 4,149 27.74% 2,034 13.60%
1900 9,487 56.41% 6,613 39.32% 718 4.27%
1896 9,964 59.62% 6,328 37.87% 420 2.51%
1892 7,445 50.43% 6,487 43.94% 832 5.64%

Education

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Here is a list of school districts (all fully K-12) with territory in the county, no matter how slight, even if the district's schools and/or administrative offices are not in the county:[19]

Illinois State University is in the county.

Notable persons

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See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ The other twelve are Butte County, California; Teton County, Idaho; Kent County, Maryland; Kendall County, Illinois; Tippecanoe County, Indiana; Kent County, Michigan; Leelanau County, Michigan; Carroll County, New Hampshire; Rockingham County, New Hampshire; Marion County, Oregon; Grand County, Utah; and Albany County, Wyoming.

References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 6, 2011. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ a b Hasbrouck, Jacob L. (1924). History of McLean County, Illinois. Topeka-Indianapolis: Historical Publishing Company – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 194.
  5. ^ a b "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 12, 2020. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
  6. ^ a b "Monthly Averages for Bloomington, Illinois". The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  7. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2023". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 24, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved July 7, 2014.
  12. ^ 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 12, 2015.
  13. ^ "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 12, 2015.
  14. ^ "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 12, 2015.
  15. ^ Osman Topo Map in McLean County IL
  16. ^ "Osman, Illinois". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
  17. ^ Gannett, Henry (May 6, 2018). "The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States". U.S. Government Printing Office. Retrieved May 6, 2018 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved May 6, 2018.
  19. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: McLean County, IL" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to McLean County, Illinois.
Wikisource has original text related to this article:

40°29′N 88°51′W / 40.49°N 88.85°W / 40.49; -88.85

  1. ^ Osman Topo Map in McLean County IL
  2. ^ "Osman, Illinois". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior.
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