Knox County, Illinois

Founding: 1830 (declared in 1825)
Parent county: Fulton

Namesake: Henry Knox, Continental Amy general
Seat: Knoxville (1831–1873); Galesburg (1873–)

Land area: 716 square miles

Population (2020): 49,967

Population (historic): 7,060 (1840); 28,663 (1860); 38,344 (1880); 43,612 (1900); 51,336 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1870; 1880–1980

Subdivisions: Four cities; ten villages; two CDPs; 21 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 8,567 (35.8%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 58.1%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 9.2%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.7%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.1%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,153
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,986

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.8 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,711
Average farm size (1920): 121.5 acres
Sources of settlement: Sweden, Ohio, New York, Pennsylvania, Ireland, Indiana, Kentucky, and Virginia
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Knoxville (ex-seat)

Namesake: Henry Knox, Continental Amy general

Founding: 1831 (platting as Henderson); 1831 (post office); 1832 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 2,901

Population (historic): 798 (1850); 1,883 (1870); 1,728 (1890); 1,818 (1910); 1,867 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1830–1870; 1880–1900; 1920–1940; 1950–1980
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 283 (23.7%)
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Galesburg

Namesake: George Gale, Presbyterian minister

Founding: 1837 (platting); 1837 (post office); 1841 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 30,052

Population (historic): 323 (1850); 10,158 (1870); 15,264 (1890); 22,089 (1910); 28,830 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1837–1960; 1990s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 5,722 (40%)

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