Iroquois County, Illinois

Founding: 1834 (declared in 1833)
Parent county: Unorganized territory

Namesake: The Iroquois River
Seat: Iroquois (1837–1839); Middleport (1839–1865); Watseka (1865–)

Land area: 1,117 square miles

Population (2020): 27,077

Population (historic): 1,695 (1840); 12,325 (1860); 35,451 (1880); 38,014 (1900); 32,913 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1880; 1890s; 1950s; 1990s

Subdivisions: Two cities; 20 villages; 26 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 4,316 (32%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 55.7%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 8.6%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 3.3%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 4.4%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,018
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,560

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.9 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 3,953
Average farm size (1920): 162.2 acres
Sources of settlement: Indiana, Ohio, Germany, Canada, New York, Ireland, and Pennsylvania
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Watseka

Namesake: Unclear—perhaps Watseka, Potawatomi woman

Founding: 1859 (platting as South Middleport); 1864 (post office); 1867 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 4,679

Population (historic): 1,551 (1870); 2,017 (1890); 2,476 (1910); 3,144 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870; 1880–1900; 1910–1980; 1990s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 587 (20.5%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Iroquois County Infirmary (1917). 2258 County Farm Road. Belmont. Craftsman/Spanish Revival.
2. Prairie Dell Meeting House (1870). Road 250 North and North 2550 East. Concord. Italianate.
3. The Larches / Allen Pinkerton Farm (1873). 1546 Road 600 East. Onarga. Italianate. Razed.
4. John Smith House (c. 1855). Road 780 East, north of East 1200 North. Onarga. Razed.
5. Christian Knoche Farm (1864). 273 North 300 East. Ridgeland. Italianate.

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