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Kankakee, Illinois

14 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1922 and the latest in 1991. It stands in Kankakee Township. It lies in ZIP code area 60901. It stands on Gar Creek. The Survey maps it on the Kankakee quadrangle. 24,052 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 656 feet above sea level.

Research this city

Kankakee within Kankakee County

On record in Kankakee

Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.

On the National Register 10 records

Population over time

2 figures

Kankakee fell from 27,537 to 24,052 between 2010 and 2020. These are the recorded population figures Wikidata holds for this place, reached through the Geographic Names Information System number this page is keyed on rather than by name, so they belong to this place and not to another of the same name. Most are census counts, but not all are: an early figure may be a founding or settlement estimate, and an estimate published within five years of a census is left out. The change column is computed, and is left blank where more than 20 years separate a figure from the one before it, because a gap that long is not a change between two counts.

YearPeople Change
201027,537
202024,052-3,485 (-13%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

7 surveys from 14 printed sheets

Matched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.

Fires near this place

50 since 2008

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 50 fires within 5 miles of Kankakee between 2008 and 2020, burning about 43 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Reported cause Fires
Missing data/not specified/undetermined39
Debris and open burning9
Equipment and vehicle use1
Fireworks1

The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
30 September 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources18-4632
29 September 2010Equipment and vehicle use5.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesCOGNIS
18 September 2012Debris and open burning2.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesMITCHELL
16 September 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources18-4382
1 September 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources20-0004144
6 August 2019Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources2019-1883
3 August 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources20-0003283
28 August 2018Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources18-4059

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Kankakee County

Mines and quarries near this place

8 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 8 workings within 5 miles of Kankakee: 7 past producers, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Sand and Gravel, Construction, Clay, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Stone. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Kankakee Highway Pit No. 1StonePast Producer
Kankakee PitClayPast Producer
Lehigh East QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Azzarelli Pit No.2Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Grasso and Son PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Havener Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionProducer
Ohrt Rd. Sand PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Route 113 Gravel Pit Azzarell:Sand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer

Every working recorded in Kankakee County

Storms near this place

60 of 85 shown

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Kankakee in 85 storm reports between 1994 and 2026: 44 thunderstorm wind, 31 hail, 4 lightning, 3 flood. The reports record 1 injury. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
October 2013LightningKankakee1 hurtA golfer standing near a tree was struck by lightning. His injuries were not life threatening and he was treated and released.
July 2009LightningKankakee$500,000Lightning struck a new auto body repair building on Grinnell Road and started a fire. The building along with 3 vehicles was completely destroyed.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindWest Kankakee$250,000Trees were blown down on Cobb Street. A 12 to 16 inch diameter tree was uprooted and fell onto a car. The driver was not injured. Three large trees were blown down on Main Street near the hospital, along with many large tree limbs. Tree limbs and power lines were blown down across much of the city of Kankakee. A large tree was uprooted and fell onto a house on Nelson Avenue causing severe damage to the first and second floors of the house. Several large tree limbs were blown onto a house on South Seventh Avenue.
May 2006Flash FloodKankakee$125,000Several roads were flooded. Seven cars stalled in high water, two cars were floating under a viaduct. A woman was rescued from one of the cars. The right shoulder of 1500N at 3100W washed away. Kankakee measured 3.95 inches of rain.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindWest Kankakee$100,000Extensive wind damage occurred across southern parts of the City of Kankakee. The damage began along West Jeffery Street and extended east of the Cobb Park area. Many roads were impassable across these locations due to downed trees. Several very large trees were uprooted and power lines were blown down. One very large tree landed on the roof of a home across the western portion of the main area of damage. About two dozen of the city's oldest trees in Cobb Park were damaged. A car was crushed and destroyed by a falling tree on South Wildwood Avenue. A tree limb was thrown through the windshield of a second car and a third car was damaged on South Greenwood Avenue. Wind gusts were estimated between 80 and 100 mph.
May 2003Thunderstorm WindKankakee$35,000no account filed
November 2013Thunderstorm WindKankakee$25,000A tree fell onto a house on Eagle Street.
May 2006Thunderstorm WindKankakee$10,000Several barns and trees were blown down in a one half mile wide path in Limestone Township.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindWest Kankakee$5,000On the west side of Kankakee, several 4 to 6 inch diameter tree branches were reported down. A ten inch diameter tree was down in Small Memorial Park. A large branch fell onto a van on West Hawkins Street.
June 2008LightningWest Kankakee$5,000A house was struck by lightning on Wiley Ridge Road and suffered minor damage.
June 2006Thunderstorm WindKankakee$5,000A barn roof was blown off.
August 2008Thunderstorm WindKankakee$2,000Several trees and power lines were blown down.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindKankakee$1,000Trees and a fence were blown down on Old Farm South Court.
June 2012Thunderstorm WindKankakee$1,000A one foot diameter branch was blown down on River Street. Two power poles were blown down just east of the entrance to Kankakee Community College on River Road.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindKankakee$500A large tree was blown over and uprooted near the corner of North Taylor Avenue and East Oak Street. The only damage reported was to a concrete sidewalk ripped up by the roots of the tree.
March 2026HailWest Kankakee-A hailstone measuring 6.6 inches in diameter (168.05 mm to be precise) was found along Calista St on the west side of Kankakee. Faculty from Northern Illinois University partnered with the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety to verify the dimensions of the stone. It weighed in at 557.2 grams, or 19.65 ounces. As of this writing, the hailstone is being considered for the official Illinois state record.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Extensive tree damage was noted around Kankakee, including downed branches up to one foot in diameter.
January 2024FloodKankakee-Low lying yards were flooded along the Kankakee River as an ice jam broke up.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Power lines were blown down at Interstate 57 and the Court Street exit.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Multiple large trees were blown down onto roadways.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindWest Kankakee-Twenty five large trees were blown down across Small Memorial Park.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindWest Kankakee-A light pole was bent and several tree limbs 3 to 6 inches in diameter were blown down. Winds were estimated to 65 mph.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Trees and tree limbs were blown down.
September 2021Thunderstorm WindWest Kankakee-A tree limb 6 to 12 inches in diameter was blown down.
May 2020FloodKankakee-Flood waters eroded a stream through a field, which were flowing heavily.
August 2020Thunderstorm WindWest Kankakee-Numerous trees were blown down and uprooted in Kankakee. Tree limbs and power lines were also blown down. Many trees fell onto roofs and garages causing damage. The hardest hit areas were on the west side of Kankakee and the Riverview neighborhood where streets were blocked by the fallen trees.
February 2019FloodKankakee-A localized area along the Kankakee River experienced flooding due to ongoing river ice northwest of Aroma Park. Several homes were completely surrounded by water.
March 2017Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Large tree branches were blown down throughout town.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Across central and southern Kankakee County, over 200 trees and powerlines down.
June 2013HailKankakee-Numerous reports of hail up to the size of golfballs were received between Kankakee and Bourbonnais.
June 2013Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Numerous large trees and branches were blown down.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Numerous 3 to 6 inch diameter tree limbs were blown down in downtown Kankakee.
July 2012HailKankakee-Multiple reports of nickel to quarter size hail were received from portions of Kankakee, Bourbonnais, and Bradley.
May 2011HailWest Kankakee-Up to walnut size hail was reported across portions of Bradley and Kankakee as a line of thunderstorms moved through. Specific reports include penny size hail at the intersection of Grinnell Road and Interstate 57, and nickel size hail at the intersection of West Station Street and South Curtis Avenue. Walnut size hail was reported at North Street and Illinois Route 50.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindKankakee-A twenty inch diameter tree was snapped off blocking the road near Elm and Emory Roads.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Tree limbs were blown down with estimated wind gusts to 60 mph.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindKankakee-A tree was blown down on a car near Route 17 and Hobbie Avenue.
August 2009Thunderstorm WindKankakee-A 20 foot tall tree was blown down.
January 2008Flash FloodKankakee-The intersection of Hobbie Avenue and Route 50 was flooded with 2 to 3 feet of water.
April 2006Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Wind damage was reported in the River Bend Subdivision on Route 113, northwest of Kankakee.
May 2006HailKankakee-Penny size hail reported at Oak Springs Golf Course.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Tree limbs were blown down on Highland and Route 17, east of Kankakee.
October 2006Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Trees down city wide, some blocking roads.
October 2006Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Six inch diameter trees blown down in the road on North 9th and Stone Streets.
October 2006Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Two large trees were blown down, one blocking Route 17.
March 2005HailKankakee-Penny sized hail was reported to be covering the ground.
May 2005HailKankakee-Baseball size hail was reported near mile marker 302 on Interstate 57 in Chebanse at the Kankakee-Iroquois County line.
April 2004Tornado (F1)Kankakee-The tornado formed just southwest of the intersection of County Roads 5000S and 3000W. Eyewitnesses stated there were multiple funnels aloft occasionally lowering at this point. The developing vortex continued northeast to cross 3000S just west of 1000W. A brick one story house was directly hit. The roof was torn off and scattered northeast in a field across the street. Numerous large trees were snapped or uprooted around the home. An empty corrugated grain bin was pushed into a tree. The tornado continued northeast to the Cognis chemical plant where the brick wall of a building fell outward. About 200 feet of chain link fence was torn up. Several cinder block buildings were damaged or destroyed in this complex just northeast of where the fence was taken out. The vortex moved across railroad tracks to tear up part of the corrugated metal roofs at the River Valley Metro building (city bus storage) and other nearby businesses. The final damage was at a farm at the corner of Rts 45/52 and River Road. A barn was destroyed as well as several large sheds. The vortex apparently lifted after that as it moved just west of Kankakee Community College to the Kankakee River. Areas of debris could be seen in the trees north of River Road but no tree damage was noted.
May 2000Thunderstorm WindKankakee-Trees were uprooted and large limbs were broken in Kankakee. Falling trees and limbs damaged cars and homes. As many as 30 trees were uprooted. In Momence a large tree was blown down at a school.
March 2026HailKankakee-no account filed
March 2026HailKankakee-no account filed
March 2025HailWest Kankakee-no account filed
March 2023HailWest Kankakee-no account filed
May 2020HailKankakee-no account filed
June 2019Thunderstorm WindKankakee-no account filed
May 2018HailKankakee-no account filed
March 2006HailKankakee-no account filed
May 2006HailKankakee-no account filed
March 2003HailKankakee-no account filed
March 2003HailKankakee-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Kankakee County

Nearest settlements

The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.

Map PlaceDistance Sheets
West Kankakee1.4 miles15
Bradley1.5 miles15
Bourbonnais2.6 miles15
Greenwich3.5 miles15
Aroma Park3.8 miles14
Hillside Manor4.6 miles15
Indian Oaks5.0 miles15
Otto5.3 miles15

Elsewhere

Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.

Wikipedia article on KankakeeAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q578351The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0).

Provenance

This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 411300. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.

Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.

Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.