Bureau County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. As of the 2020 United States Census, the county had a population of 33,244. The county seat and largest municipality is the city of Princeton. Bureau County is part of the Ottawa, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Geography
- Total area: 354 sq mi (916 km²), of which 350 sq mi (907 km²) is land and 4.3 sq mi (11 km²) (1.2 %) is water.
- The Illinois River defines the county’s eastern boundary, and the North Fork of the Vermilion River flows through the central region.
- Adjacent counties: LaSalle County (north), Grundy County (northeast), LaSalle County (east), Putnam County (south), Lee County (west), and Ogle County (northwest).
- Major highways: Interstate 80, U.S. Route 6, Illinois Route 29, Illinois Route 71, and Illinois Route 89.
History
- Established on February 5, 1837, from portions of LaSalle and Putnam counties.
- Named after the Bureau (or Bureau Creek) which itself was named for the French term “bureau” meaning “office” or possibly after the Bureau family of early French explorers, though the precise origin is not definitively documented.
- Early settlement was driven by agriculture and river transport; the Illinois River facilitated trade and migration in the mid‑19th century.
- The county’s development accelerated after the arrival of the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad in the 1850s, leading to the growth of communities such as Princeton, Ladd, and, formerly, the mining town of Malden.
Demographics (2020 Census)
- Racial composition: 92.6 % White, 2.1 % African American, 0.8 % Asian, 0.6 % Native American, 1.0 % from other races, and 2.9 % from two or more races.
- Hispanic or Latino of any race: 3.5 %.
- Household information: 13,821 households; average household size 2.38; 55 % of households were married‑couple families.
- Median household income (2019‑2021 ACS 5‑year estimates): $62,845; per capita income: $31,210.
- Poverty rate: 8.7 % of the population.
Economy
- Predominantly agricultural, with major crops including corn, soybeans, and wheat.
- Livestock production (dairy cattle, hogs) is also significant.
- Small‑scale manufacturing and services are concentrated in Princeton and the surrounding towns.
- The county benefits from its location along Interstate 80, supporting logistics and transportation‑related businesses.
Government
- County government is administered by a Board of Commissioners (three members) elected from single‑member districts.
- Other elected officials include the County Clerk, Sheriff, Treasurer, and State’s Attorney.
- Federal representation: Illinois’s 14th congressional district (U.S. House) and the U.S. Senate seats for Illinois.
- State representation: Illinois House District 69 and Senate District 35.
Education
- Public K‑12 schools are organized into several districts, the largest being Bureau Valley Community Unit School District 404 (serving Princeton and surrounding areas).
- Additional districts include Ladd-Atlanti Community Unit School District 107 and Malden School District 86.
- Higher education options are limited within the county; nearby institutions include Illinois Valley Community College (near Peoria) and Knox College (Galesburg).
Transportation
- Interstate 80 provides east‑west freeway access; U.S. Route 6 parallels the Interstate.
- Illinois River ports support barge traffic for grain and other bulk commodities.
- No commercial airport; general aviation is served by the Princeton Municipal Airport (0G7).
Community and Culture
- Annual events include the Bureau County Fair (held each August) and the Princeton Fourth of July Celebration.
- Historic sites: the Bureau County Courthouse (built 1901, listed on the National Register of Historic Places), the Princeton Depot Museum, and several 19th‑century brick homes.
References
- United States Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.
- Illinois Department of Transportation, Highway Maps.
- Bureau County Historical Society publications.
- Illinois State Board of Elections, County Officeholder Listings.
All presented information is based on publicly available governmental and historical sources up to 2023; subsequent changes may not be reflected.
