Woodford County, Illinois

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Woodford County, Illinois: a short, easy-to-read guide

Overview
Woodford County is a rural county in central Illinois, near the Peoria metropolitan area. The county seat is Eureka. As of the 2020 census, about 38,467 people lived there. The county covers roughly 543 square miles, with most of it being land and a small amount of water. It is part of the Peoria region and sits in the Central Time Zone.

Geography
- Total area: about 543 square miles; 528 square miles of land and 15 square miles of water.
- The landscape is mostly prairie with some bluffs and wooded areas.
- Adjacent counties include Marshall, LaSalle, Livingston, McLean, Tazewell, and Peoria.

History
- Woodford County was formed in 1841 from parts of Tazewell and McLean counties. It was named after Woodford County, Kentucky, which itself was named for General William Woodford, who served with George Washington at Valley Forge.
- Before settlement, the area was home to Native American peoples, including the Potawatomi, Meskwaki (Fox), and Sauk.
- Early Anglo settlements began in the 1820s. The county’s seat moved several times in its early history, finally settling in Eureka in 1894 after a series of elections.
- The Underground Railroad operated through Woodford County, helping enslaved people escape to freedom in Canada. Local community leaders opposed the Fugitive Slave Law, and conductors in the area assisted escapees.

Pioneer life and development
- Settlers initially lived in crude log cabins and common frontier conditions. Homes were small, with fires for heat and simple, hand-made furnishings.
- Agriculture was the main occupation, with early farming using wooden plows and basic tools. Communities formed around timber milling, farming, and trade.

Eureka College
- Woodford County is home to Eureka College, a long-standing liberal arts college affiliated with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). One of its most famous alumni is Ronald Reagan, the 40th President of the United States. The college’s roots trace back to the mid-1800s and it has played a central role in the county’s educational landscape.

Governance
- Woodford County is governed by a 15-member County Board elected from three districts. Board members serve four-year terms and oversee ordinances, budgeting, taxes, and county operations. The board appoints a chair and runs monthly meetings.

Demographics
- Population (2020): 38,467; 2024 estimate: about 38,290.
- The county is predominantly White, with small percentages of other races and Hispanic/Latino residents.
- About 29.8% of residents live in urban areas; 70.2% live in rural areas.
- The median age is in the early 40s. Household and family structures vary, with a mix of married couples, single-parent households, and individuals living alone.

Education
- Several K–12 districts serve the county, including Eureka Community Unit School District 140 and Metamora Township High School District 122, among others.
- The Eureka area hosts Eureka College, a historic liberal arts college with notable ties to Ronald Reagan.

Communities
- Cities: Eureka (county seat), El Paso, Minonk.
- Villages and other communities include Metamora, Roanoke, Washburn, and several smaller towns and unincorporated areas.
- A number of townships, such as Cazenovia, Clayton, Cruger, El Paso, Metamora, and others, make up the local government geography.

Notable people
- The county has produced figures from education, politics, sports, and culture, including Ronald Reagan (Eureka College alumnus), J. Frank Duryea (pioneer in the automobile, born in Washburn), Ben Zobrist (MLB player from Eureka), Andy Studebaker (NFL player), Fulton J. Sheen (Catholic archbishop, born in El Paso), and others who have ties to Eureka College and local towns.

Summary
Woodford County blends rural Illinois farming with a strong educational presence centered on Eureka College. Its history includes early settlement in the 1820s, a connection to the Underground Railroad, and a community that moved its county seat to Eureka in the late 19th century. Today the county is known for its pleasant countryside, small towns, and a legacy of education and public service that continues through its schools and Eureka College.