Jan 6, 2025 - News
Fastest growing – and shrinking – counties in Illinois
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Kendall County is the fastest growing county in Illinois, while Cook County continues to shrink.
By the numbers: Kendall County's population grew by 8.4%, increasing from a five-year average of about 124,600 in 2014-2018 to about 135,100 in 2019-2023.
- Kendall is about 50 miles west of Chicago and includes Oswego and Yorkville.
- Cook County's population decreased by about 0.7%, down from an average of 5.2 million people from 2014-2018 to 5.1 million people from 2019-2023.
Zoom out: Illinois' population over the last decade went down by 1% from 12.8 million to 12.6 million residents, a decline that has been characterized by politicians and pundits over the years as a sign that the state is moving in the wrong direction.
Go deeper: The fastest growing (and shrinking) U.S. counties.