Woodford County, Illinois

Founding: 1841
Parent counties: McLean and Tazewell

Namesake: Woodford County, Kentucky
Seat: Versailles (1841–1844); Metamora (1844–1894); Eureka (1894–)

Land area: 528 square miles

Population (2020): 38,467

Population (historic): 4,415 (1850); 18,956 (1870); 21,429 (1890); 20,506 (1910); 18,792 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1880; 1890s; 1930–1980; 1990–2010

Subdivisions: Three cities; 13 villages; 17 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,883 (18.6%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 57.9%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 8.7%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 4.3%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 5.2%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,383
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,469

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.9 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,903
Average farm size (1920): 132.8 acres
Sources of settlement: Germany, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, New York, Virginia, and Ireland
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Metamora (ex-seat)

Namesake: The 1829 play Metamora; or, The Last of the Wampanoags

Founding: 1836 (platting as Hanover); 1845 (post office); 1845 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 3,904

Population (historic): 966 (1860); 828 (1880); 758 (1900); 707 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860; 1870s; 1920–2020
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 214 (13.3%)
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Eureka

Namesake: The Greek word εὕρηκα ("I have found it")

Founding: 1855 (platting); 1855 (post office); 1859 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 5,227

Population (historic): 604 (1860); 1,185 (1880); 1,661 (1900); 1,534 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1870; 1880–1900; 1910s; 1930–2010
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 450 (19.9%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Elijah Farnsworth House. 1060 Banta Road. Cazenovia. Gothic Revival.
2. James Boys House (c. 1834). 1006 Road 1675 North. Metamora.
3. Henry Robinson House (1857). 1445 Timberline Road. Montgomery. Italianate.
4. Joseph Major Farm (c. 1865). 1507 Reagan Road. Olio. Italianate.
5. Joseph Schertz House (1862). 689 State Route 116. Worth. Greek Revival.

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