Woodford County, Illinois

Woodford County Education, Geography, and History

Woodford County is a county located in the state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 38,664. Woodford County was created on February 27, 1841. The county seat is Eureka. The county is named for General William Woodford (1734-1780), brigadier general in the American Revolutionary War who died while a British prisoner. 

Woodford County is part of the Peoria, IL, Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Etymology - Origin of Woodford County Name

 The county is named for General William Woodford (1734-1780), brigadier general in the American Revolutionary War who died while a British prisoner.  

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts

Woodford County History

Woodford County was created on February 27, 1841 (Laws, 1841, p. 84) and was formed from McLean and Tazewell Counties. Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in: Eastern Part: McLean County (1831-1841), Tazewell County (1827-1831), Fayette County (1821-1827), Clark County (1819-1821), Crawford County (1816-1819) and Edwards County (1815-1816); Western Part: Tazewell County (1827-1841), Peoria County (1825-1827), Sangamon County (1821-1825), Bond County (1817-1821), Madison County (1812-1817), St. Clair County (1801-1812) and Knox, Northwest Territory (1790-1801).

The county is named for General William Woodford (1734-1780), brigadier general in the American Revolutionary War who died while a British prisoner. The County Seat is Eureka . Prior County Seats was Versailles- Temporary designation (1841-1843), Metamora- Named Hanover until February 21, 1845 (1843-1894) and Eureka (1894-Present).

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 543 square miles (1,406 km²), of which, 528 square miles (1,367 km²) of it is land and 15 square miles (38 km²) of it (2.73%) is water.

Woodford county is located close to the center of Illinois.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Northeast: La Salle County
• East: Livingston County
• Southeast: McLean County
• Southwest: Tazewell County
• West: Peoria County
• Northwest: Marshall County

Education

Woodford County is served by El Paso-Gridley High School (El Paso), Eureka High School (Eureka), Fieldcrest High School (Minonk), Lowpoint-Washburn High School (Washburn), Metamora Township High School (Metamora), and Roanoke-Benson High School (Roanoke).

Since 1949 Eureka has been a part of the Congerville-Eureka-Goodfield Community Unit School District#140.[73] An area encompassing 113 square miles is served by the district. El Paso students are part of the El Paso-Gridley Community Unit School District#11

Compare More Colleges and Universities

Find more schools to match to your needs.

Start Now