Henry County is a county in northwestern Illinois, situated along the state’s western side within the Mississippi River Valley region and adjacent to the Quad Cities metropolitan area to the southwest. Created in 1825 and named for Revolutionary War patriot Patrick Henry, it developed as a farming and market-center county as settlement expanded across Illinois’s prairie landscape in the 19th century. Henry County is mid-sized in scale, with a population of about 49,000 residents (2020). Its landscape is characterized by gently rolling farmland, small towns, and river-related terrain and recreational areas near the Rock River and Mississippi River corridor. The local economy is anchored by agriculture and agribusiness, manufacturing, and service employment tied to regional trade and commuting patterns. The county has a predominantly rural character, with its largest population center and county seat in Cambridge.

Henry County Local Demographic Profile

Henry County is in northwestern Illinois along the Interstate 80 corridor, with the county seat in Cambridge and the largest city in Kewanee. It is part of a largely rural and small-city region between the Quad Cities metro area and the western Chicago exurbs.

Population Size

According to the U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts for Henry County, Illinois, the county’s population was 49,284 (2020).

Age & Gender

County-level age distribution and sex composition are published by the U.S. Census Bureau through QuickFacts and ACS profile tables; the most direct county summary is available via QuickFacts (Henry County, Illinois). This source provides standard age-group shares (including under 18 and 65+) and the female/male percentage split for the resident population.

Racial & Ethnic Composition

Race and Hispanic/Latino ethnicity measures for Henry County are reported in the U.S. Census Bureau’s county profile tables. The county’s racial categories (e.g., White, Black or African American, Asian, two or more races) and Hispanic or Latino (of any race) are summarized in QuickFacts (Henry County, Illinois) using decennial Census and American Community Survey (ACS) products.

Household & Housing Data

Household and housing indicators for Henry County—commonly including number of households, average household size, owner-occupied housing rate, median value of owner-occupied housing units, and housing unit counts—are compiled by the U.S. Census Bureau in QuickFacts (Henry County, Illinois).

For local government and planning resources, visit the Henry County, Illinois official website.

Note on specificity: This profile cites county-level demographic statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau. Exact values for each age bracket, sex percentage, race/ethnicity share, and household/housing metric are available directly within the linked Census tables.

Email Usage

Henry County, Illinois is a largely rural county with small-city population centers, so lower population density can reduce the business case for last‑mile broadband buildout and make digital communication (including email) more dependent on available fixed or mobile networks.

Direct county-level email-usage statistics are not typically published; broadband and device access are used as proxies because email generally requires reliable internet access and an internet-capable device. The U.S. Census Bureau (ACS) tables on internet subscriptions and computer ownership provide indicators such as household broadband subscription (fixed) and household computer access for Henry County. Age structure also influences adoption: older age distributions are commonly associated with lower uptake of newer digital services, and county age shares are available via ACS demographic profiles. Gender distribution is available in the same sources but is generally less predictive of email adoption than age and access.

Connectivity limitations are reflected in availability gaps reported by broadband mapping programs, including the FCC National Broadband Map, which documents where fixed broadband service is and is not offered at modern speeds.

Mobile Phone Usage

Henry County is in northwestern Illinois along the Interstate 80 corridor between the Quad Cities and the Illinois River valley region. The county includes small cities (notably Geneseo and Kewanee) and extensive agricultural land, producing a low-to-moderate population density compared with metropolitan Illinois. Flat to gently rolling terrain generally supports wide-area radio propagation, while dispersed rural settlement patterns increase the cost per location of dense cellular infrastructure (especially mid-band 5G and small-cell deployments), which can translate into more variable service quality away from city centers and major highways.

Data availability and scope (key limitations)

County-specific statistics that cleanly separate mobile network availability from mobile adoption/usage are limited. The most consistent county-scale sources are:

  • Network availability (supply-side): Federal Communications Commission (FCC) coverage datasets and broadband maps.
  • Adoption and device/usage (demand-side): U.S. Census Bureau household survey products that are typically strongest at state or national level; county estimates for some measures exist but are not always available at fine detail for “smartphone-only” or “mobile broadband subscription” without using microdata or multi-year model-based tables.

Sources used and referenced below include the FCC National Broadband Map, U.S. Census Bureau data tools, and Illinois broadband planning resources. County-level results may vary by provider and by location within census blocks.

County context relevant to mobile connectivity

  • Settlement pattern: A small number of population centers surrounded by rural townships increases the importance of macro cell sites and highway-oriented coverage, with fewer opportunities for high-capacity densification outside towns.
  • Transportation corridors: I‑80 and state highways tend to have better engineered coverage and backhaul options than lightly traveled rural roads.
  • Topography: Predominantly flat terrain generally helps coverage range; connectivity gaps in rural areas more commonly reflect tower spacing, spectrum bands deployed, and backhaul availability rather than terrain shadowing.
  • Population and housing dispersion: Lower density can reduce the economic incentive for rapid deployment of capacity upgrades, affecting peak-time speeds and indoor coverage in some areas.

Reference geography and profiles for the county are available via the U.S. Census Bureau’s county pages and data tools (see Census.gov and data.census.gov).

Network availability (coverage) vs. household adoption (use)

Network availability describes where mobile voice/LTE/5G service is reported as available outdoors and/or indoors, typically modeled and reported by carriers and aggregated by the FCC.
Household adoption describes whether residents subscribe to or rely on mobile service (including “smartphone-only” households or households with mobile broadband subscriptions), which is measured through surveys and administrative sources and does not necessarily track coverage one-to-one.

The sections below keep these categories separate.

Mobile network availability in Henry County (FCC-reported)

4G LTE availability

  • General pattern: In Illinois, LTE is broadly available across most populated areas and major roadways; in counties like Henry with multiple small cities and interstate access, LTE coverage is typically widespread, with the most common issues being indoor signal strength and capacity/speed variation in sparsely populated areas rather than complete lack of signal.
  • How to verify location-specific availability: The FCC National Broadband Map provides provider-reported mobile broadband coverage by technology and claimed speeds. The most direct county and address-level verification is through the FCC map interface:

5G availability (low-band vs. mid-band)

  • Low-band 5G: Typically the first and most geographically extensive 5G layer in non-metro areas because it can reuse existing tower grids and propagate farther. In a county like Henry, low-band 5G availability is more likely along existing macro-cell footprints, including towns and highways.
  • Mid-band 5G (e.g., C-band and similar): Provides higher capacity but usually requires denser cell spacing and robust backhaul. In smaller cities, mid-band 5G may be present in parts of population centers but is generally less continuous in rural townships.
  • Verification: The FCC map supports filtering by “5G” and exploring provider footprints and reported performance tiers:

Important limitation: FCC mobile coverage is based on standardized propagation models and provider filings. It is not a direct measurement of on-the-ground experience and can overstate coverage in fringe areas. The FCC map is best used as an availability indicator rather than a definitive service-quality measure.

Household adoption and access indicators (county-relevant)

Mobile reliance vs. broadband subscription

County-level household adoption indicators are commonly drawn from U.S. Census Bureau survey products that track:

  • Presence of an internet subscription in the household
  • Broadband type categories (which may include cellular data plans in some tabulations)
  • Device access (desktop/laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc.) in some tables

Direct county estimates for “smartphone-only” households are not consistently published as a single headline measure across all counties, and different tables distinguish “internet access” from “subscription,” and “cellular data plan” from other subscription types.

Primary reference sources for adoption-oriented measures:

Clear distinction: Even where LTE/5G availability is widespread, some households do not subscribe due to cost, perceived need, device affordability, credit constraints, or preference for wireline service. Conversely, some households adopt mobile-only service even when wireline broadband is available.

Practical county-level indicators commonly used when mobile-specific figures are limited

When mobile-only adoption is not directly available at county resolution, researchers often use:

  • Household internet subscription rates (overall)
  • Computer ownership and device access indicators
  • Commuting patterns and rurality (as proxies for reliance on mobile connectivity outside the home)

These are available through the Census tools above, but the exact mobile-only percentage may require specialized tabulations not presented as a standard county profile.

Mobile internet usage patterns (usage in practice vs. availability)

County-specific measured usage patterns (e.g., share of traffic over 4G vs. 5G, average speeds by census tract) are generally not published as official statistics at the county level. What can be stated reliably from public sources is the structural pattern:

  • In towns (Geneseo, Kewanee): Higher likelihood of 5G availability (at least low-band) and higher capacity due to closer tower spacing and better backhaul access.
  • Along I‑80 and major routes: Typically stronger continuity of service and faster upgrades due to travel demand and infrastructure adjacency.
  • Rural townships: More variable indoor coverage and peak-time performance; users may rely on Wi‑Fi offload at home where fixed broadband exists, or on cellular where fixed options are limited.

For an official view of where broadband (including mobile) is reported available, the FCC map is the primary source:

Common device types (smartphones vs. other devices)

County-level device-type distributions (smartphone vs. basic phone vs. tablet vs. computer) are not consistently published as a simple county statistic in standard public tables. Publicly available Census tables more often report household access to categories such as “smartphone,” “tablet,” “desktop/laptop,” and “other” devices rather than “basic phone.”

What can be stated from standard public measurement practice:

  • Smartphones dominate mobile access in U.S. households and are the primary device for mobile internet use.
  • Tablets and laptops often supplement smartphone access, particularly in households with home broadband or school/work requirements.
  • Fixed wireless and mobile hotspots can function as a home internet substitute in some rural locations, but public county-level counts of hotspot reliance are not typically reported as a headline measure.

Device and subscription tables can be located through:

Demographic and geographic factors influencing mobile usage in Henry County

Rurality and distance to infrastructure

  • Lower density raises per-user infrastructure costs for carriers, which can slow densification and contribute to capacity constraints outside towns.
  • Distance from fiber backhaul can affect the pace at which high-capacity 5G layers are deployed on rural macro sites.

Age structure and income distribution (adoption-related)

  • Areas with older populations often show lower rates of smartphone-centric usage and lower adoption of newer device cycles, affecting 5G-capable device penetration.
  • Income and affordability influence whether households maintain postpaid plans with larger data allotments, rely on prepaid plans, or remain unconnected. These factors are typically measured via ACS socioeconomic tables rather than direct “mobile plan” questions.

Socioeconomic context for Henry County is available via:

Local institutions and travel patterns

  • Commuting and regional travel toward the Quad Cities area and along I‑80 can increase the importance of continuous corridor coverage and can concentrate network investment along those routes.
  • School, healthcare, and public service access patterns influence reliance on mobile connectivity for scheduling, telehealth, and notifications, but county-level mobile-usage rates for these activities are not typically published in official datasets.

State and local planning context (connectivity policy and mapping)

Illinois broadband planning resources sometimes compile availability, challenge processes, and investment programs that can affect both fixed and mobile connectivity, though mobile detail varies by program documentation:

For county administrative context and geographic reference:

Summary (availability vs. adoption)

  • Availability: LTE is broadly expected across the county with strongest continuity in population centers and along I‑80; 5G availability exists in parts of the county, with low-band generally more geographically extensive than mid-band. The authoritative public availability reference is the FCC National Broadband Map.
  • Adoption: County-level, mobile-specific adoption (such as smartphone-only households or mobile-broadband-only subscriptions) is not consistently published as a single definitive metric in standard public tables. The most defensible public approach uses Census household internet/device tables as indirect indicators via data.census.gov, with explicit acknowledgement that these indicators do not uniquely identify mobile-only reliance in all cases.

Social Media Trends

Henry County is in northwestern Illinois along the Interstate 80 corridor, with Kewanee as the county seat and regional anchors nearby in the Quad Cities metro area. Its mix of small-city and rural communities, a manufacturing/agriculture legacy, and commuting ties to larger labor markets tends to align local media habits with broader Midwestern patterns: high smartphone ownership, heavy use of a few dominant social platforms, and strong dependence on social media for local news, events, and community groups.

User statistics (penetration / active usage)

  • County-specific social media penetration is not published in major, publicly available datasets at the county level; most reputable measurements are national or state-level.
  • National benchmarks commonly used to approximate county baselines:
  • Practical implication for Henry County: the largest “reachable” social audience tends to be concentrated among adults under 50 and nearly universal among teenagers, consistent with national patterns.

Age group trends (highest usage)

National age patterns (widely used as a proxy where local estimates are unavailable) show the highest overall use among younger adults:

  • 18–29: highest adoption across most platforms; heavy use of Instagram, Snapchat, TikTok, YouTube.
  • 30–49: high adoption; Facebook, YouTube, Instagram common; growing TikTok use.
  • 50–64: moderate-to-high use; Facebook and YouTube dominate.
  • 65+: lowest adoption overall but substantial Facebook and YouTube presence.
    Source for age-by-platform patterns: Pew Research Center platform and demographic breakdowns.

Gender breakdown

County-level gender splits are generally not reported in public datasets; reputable national findings indicate:

  • Women are more likely than men to use certain platforms (notably Pinterest; often Facebook slightly higher among women).
  • Men are more likely than women to use some discussion- or news-oriented platforms in certain surveys (patterns vary by platform and year).
    Source: Pew Research Center demographic tables by platform.

Most-used platforms (with percentages where available)

The most reliable publicly accessible percentages are national (adult) shares:

For Henry County, typical observed local-market mixes in similar Illinois counties tend to reflect:

  • Facebook and YouTube as the broadest-reach platforms across ages.
  • Instagram and TikTok as the next tier, strongest among younger residents.
  • Snapchat concentrated among teens/young adults.
  • LinkedIn concentrated among working-age residents with professional/white-collar networks (often tied to commuting and regional employers).

Behavioral trends (engagement patterns / preferences)

  • Community and local-information usage: Facebook Groups and local pages commonly function as de facto community bulletin boards (events, school updates, fundraisers, weather, road conditions), a pattern consistent with broader U.S. usage of social platforms for local information flows.
  • Video-first consumption: YouTube’s high penetration reflects sustained demand for how-to content, entertainment, sports highlights, and local/regional news clips; short-form video growth (TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts) concentrates engagement among younger cohorts.
  • Private sharing and messaging: U.S. users increasingly share content via direct messages and small groups rather than public posting; this aligns with broader “dark social” behavior (links and media shared in private channels).
  • News and civic information exposure: Social media remains a meaningful pathway to news for many Americans, with platform differences in how often users encounter news and political content. Source: Pew Research Center: Social Media and News Fact Sheet.

Data note: County-specific platform penetration and demographic splits for Henry County, Illinois are not routinely released in public, methodologically transparent sources; the figures above use widely cited national survey benchmarks (primarily Pew Research Center) that are commonly used to contextualize expected local patterns.

Family & Associates Records

Henry County, Illinois maintains vital and family-related records primarily through the Henry County Clerk and the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH). Birth and death records are recorded locally and at the state level; marriage and civil union records are typically issued and filed by the county clerk. Adoption records are generally handled through the Illinois courts and state agencies rather than county vital records offices, and are commonly subject to stricter confidentiality controls.

Publicly searchable databases for “family records” are limited. Genealogical death indexes and historical materials are more commonly accessed through state or archival resources rather than a countywide public search portal. Some associate-related public records (such as court case information) are available through the Illinois court system’s online tools, while certified vital records are generally not available for unrestricted online download.

Records access is provided in person and by request through the Henry County Clerk. Court-filed matters, including adoption-related proceedings and other family-case records, are maintained by the Henry County Circuit Clerk (Illinois Courts directory). State-level guidance on vital records is published by IDPH Vital Records.

Privacy restrictions commonly apply to certified birth records, certain death records, and adoption records; access is frequently limited by identity, relationship, and statutory eligibility rules, with redactions possible for sensitive information.

Marriage & Divorce Records

Types of records available

  • Marriage records

    • Marriage license applications and licenses: Created and maintained as the county’s official authorization to marry.
    • Marriage certificates/returns: The officiant’s completed return filed back with the county after the ceremony, documenting that the marriage occurred.
    • Marriage record indexes: Search tools maintained by the recording office; coverage and format vary by time period.

  • Divorce records

    • Divorce case files: Court files that may include the petition/complaint, summons/service, motions, financial affidavits, parenting documents (when applicable), orders, and judgment.
    • Judgment of dissolution (divorce decree): The final court order dissolving the marriage and setting terms such as property division, support, and allocation of parental responsibilities.

  • Annulment records

    • Judgment of invalidity (annulment): Court order declaring a marriage invalid under Illinois law; maintained as a civil case record similar to divorce files.

Where records are filed and how they can be accessed

  • Marriage records (county level)

    • Filed/maintained by: Henry County Clerk / Recorder (the county office responsible for vital records recording and preservation at the county level).
    • Access methods:
      • Certified copies are typically issued by the County Clerk/Recorder to eligible requesters under Illinois vital records rules.
      • Genealogical/non-certified copies or index lookups may be available for older records, depending on county policy and record condition.
      • Requests are commonly handled in person, by mail, or through authorized request channels used by the county office.

  • Divorce and annulment records (court level)

    • Filed/maintained by: Henry County Circuit Court Clerk (custodian of civil court case records), with judges’ orders entered in the court record.
    • Access methods:
      • Case docket and filings are generally accessed through the Circuit Clerk’s records systems and file room services.
      • Certified copies of judgments/orders are issued by the Circuit Clerk.
      • Some docket information may be available through Illinois court record access systems; availability varies by county and case type.

Typical information included in these records

  • Marriage licenses and returns

    • Full names of the parties (including prior names in some eras)
    • Dates and place of marriage (or intended place and later return)
    • Ages and/or dates of birth (varies by period and form used)
    • Residences and sometimes birthplaces
    • Parents’ names (often on license applications; varies by time period)
    • Officiant’s name, title, and certification/registration details
    • License issuance date and license number/file reference

  • Divorce decrees (judgments of dissolution)

    • Names of the parties and case number
    • Date of entry of judgment and court location
    • Findings required by Illinois dissolution law (jurisdiction, grounds/irreconcilable differences)
    • Orders on:
      • Property and debt allocation
      • Maintenance (spousal support), when awarded
      • Child support and health insurance provisions, when applicable
      • Allocation of parental responsibilities and parenting time, when applicable
      • Restoration of former name, when granted
    • References to incorporated agreements (marital settlement agreement, parenting plan), when filed

  • Divorce/annulment case files (beyond the decree)

    • Pleadings, motions, and affidavits
    • Financial disclosures and exhibits
    • Parenting-related evaluations or reports in some cases
    • Orders entered during the case (temporary orders, protection-related orders when applicable)
    • Proof of service and notices

Privacy or legal restrictions

  • Marriage records

    • Illinois treats vital records as controlled records. Certified copies of marriage records are generally limited to the persons named on the record and other legally authorized requesters, with identity verification required by the issuing office.
    • Informational (non-certified) copies and index information may be more broadly available for older records, subject to county policy and record status.

  • Divorce and annulment records

    • Court records are generally public, but access can be restricted by:
      • Sealed cases or sealed documents by court order
      • Statutory confidentiality for specific content (commonly including certain identifying information, sensitive financial data, and information involving minors)
      • Protective orders limiting disclosure of addresses, contact information, or other sensitive data
    • Even when a case is public, certified copies are issued under court clerk procedures and may require specific case identifiers.

Reference agencies (Henry County / Illinois)

Education, Employment and Housing

Henry County is in northwest Illinois along the Interstate 80 corridor, anchored by the cities of Kewanee and Geneseo and bordering the Quad Cities region to the west. The county’s communities include small cities, villages, and extensive rural/agricultural areas; population and job access tend to concentrate near I‑80 and the larger municipal centers, with additional commuting ties to Rock Island County and the broader Quad Cities labor market. (Population levels, education attainment, and housing values cited below are typically reported from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey for the most recent 5‑year release; where county-specific program or rate reporting varies by district, the most consistent public proxies are linked and noted.)

Education Indicators

Public schools (counts and names)

Public K‑12 education in Henry County is delivered through multiple local districts serving Kewanee, Geneseo, Annawan, Cambridge, Galva, and surrounding rural areas. A consolidated countywide list of every public school and school name is not uniformly published as a single county inventory; the most reliable public directory for school names and counts is the Illinois Report Card district/school directory. See the Illinois State Board of Education’s Illinois Report Card and the district directory/search within it for Henry County-area districts and their schools.

Student–teacher ratios and graduation rates

  • Student–teacher ratios: Student–teacher ratios are generally reported at the district and school level (not as a single countywide ratio) in the Illinois Report Card; ratios vary meaningfully by district size and grade span. The most consistent source is the school-level “Student/Teacher Ratio” field in the Illinois Report Card.
  • Graduation rates: Four-year cohort graduation rates are also reported by high school/district in the Illinois Report Card rather than as one countywide figure. For Henry County high schools, graduation rates are typically in the upper Midwest range (often around the high‑80s to mid‑90s percent in many small Illinois districts), but the definitive values are the school-specific rates shown in the Illinois Report Card.
    Proxy note: A single countywide “graduation rate” is not a standard Illinois reporting unit; district/school rates are the best available proxy.

Adult educational attainment (county level)

Adult attainment is available as countywide percentages from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS) 5‑year estimates (most recent release). The standard county indicators include:

  • High school graduate or higher (age 25+): reported as a percentage of adults 25+.
  • Bachelor’s degree or higher (age 25+): reported as a percentage of adults 25+.
    County profiles and downloadable tables are available via the Census Bureau’s data.census.gov (ACS “Educational Attainment” tables such as DP02/S1501).

Notable programs (STEM, vocational training, AP)

  • Career and Technical Education (CTE)/vocational: Illinois districts commonly report CTE course participation, industry credentials, and dual-credit activity through the Illinois Report Card and local district program pages; this is especially relevant in rural and manufacturing-linked counties such as Henry. District-level CTE indicators appear in the Illinois Report Card.
  • Advanced Placement (AP) and dual credit: AP course offerings/participation and dual-credit indicators are reported at the high school/district level in the Illinois Report Card; availability varies by high school size and staffing.
  • Regional training provider proxy: Workforce and adult training in the region is also supported through the community-college system. Henry County is served by nearby Illinois community colleges (service areas vary by campus and district boundaries); program catalogs and workforce training offerings can be referenced through the Illinois Community College Board directory as a regional proxy for vocational/technical pathways.

School safety measures and counseling resources

Illinois public schools report safety-related and student-support information through district policies and state reporting:

  • Safety measures: Common measures include controlled entry/visitor management, emergency response plans, school resource officer (SRO) arrangements in some communities, and mandated safety drills; district-specific details are typically published in board policy manuals and school handbooks, while selected climate/safety indicators appear within the Illinois Report Card.
  • Counseling and student supports: School counseling and social-work supports are typically organized at the district level (counselors, psychologists, social workers), with staffing levels often summarized in district or school profiles; state-level student support reporting and district resources can be verified via district pages and the Illinois Report Card where available.
    Proxy note: A standardized, countywide inventory of “counseling resources” is not centrally published; district/school staffing and program descriptions are the best public proxy.

Employment and Economic Conditions

Unemployment rate (most recent year available)

County unemployment rates are published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) program, including annual averages. The most recent annual Henry County unemployment rate is available through BLS and Illinois labor-market summaries; see BLS LAUS and the Illinois Department of Employment Security’s labor market information.
Data note: The unemployment rate changes year to year; the LAUS annual average is the standard “most recent year” metric for county comparisons.

Major industries and employment sectors

Henry County’s employment base typically reflects a mix of:

  • Manufacturing (including metal fabrication, machinery/industrial production, and related supply-chain activity),
  • Health care and social assistance (clinics, hospitals/long-term care, and community services),
  • Retail trade and accommodation/food services (local-serving businesses),
  • Educational services and public administration (schools and local government),
  • Agriculture and agribusiness-related activity (more prominent in rural areas, though agricultural employment can be undercounted in some datasets depending on reporting categories).
    The most consistent county sector breakdown is available via ACS industry tables on data.census.gov (industry by civilian employed population).

Common occupations and workforce breakdown

Occupational composition in counties with Henry’s mix commonly includes:

  • Production and transportation/material moving occupations (linked to manufacturing and logistics),
  • Office/administrative support and sales (local services and small business),
  • Management, business, and financial (smaller share than major metros),
  • Education, healthcare practitioner/support (regional healthcare and school systems),
  • Construction and maintenance (housing and infrastructure needs).
    Definitive occupation shares are available in ACS occupation tables on data.census.gov (e.g., DP03/S2401).

Commuting patterns and mean commute times

  • Mean travel time to work: Published by ACS as “Mean travel time to work (minutes)” for workers 16+; Henry County’s mean commute time is typically in the mid‑20-minute range for similar downstate/northwest Illinois counties, with variation by proximity to I‑80 and job centers. The county’s definitive mean commute time is available via ACS commuting tables on data.census.gov.
  • Typical patterns: Commuting commonly includes local trips into Kewanee and Geneseo for education, healthcare, and local services; cross-county commuting toward the Quad Cities area is also a regional pattern given the nearby employment base in Rock Island County and Iowa riverfront cities.

Local employment versus out‑of‑county work

ACS “Place of Work” and “Commuting (County-to-county flows)” products provide the most consistent measures of:

  • Workers living in Henry County who work in Henry County versus
  • Workers commuting to other counties (notably adjacent counties in the I‑80/Quad Cities region).
    The most accessible public proxy is ACS commuting/flow tables and supporting datasets accessed via data.census.gov.
    Proxy note: County-to-county flow detail can be limited or lagged relative to annual unemployment reporting; ACS 5‑year commuting measures are the standard benchmark.

Housing and Real Estate

Homeownership rate and rental share

Homeownership and rental occupancy shares are published in the ACS Housing Characteristics profiles for Henry County (owner-occupied vs renter-occupied). This is available via data.census.gov (DP04/“Housing Characteristics”).
Context note: Counties with a strong small-town/rural housing stock like Henry commonly have owner-occupancy shares above large metro averages, with rentals concentrated near city centers and around larger employers and schools.

Median property values and recent trends

  • Median value of owner-occupied housing units: Reported by ACS (5‑year) and is the most consistent “median property value” statistic for county comparisons. See ACS DP04 on data.census.gov.
  • Recent trends: County-level, transaction-based home price indices are less consistently available for smaller markets; a reasonable proxy for “trend” is the ACS median value change across successive 5‑year releases, supplemented by local assessor/real estate board reporting where available.
    Proxy note: ACS values reflect survey-based estimates and can lag market turning points.

Typical rent prices

  • Median gross rent: Reported by ACS (DP04) and is the most consistent countywide rent benchmark. See data.census.gov.
    Context note: Rents vary most by unit size, age/condition, and proximity to city centers (Kewanee/Geneseo) versus rural areas.

Types of housing

Henry County’s housing stock is commonly characterized by:

  • Single-family detached homes as the dominant type (in towns and rural residential areas),
  • Lower-rise apartments and duplexes concentrated in city/village centers,
  • Farmsteads and rural lots outside municipal boundaries.
    The definitive distribution by structure type (1-unit detached, 2–4 units, 5+ units, mobile homes, etc.) is published in ACS housing tables on data.census.gov.

Neighborhood characteristics (proximity to schools or amenities)

  • Town-centered amenities: Walkable access to schools, parks, and basic retail is most typical in Kewanee and Geneseo cores and in village centers; rural areas generally require driving to schools, groceries, and healthcare.
  • I‑80 influence: Areas nearer I‑80 and the Geneseo area generally have quicker access to regional employment corridors and services, while more remote townships have longer trip times to hospitals and large retail.
    Proxy note: A countywide, standardized “neighborhood amenities index” is not generally published for rural counties; municipal land-use patterns and ACS journey-to-work travel times serve as common proxies.

Property tax overview (average rate and typical homeowner cost)

  • Tax rates and bills: Property taxes in Illinois are administered locally and vary by township, municipality, and school district levies; the most accurate “typical homeowner cost” is the median/average property tax bill derived from county-level ACS “Selected Monthly Owner Costs” and local assessment/levy data. County tax extension and levy details are maintained by the county clerk/treasurer and assessor offices; statewide context is available through the Illinois Department of Revenue.
  • Practical proxy: For a “typical homeowner cost,” the ACS owner-cost and property tax fields provide a consistent cross-county benchmark on data.census.gov.
    Data note: A single countywide “average property tax rate” is not strictly meaningful in Illinois because effective rates vary substantially by parcel, taxing district, and equalization factors; bill-based measures (median taxes paid) are the most comparable proxy.

Table of Contents

Other Counties in Illinois