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Nora, Illinois

14 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1937 and the latest in 1981. It stands in Nora Township. It lies in ZIP code area 61059. The Survey maps it on the Warren quadrangle. 107 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 1,014 feet above sea level.

Nora within Jo Daviess County

Population over time

2 figures

Nora fell from 121 to 107 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
2010121
2020107-14 (-12%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

9 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.

In the county-history sources

12,305 words on this township

The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion ... History of the Northwest, History of Illinois ... Constitution of the United States, published 1878 names this settlement in its chapter on Nora Township. These are the passages that mention it, exactly as the scans read.

The first settler was Garrett Garner, who'located a claim on section seven, which is now included in the farms owned by Samuel and Tilman H. Dobler. The following year Garner sold his claim to Asher Miner, and removed to Wisconsin, where he died a few years ago. To Asher Miner, the second permanent settler, belongs a large meed of credit for many of the undertakings of the township and the high character it has always sustained. He was a man of sterling worth, and highly esteemed by his neighbors and acquaintances for his clear sense of honor. In early life he was a resident of Ontario County, New York, but subsequently removed to Alleghany County in that state, and after a few years' residence there, emigrated to Jo Daviess county and settled in this township. He died in the village of Nora, October i), 1867.

Passage source: The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion ... History of the Northwest, History of Illinois ... Constitution of the United States, published 1878.

From 1845 to 1849, immigration was heavy, and however willingly we would give the names of each successive settler, we find it impossible to do so, hence we mention only a few - not because there are none others equally as worthy of public mention, but because we have not the requisite space. There were Austin Warner, father of George and Goodwin Warner, and Cyrus Puckett, father of most of the Puckett families of the township. Captain George B. Stanchfield, was also among the early settlers, and was the founder of the Village of Nora. Not only has Captain Stanchfield been a warm supporter of the public enterprises of the village, but has always taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the advancement of the township of his home. His, to guide, and other kindred spirits to co-operate, has made Nora one of the best townships in the county. Although Mr. Stanchfield has retired from active participation in public affairs, his many good deeds and valuable services are not forgotten.

Passage source: The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion ... History of the Northwest, History of Illinois ... Constitution of the United States, published 1878.

Among the active political and educational workers, may be mentioned the names T. Clarkson, Puckett, S. K. Miner, Robert M. Wilson and Alfonso E. Ricker. The acknowledged excellence of the high school and .the public schools in general, and the brilliant success of the Nora Lecture course, is attributed to the energy, intelligence and enterprise of these gentlemen. Mr. Forest Turner, anothef citizen, has also had the honor to represent this people in the lower branch of the State Legislature, having been elected in 1874.

Passage source: The History of Jo Daviess County, Illinois, Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, Etc., a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion ... History of the Northwest, History of Illinois ... Constitution of the United States, published 1878.

Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.

Read the whole chapter on Nora Township - it names this place 66 more 66 times.

Fires near this place

8 since 2004

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 8 fires within 5 miles of Nora between 2004 and 2019, burning about 26 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/undetermined6
Recreation and ceremony1
Equipment and vehicle use1

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
21 June 2019Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresWisconsin Department of Natural Resources2019041
24 May 2008Missing data/not specified/undetermined10 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesWAND
7 April 2009Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesSTAGECOACH
30 April 2008Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources8011
11 April 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined2.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesGERLACH
1 April 2004Recreation and ceremony10 acresIllinois State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
22 March 2009Missing data/not specified/undetermined1.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesNIEMANN
13 November 2009Equipment and vehicle use1.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesWULFEKUHLE

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Jo Daviess County

Mines and quarries near this place

5 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 5 workings within 5 miles of Nora: 4 past producers, 1 plant. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken. 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
Mark QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
R. Crain QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Russell QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed Limestone QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Yungbluth Quarry & MillStone, Crushed/BrokenPlant

Every working recorded in Jo Daviess County

Storms near this place

21 since 2006

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Nora in 21 storm reports between 2006 and 2026: 12 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 1 funnel cloud. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. 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
April 2026Funnel CloudNora-A trained spotter reported a funnel cloud.
April 2026HailNora-The time was estimated from radar data.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindNora-A trained spotter reported large trees down.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindNora-Many branches down. Estimated wind gust.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindNora-Many large trees were blown down, or snapped by wind. Damage also to power poles and lines, between Nora and Warren, Illinois.Time estimated from radar data.
April 2023HailNora-A trained spotter reported that hail was covering the deck with the largest stones about 1 inch in diameter.
July 2020Thunderstorm WindNora-Two to three inch diameter branches were blown down.
July 2018Thunderstorm WindNora-A trained spotter reported corn was flattened and a 10 inch diameter tree was split.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindNora-A trained spotter reported a 1 foot in diameter silver maple tree branch was downed by the storm.
July 2016Thunderstorm WindNora-A trained spotter reported a tree branch 4 inches in diameter was down.
May 2014HailNora-The hail lasted for 10 minutes.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindNora-Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph blew down a large tree 1 miles east southeast of Nora, IL at 635 am CDT July 11.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindNora-Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph were observed 1 mile east southeast of Nora, IL at 635 am CDT July 11. Electric poles reported knocked over along the Stagecoach Trail east and southeast of Nora.
September 2010Thunderstorm WindNora-Wind gusts estimated to be 50 to 60 mph were observed about 1 mile east southeast of Nora, IL around 330 pm CDT September 21.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindNora-Winds estimated to be 65 mph blew a two and a half foot diameter tree down in Nora, IL at 8:06 pm June 8. A heavy wooden table was also blown over.
April 2008HailNora-A trained spotter measured dime to penny size hail near Nora.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindNora-Wind gusts estimated to be 65 mph blew down a tree over a road about 3 miles southwest of Nora, Illinois around 4:35 am June 6. Time and location estimated.
August 2006HailNora-Penny size hail was reported on the Jo Daviess/Stephenson line.
April 2026HailNora-no account filed
April 2023HailNora-no account filed
July 2013HailNora-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Jo Daviess 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
Warren3.6 miles14
Sweet Home (historical)5.4 miles14
Millville5.6 miles14
Pitcherville (historical)7.0 miles14
Stockton8.0 miles14
East Stockton (historical)8.1 miles14
Apple River8.8 miles12
Morseville10.5 miles14

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 NoraAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2026250The 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 414546. 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.