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Winnebago, Illinois

18 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1918 and the latest in 1981. It stands in Winnebago Township. It lies in ZIP code area 61088. The Survey maps it on the Winnebago quadrangle. 2,940 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 869 feet above sea level.

Winnebago within Winnebago County

Population over time

2 figures

Winnebago fell from 3,101 to 2,940 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
20103,101
20202,940-161 (-5%)

Topographic sheets covering this place

9 surveys from 18 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

43,384 words on this township

The History of Winnebago County, Illinois : Its Past and Present, Containing ... a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics ... History of the Northwest, History of Illinois ... Etc, published 1877 names this settlement in its chapter on Winnebago Township. These are the passages that mention it, exactly as the scans read.

The earliest permanent white settler in the territory now included in Winnebago county, of whom there is any knowledge, was Stephen Mack. His cabin was built in a grove about half a mile above the mouth of the Pecatonica Kiver at a place that was subse(|ucntly called Bird's Grove. The time of his coming and casting his lot with the VVinnebagoes is not definitely known. Neither is there much known of his early life, or of the^ motives that caused him to isolate himself from kindred, friends and his own race. All that was ever known of this strange recluse is presented in the following sketch:

Passage source: The History of Winnebago County, Illinois : Its Past and Present, Containing ... a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics ... History of the Northwest, History of Illinois ... Etc, published 1877.

Those who knew the subject of the above sketch say that Stephen Mack was di2:nified and manly in his bearing, affable and pleasant in his intercourse with his white neighbors, and particularly pleasant with those with whom he had an intimate acquaintance. It is said that he hardly ever used a profane word. Sometimes he would manifest religious inclinations, and at one time hired a man named McDowell to come to liis house, read the Scriptures, and pray with his fiimily. But this kind of devotion did not last long. Mack was tall, and as erect as any of the Indians among whom he dwelt, and possessing a good common education, and withal a close reader - always keeping a good stock of books in his cabin - he might have been a man among men, but he chose otherwise.

Passage source: The History of Winnebago County, Illinois : Its Past and Present, Containing ... a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics ... History of the Northwest, History of Illinois ... Etc, published 1877.

In 1833, Mr. Kent with his family and his colored boy, Lewis Lemon, came up to Galena, where his brother, Rev. Aratus Kent, a Presbyterian clero-yman, was located. Soon after his arrival there, Mr. Kent learned from some of the soldiers that had been with Scott's army, of the exceeding beauty of the Rock River country, and he determined to visit it at the earliest opportunity.

Passage source: The History of Winnebago County, Illinois : Its Past and Present, Containing ... a Biographical Directory of Its Citizens, War Record of Its Volunteers in the Late Rebellion, General and Local Statistics ... History of the Northwest, History of Illinois ... Etc, published 1877.

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 Winnebago Township - it names this place 82 more 82 times.

Fires near this place

9 since 2015

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 9 fires within 5 miles of Winnebago between 2015 and 2020, burning about 28 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
Debris and open burning6
Missing data/not specified/undetermined3

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
4 May 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources20-0000206
7 April 2015Debris and open burningunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources15-0000163
6 April 2015Debris and open burningunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources15-0000158
3 April 2019Debris and open burningunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources19-0000214
1 April 2015Debris and open burningunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources15-0000142
31 March 2015Debris and open burning5.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources15-0000139
8 December 2020Debris and open burning20 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources20-0000590
8 December 2020Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry Resources20-0000594

Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:

Every fire recorded in Winnebago County

Mines and quarries near this place

6 within 5 miles

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 6 workings within 5 miles of Winnebago: 5 past producers, 1 producer. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction. 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
William Howard PitSand and Gravel, ConstructionPast Producer
Cunningham Quarry & MillStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Netherly QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed Limestone QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed Limestone QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Winnebago Co. Highway Dept. QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every working recorded in Winnebago County

Storms near this place

33 since 2006

Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Winnebago in 33 storm reports between 2006 and 2026: 19 thunderstorm wind, 8 hail, 2 lightning, 2 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
July 2023LightningWinnebago1 hurtA man was injured when he was struck by lightning while visiting a Rockford cemetery. His condition was reported as unknown, but the man was responsive when paramedics arrived on scene.
August 2007FloodWinnebago$2,000,000Flooding continued from heavy rains and flash flooding earlier on August 7th. In Rockford, multiple roads closed due to flooding inlcuding Valencia, Avalon, and Churchill Grove from 9th to 20th. City officials in Rockford feared that water flowing over the spillway at the Alpine dam in Rockford would result in structural failure of the 65 year old dam. Residents in a 1200 home area immediately downstream of the dam along Keith Creek were evacuated as a precaution. Flood waters up to the first level of some houses and as many as 12 basement collapses were reported as a result of the flooding. Water came within 2 feet of flowing over the Alpine dam spillway at around 1130 AM. Severe flooding occurred within the Churchill Park area. Significant flooding also occurred along Madigan Creek in the Cherry Valley area. More than 40 residents along the creek were evacuated. About 30 homes along the creek sustained flood damage. Rainfall totals include 6.84 inches 3 miles southeast of Rockford, 6.79 inches northwest of Rockford and 4.70 inches 3 miles northeast of Rockford. The city of Rockford and Winnebago County were declared a state disaster area as a result of the flash flooding and flooding.
September 2006LightningWinnebago$50,000The roof of a house was struck by lightning. The lightning blew out a television and started a fire which caused significant damage to the house.
March 2025Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Numerous large tree limbs and branches were down around WREX-TV on the north side of Winnebago.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-The canopy of the Mobil gas station at US-20 and N Meridian Road collapsed.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Numerous trees and power lines were reported down across the Parker Woods subdivision.
June 2024Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-A large tree was reported down on the side of a house.
July 2024Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Numerous trees were blown down.
July 2024FloodWinnebago-Multiple reports of roadway flooding were received.
June 2023Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Wind gusts were estimated between 60 and 65 mph.
July 2022Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Part of a barn roof was blown off and several twigs were blown around.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-A photo shared on social media showed a 2 to 3 foot diameter tree that was snapped at the intersection of Meridian Road and West State Street.
August 2022Flash FloodWinnebago-Some backyards were under nearly one foot of water and widespread basement flooding was reported.
April 2020HailWinnebago-Hail as large as 3 inches in diameter was reported in Winnebago, which damaged cars and siding.
May 2020Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph.
November 2020Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Two box trucks were flipped over into a ditch along Route 20 just west of Winnebago. Some silo damage also occurred.
November 2020Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Wind gusts were measured to 73 mph. Extensive damage was reported with multiple trees blown down, many onto cars with car windows broken.
November 2020HailWinnebago-Brief penny to quarter size hail was reported.
May 2018HailWinnebago-Penny to quarter size hail was reported on the southwest side of Winnebago.
June 2017Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Wind gusts were estimated to be at least 60 mph.
July 2016Funnel CloudWinnebago-Multiple reports of funnel clouds from the Seward and Winnebago area.
August 2016Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Estimated winds of 60-65 mph.
May 2011Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Numerous one foot diameter trees were reported down in and around Winnebago.
July 2011Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Several trees 10 to 14 inches in diameter were blown down.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph.
July 2008Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph one mile north of Winnebago.
July 2006Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-Trees were blown down.
April 2026HailWinnebago-no account filed
March 2025Thunderstorm WindWinnebago-no account filed
April 2020HailWinnebago-no account filed
May 2020HailWinnebago-no account filed
May 2020HailWinnebago-no account filed
July 2017HailWinnebago-no account filed

Every storm recorded in Winnebago 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
Alworth1.6 miles14
Westlake Village3.7 miles15
Westfield Corners4.0 miles14
Westmoreland4.2 miles18
Hickory Creek5.4 miles14
Wempletown5.7 miles18
Seward6.5 miles14
Coreys Bluff6.7 miles17

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 WinnebagoAn encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied.
Wikidata item Q2671996The 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 421336. 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.