About Boone County, Illinois
Boone County consists of 147,059 acres. 81% of this land is classified as Prime Farmland. In addition, large amounts of high quality gravel, sand and limestone deposits have been identified. The landscape in the northern part of the County is hilly and rolling, gradually becoming flat as you go further south. There are many streams, ponds, wetlands and wildlife habitats throughout the county. Significant areas of wooded land are located throughout the county and contribute to the area's character and beauty.
Boone County is very well connected to the region via road, air and rail. Interstate 90, US Highway 20, and Sate Highways 76 and 173 serve as the primary road transportation routes in the County, and connections to Rockford and Chicago metro areas are via these routes. Twenty-six major truck lines serve the city. Eight of these are locally-owned.
The Interstate 90 Tollway is a major interstate and intrastate transportation route. There is currently access from the Tollway at the Genoa / Belvidere Road exit. The Illinois State Toll Highway Authority is studying the possibility of an interchange in the area of Irene Road/Town Hall Road/Stone Quarry Road. Additional Tollway interchanges are located across the Winnebago County line to the west of Boone County at Business 20 and Rockton Road with an additional interchange recently added at Highway 173.
Freight rail service is provided by the Union Pacific on tracks crossing the County from east to west passing through Garden Prairie and the City of Belvidere. Currently there is no passenger rail service, however, there is future potential service through Metra, the Chicago Metro commuter rail service.
Boone County is the 86th fastest growing county in the US based on rate of growth between January 2000 and July 2006 for all counties that began the century with more than ten thousand inhabitants, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau estimates.
Boone County which was founded in 1837, grew in population to 41,784 by the year 2000. In the six years that marked the beginning of the 21st Century, the county increased the number of inhabitants by 25.9 percent bringing the estimated total population in July 2006 to 52,617.
The outstanding growth of the last six years has made Boone County the third fastest growing county in the Prairie State of Illinois and the 86th fastest in the nation.
The median value for homes within the 281 square mile jurisdiction of Boone County was $123,600 in 2000 and increased by almost 40% to $205,825 for 2006. It is clear that Boone County, Illinos is beginning to fit the metropolitian pattern. Growth pressures are increasing both from the Rockford Metro area to the west and the Chicago Metro area to the east. The County is at the beginning of what could be the urbanization and suburbanization of he County. This has implications for the future character of the County and it is important for the County to consider "Buildout Community Character" as part of it's plan. As the wave of urbanization hits the County with more force in the coming years, the County should be aware of the choices it faces in terms of population growth and it's potential effects on comunity character.
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