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Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA

Tree: Nederlandse voorouders

Notes:
Freeport is the county seat of Stephenson County, Illinois, United States. The population was 26,443 at the 2000 census.GR6 The mayor of Freeport is George W. Gaulrapp, elected in 2005.



Geography



Freeport is located at show location on an interactive map 42°17′31″N, 89°37′49″W (42.292003, -89.630377)GR1. It is located approximately 20 miles south of the Wisconsin Border, and at the center of a large agricultural area, located about 25 miles west of Rockford. U.S. Route 20 is a four-lane divided highway that skirts the community's northern edge. At Rockford, it links with Interstate 90 and Interstate 39, giving Freeport residents easy access to the entire Interstate system. I-90 is the major route between Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul. I-39 extends from Rockford to Bloomington, where it links with I-74 and I-55. From Freeport, U.S. Route 20 continues west to historic Galena, Illinois, and the metropolitan area of Dubuque, Iowa.



According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 29.6 km² (11.4 mi²). 29.6 km² (11.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.09% is water.



The area code for Freeport is 815 with an overlay area code of 779 as of March 17, 2007.



History



Originally called Winneshiek, the municipality when it was incorporated took its name from the generosity of Tutty Baker, who was credited with running a "Free Port" on the Pecatonica River. The name 'Winneshiek' was later adopted, and is preserved to this day, by the Freeport Community Theatre Group.



In 1837, Stephenson County was formed and in 1838, Freeport became its seat of government. Linked by a stagecoach with Chicago, the community grew rapidly. In 1840, a frame courthouse was erected and the first school was founded. Within two years, Freeport had two newspapers and in 1853, the two were joined by a third which published in German. By then, the community had a population of 2,000.



On August 27, 1858, the second debate between Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas took place in Freeport and gave the nation direction in the following years. Although Stephen Douglas won the election and retained his U.S. Senate seat, his reply to a question on slavery alienated the South, which called it the "Freeport Heresy," and split the Democratic Party. This enabled Abraham Lincoln to win the Presidency in 1860.



Buildings in downtown Freeport, Illinois.



Buildings in downtown Freeport, Illinois.



A monument to the debate was dedicated in 1903 by President Theodore Roosevelt and stands at this site. A life size statue recreating the event was dedicated in 1992. Another renowned statue, "Lincoln the Debator." by Leonard Crunelle, is a focal point in the city's Taylor Park. Each year there is also a reenactment of the debate, which has been shown on CSPAN television.



Freeport is known as the Pretzel City, and its high school's teams are named the Pretzels. The nickname is a reminder of Freeport's ethnic heritage; in the late 1850s, many Germans, both from Pennsylvania and from their European homeland, resettled in Stephenson County. They brought with them their love of pretzel snacks, and a pretzel bakery started up.



Freeport is home to the oldest Carnegie Library in Illinois and one of the first Carnegie Libraries designed by the famous Chicago architectural firm of Patton and Miller.



Demographics



As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there were 26,443 people, 11,222 households, and 6,845 families residing in the city. The population density was 894.8/km² (2,316.9/mi²). There were 12,471 housing units at an average density of 422.0/km² (1,092.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 81.77% White, 13.81% African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.97% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 2.22% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.12% of the population.



There were 11,222 households out of which 28.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.93.



In the city the population was spread out with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.8% from 25 to 44, 21.2% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.



The median income for a household in the city was $35,399, and the median income for a family was $43,787. Males had a median income of $35,870 versus $25,095 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,680. About 9.9% of families and 13.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.6% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Birth

Matches 1 to 4 of 4

	Last Name, Given Name(s)	Birth		Person ID	Tree
1	Appeldorn, Conradine Marie	Wed 31 Oct 1894	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	I754004	Nederlandse voorouders
2	DeLange, Lena Faye	Sun 02 May 1897	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	I310667	Nederlandse voorouders
3	Tiggelaar, Elso	Thu 22 Aug 1895	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	I448209	Nederlandse voorouders
4	Tiggelaar, Herman Jr.	Wed 01 Jun 1898	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	I448210	Nederlandse voorouders

Death

Matches 1 to 5 of 5

	Last Name, Given Name(s)	Death		Person ID	Tree
1	Kerkhof, Renske	Tue 22 Oct 1968	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	I223020	Nederlandse voorouders
2	Nanninga, Frederik	Yes, date unknown	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	I167204	Nederlandse voorouders
3	Oudekerk, Jan	Dec 1969	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	I140525	Nederlandse voorouders
4	Schuur, Ikko	Tue 20 Sep 1955	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	I223019	Nederlandse voorouders
5	Visker, Geertje	Yes, date unknown	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	I167203	Nederlandse voorouders

Emigratie

Matches 1 to 1 of 1

	Last Name, Given Name(s)	Emigratie		Person ID	Tree
1	Bos, Eltjo	1893	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	I446482	Nederlandse voorouders

Marriage

Matches 1 to 2 of 2

	Family	Marriage		Family ID	Tree
1	Kerkhof / Klooster	Tue 21 Jan 1908	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	F88362	Nederlandse voorouders
2	Lange / Zwart	1900	Freeport, Stephenson County, Illinois, USA	F122186	Nederlandse voorouders