Kane County Population Hits 534,216 — 3rd Highest in Illinois Population Growth
Kane County is bucking the statewide “outmigration” trend, showing year-over-year population growth while the majority of the Illinois counties are seeing population decline.
The data was released Thursday (April 18, 2019) by the U.S. Census Bureau.
According to that Census Bureau report and news release, Kane County saw the third-highest population increase of any county in Illinois for the period of 2017 to 2018. Kane County’s population went up from an estimated 533,156 in July 2017 to 534,216 in July 2018 — an increase of 1,060 residents.
The highest numeric population increase was in Kendall County, which saw an increase of 1,643 residents year over year. Will County showed an increase of 1,293 residents.
In fact, just 16 of Illinois’ 102 counties saw a population increases over the one-year time period.
Population totals for the state of Illinois decreased by 45,116 year over year, dropping from 12,786,196 to 12,741,080.
Scroll down to see a Census Bureau graphic showing year-over-year population change for all Illinois counties.
Top 10 Illinois Counties By Population Increase 2017-18
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Kendall County: +1,634 (+1.3%)
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Will County: +1,293 (+0.2%)
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Kane County: + 1,060 (+0.2%)
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McHenry County: +557 (+0.2%)
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Grundy County: +359 (+0.7%)
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Monroe County: +176 (+0.5%)
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Jasper County: +71 (0.7%)
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Boone County: +65 (+0.1%)
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Effingham County: +61 (+0.2%)
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Washington County: +44 (0.3%)
National Numbers
The Chicago metropolitan area continues to be one of the most populous in the U.S. According to the Census Bureau.
Cook County is the second-highest in population, with 5,180,493 as of July 1, 2018. It’s far behind the No. 1, Los Angeles County, which has 10,105,518 residents, according to Census estimates.
The “Chicago-Naperville-Elgin” metropolitan area has the third-highest population among the metros, with 9,498,716 estimated population as of July 1, 2018. As you can see by the chart below, “New York-New Jersey-Jersey City” is tops, with a total population of 19,979,477.
Overall, Texas counties are seeing some of the country’s highest population growth. Generally, counties are growing in the South and West, and declining in the Midwest and Northeast.
By metropolitan area, Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX, had the largest numeric growth with a gain of 131,767 (1.8 percent) in 2018, followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz. with an increase of 96,268 (2.0 percent).
Migration, both domestic and international, as well as natural increase contributed to the growth in each of these areas, with natural increase serving as the largest source of population growth in Dallas and domestic migration serving as the largest source in Phoenix.
“One interesting trend we are seeing this year is that metro areas not among the most populous are ranked in the top 10 for population growth,” said Sandra Johnson, a demographer in the Census Bureau’s Population Division. “Though no new metro areas moved into the top 10 largest areas, Phoenix, Seattle, Austin, and Orlando all experienced numeric increases in population since 2010, rivaling growth in areas with much larger populations. This trend is consistent with the overall growth we are seeing in the south and the west.”
More Fun Facts
Growth and decline:
- Out of 3,142 counties, 1,739 (55.3 percent) gained population between 2017 and 2018. Twelve counties (0.4 percent) experienced no change in population during this time, while the remaining 1,391 (44.3 percent) lost population.
- Between 2010 and 2018, 1,481 (47.1 percent) counties gained population and 1,661 (52.9 percent) lost population.
Natural increase:
- Out of 3,142 counties, 1,757 (55.9 percent) counties experienced natural increase in 2018. This is down from 1,858 (59.1 percent) in 2017.
Total net migration:
- Out of 3,142 counties, 1,640 (52.2 percent) counties showed positive total net migration in 2018, meaning more people moved into the county than moved out. This is roughly equivalent to the number of counties with positive net migration in 2017 (1,641 or 52.2 percent).
Illinois Population Estimates By County
Read More
- Illinois’ Population Decline — What Does It Mean?
- Where Is Kane’s Population Growth Coming From?
- Kane County 3rd in Illinois Population Growth (2015)
