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| Freeport | |
| Winneshiek | |
| City | |
 The Civil War era Soldiers' Monument and the Stephenson County Courthouse in Freeport.
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| Nickname: Pretzel City, USA | |
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| State | Illinois |
| County | Stephenson |
| Township | Freeport |
| Elevation | 778 ft (237 m) |
| Coordinates | 42°17′31″N 89°37′49″W / 42.29194°N 89.63028°W |
| Area | 11.4 sq mi (30 km2) |
| - land | 10.3 sq mi (27 km2) |
| - water | 0.7 sq mi (2 km2) |
| Population | 24,299 (2006-2008) |
| Density | 2,316.9 /sq mi (895 /km2) |
| Founded | 1827 |
| Date | 1838 |
| Mayor | George Gaulrapp |
| Postal code | 61032 |
| Area code | 815/779 |
  Location of Freeport within Illinois
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| Wikimedia Commons: Freeport, Illinois | |
| Website: http://www.ci.freeport.il.us/ | |
Freeport is the county seat of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 26,443 at the 2000 census.[1] The mayor of Freeport is George W. Gaulrapp, elected in 2005.
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Originally called Winneshiek, the municipality when it was incorporated took its name from the generosity of Tutty Baker, who was credited with running a "Free Port" on the Pecatonica River. The name 'Winneshiek' was later adopted, and is preserved to this day, by the Freeport Community Theatre Group.
In 1837, Stephenson County was formed and in 1838, Freeport became its seat of government. Linked by a stagecoach with Chicago, the community grew rapidly. In 1840, a frame courthouse was erected and the first school was founded. Within two years, Freeport had two newspapers and in 1853, the two were joined by a third which published in German. By then, the community had a population of 2,000.
On August 27, 1858, the second debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas took place in Freeport and gave the nation direction in the following years. Although Stephen Douglas won the election and retained his U.S. Senate seat, his reply to a question on slavery alienated the South, which called it the "Freeport Heresy," and split the Democratic Party.[2] This enabled Abraham Lincoln to win the Presidency in 1860.
A monument to the debate was dedicated in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt and stands at this site. A life size statue recreating the event was dedicated in 1992. Another renowned statue, "Lincoln the Debator." by Leonard Crunelle, is a focal point in the city's Taylor Park. Each year there is also a reenactment of the debate, which has been shown on C-SPAN.
Freeport is known as the Pretzel City, and its public high school's team is named the Pretzels. The nickname is a reminder of Freeport's ethnic heritage; in the late 1850s, many Germans, both from Pennsylvania and from their European homeland, resettled in Stephenson County. They brought with them their love of pretzel snacks, and a pretzel bakery started up.[3]
Freeport is home to the oldest Carnegie Library in Illinois and one of the first Carnegie Libraries designed by the famous Chicago architectural firm of Patton and Miller.
Freeport is located at 42°17′31″N 89°37′49″W / 42.29194°N 89.63028°W (42.292003, -89.630377)[4]. It is located approximately 20 miles (32 km) south of the Wisconsin Border, and at the center of a large agricultural area, located about 25 miles (40 km) west of Rockford. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.4 square miles (29.6 km²), of which, 11.4 square miles (29.6 km²) of it is land and 0.09% is water.
U.S. Route 20 is a four-lane divided highway that skirts the community's northern edge. At Rockford, it links with Interstate 90 and Interstate 39, giving Freeport residents easy access to the entire Interstate system. I-90 is the major route between Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul. I-39 extends from Rockford to Bloomington, where it links with I-74 and I-55. From Freeport, U.S. Route 20 continues west to historic Galena, Illinois, and the metropolitan area of Dubuque, Iowa.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 11.4 square miles (29.6 km²), of which, 11.4 square miles (29.6 km²) of it is land and 0.09% is water.
The area code for Freeport is 815 with an overlay area code of 779 as of March 17, 2007.
| Climate data for Freeport, Illinois | |||||||||||||
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| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
| Average high °F (°C) | 25 (-4) |
30 (-1) |
43 (6) |
57 (14) |
70 (21) |
79 (26) |
82 (28) |
81 (27) |
73 (23) |
61 (16) |
45 (7) |
30 (-1) |
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| Average low °F (°C) | 9 (-13) |
14 (-10) |
25 (-4) |
36 (2) |
46 (8) |
57 (14) |
63 (17) |
59 (15) |
50 (10) |
39 (4) |
28 (-2) |
16 (-9) |
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| Precipitation inches (mm) | 1.33 (33.8) |
1.33 (33.8) |
2.14 (54.4) |
3.23 (82) |
3.96 (100.6) |
4.46 (113.3) |
3.57 (90.7) |
4.11 (104.4) |
3.67 (93.2) |
2.58 (65.5) |
2.69 (68.3) |
1.72 (43.7) |
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| Source: weather.com[5] {{{accessdate}}} | |||||||||||||
| Historical populations | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 10,189 |
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| 1900 | 13,258 | 30.1% | |
| 1910 | 17,587 | 32.7% | |
| 1920 | 19,669 | 11.8% | |
| 1930 | 22,045 | 12.1% | |
| 1940 | 22,368 | 1.5% | |
| 1950 | 22,467 | 0.4% | |
| 1960 | 26,628 | 18.5% | |
| 1970 | 27,736 | 4.2% | |
| 1980 | 26,266 | −5.3% | |
| 1990 | 25,840 | −1.6% | |
| 2000 | 26,443 | 2.3% | |
| Census Quickfacts [2] | |||
As of the census[6] of 2006-2008, there were 24,299 people, 12,864 households, and 6,845 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,316.9 people per square mile (894.8/km²). There were 12,471 housing units at an average density of 1,092.7/sq mi (422.0/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.77% White, 13.81% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.12% of the population.
There were 11,222 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.93.
In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $35,399, and the median income for a family was $43,787. Males had a median income of $35,870 versus $25,095 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,680. About 9.9% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.
Freeport has three claims to fame (or infamy). First, it was the site of the second of the Lincoln-Douglas debates of 1858 and where Stephen A. Douglas articulated his Freeport Doctrine. Second, Freeport is the birthplace of Charles Guiteau, the assassin of U.S. President James Garfield in 1881. Third, William Avery Rockefeller, father of John D. Rockefeller, lived in Freeport; he died and was buried there.
Freeport is the birthplace of several celebrities. Among them are:
Stephenson County Historical Society & Museum The mission of the Stephenson County Historical Society, in partnership with the Freeport Park District, is to preserve, present, and promote local and regional history. This is achieved by maintaining and collecting quality artifacts, by educating the community, by collaborating with other institutions and organizations, and by interpreting and professionally presenting our local history.
Don Opel Arboretum This botanical garden has 3,000 plantings representing over 3,000 different species of ground coverings, trees and shrubs.
Willow Lake
Freeport Masonic Temple
Freeport Art Museum
One of Freeport's claim to fame is its park system.
Freeport Art Museum
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   | Highland Community College - Welcome to Highland Community College |
| | Demographics Report from epodunk - Freeport - Freeport - Population overview |
| | Mr. Lincoln and Freedom: Lincoln-Douglas Debate in Freeport - Freeport, August 27, 1858 - Abraham Lincoln and Freedom |
| | Freeport,Illinois - Freeport - IL.com - Home |
 | Census Quickfacts - Freeport (city) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |
| | Freeport Area Economic Development Foundation - Northwest Illinois Development Alliance - Northwest Illinois Development Alliance |
| | Stephenson County Museum - Stephenson County Historical Society |
| | Monthly Averages for Freeport, IL - Average Weather for Freeport, IL - Temperature and Precipitation |
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