Stephenson County, Illinois

Stephenson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 47,711. Its county seat is Freeport.

Stephenson County is included in the Freeport, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Rockford-Freeport-Rochelle, IL Combined Statistical Area.

History

Stephenson County was formed in 1837 out of Jo Daviess and Winnebago counties. The county was named for Colonel Benjamin Stephenson, an official of the Illinois Territory.

Stephenson County at the time of its creation in 1837

Stephenson County at the time of its creation in 1837

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 565 square miles (1,460 km²), of which 565 square miles (1,460 km²) is land and 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) (0.09%) is water.

Climate and weather

In recent years the average temperatures in the county seat of Freeport, have ranged from a low of 9 °F (−13 °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 1985 and a record high of 101 °F (38 °C) was recorded in July 1988. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.33 inches (34 mm) in January to 4.46 inches (113 mm) in June.