Lee County, Illinois

Founding: 1839

Parent county: Ogle

Namesake: Henry Lee II, Virginia governor
Seat: Dixon (1839–)

Land area: 725 square miles

Population (2020): 34,145

Population (historic): 2,035 (1840); 17,651 (1860); 27,491 (1880); 29,894 (1900); 32,329 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1880; 1890s; 1910–1960; 1990s

Subdivisions: Two cities; ten villages; 22 townships

National Register listings: 10

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 5,621 (37.2%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 63.9%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 9.9%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 3%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 4.5%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,378
Average outbuilding value (1930): $3,197

Average farmhouse size (1940): 7.4 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,593
Average farm size (1920): 151.5 acres
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, New York, Germany, and Ireland
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Dixon

Namesake: John Dixon, owner of the city site

Founding: 1830 (platting); 1833 (post office); 1853 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 15,274

Population (historic): 2,218 (1860); 3,658 (1880); 7,917 (1900); 9,908 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1870; 1880–1900; 1910–1960; 1990s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,439 (39.8%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. *Valentine Hicks Farm (c. 1855). 1243 Rock Road. Bradford.
2. House (1854). 1201 North Brinton Avenue. Dixon. Italianate.
3. James Pankhurst Farm (c. 1895). 1554 Hillison Road. Franklin Grove. Queen Anne.
4. *Henry Hausen House (c. 1845). 1539 Lincoln Highway. Franklin Grove.
5. *Nathan Whitney House (c. 1860). 1620 Whitney Road. Franklin Grove. Italianate.
6. Joshua Lahman Farm (c. 1870). 1695 Whitney Road. Franklin Grove. Italianate.
7. *Four Bottle Tavern (c. 1845). 1116 Inlet Road. Lee Center. Federal.
8. William Long House (c. 1870). 1735 Sublette Road. May. Italianate.
9. Henry Miller House (c. 1860). 1878 Mound Hill Road. Palmyra. Italianate.
10. *William Seavey Farm (c. 1875). 1963 Mound Hill Road. Palmyra. Italianate.
11. Fletcher Hutton House (c. 1870). 304 Palmyra Road. Palmyra. Italianate.
12. Richard Peck House (c. 1865). 449 Palmyra Road. Palmyra. Italianate.