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

National Register listings: Eight

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.