Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Illinois

Written by:
August 6, 2022
Arina P Habich // Shutterstock

Counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Illinois

The COVID-19 pandemic, rising inflation and a higher cost of living in major cities have combined with opportunities for remote work over the past two years. This combination has fueled a major migration across the country. In the first year of the pandemic, migration out of densely populated, expensive cities like New York and San Francisco was especially notable. Many moved to Sunbelt cities where the weather is warmer and the cost of living significantly lower.

But not everyone who moved in recent years went very far. Analysis of movement out of crowded cities shows that many of those leaving city centers moved into nearby suburbs in the same state, rather than making cross country moves.

Other trends suggest that many people are sticking close to home, remaining in or moving back to the state, or even the town they were born in. Even before the pandemic, the number of younger adults living with their parents was on the rise, mostly due to financial difficulties. This economic hardship was made worse by the pandemic, and resulted in many moving back in with their parents. By the end of 2020, more than half of Americans under the age of 29 were living at home, exceeding the share of young adults living with their parents during the Great Depression.

Apart from the pandemic, many people choose not to leave the state they were raised in, for reasons ranging from wanting to be close to family to not having the resources to leave, to sticking with a lower cost of living.

In order to determine where people stay put, Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most born-and-bred residents in Illinois using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percentage of residents that were born in the state according to 2020 5-year estimates.

#50. Ogle County

- Population: 50,793
- Born in Illinois: 39,777 (78.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,700 (17.1% of population)
--- Midwest (8.8%), Northeast (1.2%), South (5.2%), West (1.9%)
- Born in another country: 2,012 (3.96% of population)
--- Africa (0.20%) , Asia (0.25%), Europe (0.35%), Latin America (3.06%), North America (0.10%), Oceania (0.00%)

#49. Wayne County

- Population: 16,309
- Born in Illinois: 12,895 (79.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,170 (19.4% of population)
--- Midwest (9.8%), Northeast (1.1%), South (6.7%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 120 (0.74% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.15%), Europe (0.15%), Latin America (0.40%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.04%)

#48. Kankakee County

- Population: 109,924
- Born in Illinois: 87,178 (79.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 16,846 (15.3% of population)
--- Midwest (7.7%), Northeast (1.3%), South (4.7%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 5,612 (5.11% of population)
--- Africa (0.32%) , Asia (0.66%), Europe (0.40%), Latin America (3.69%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)

#47. Clinton County

- Population: 37,549
- Born in Illinois: 29,780 (79.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,901 (18.4% of population)
--- Midwest (10.5%), Northeast (1.4%), South (4.5%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 576 (1.53% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.44%), Europe (0.25%), Latin America (0.84%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#46. Macon County

- Population: 104,688
- Born in Illinois: 83,626 (79.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 18,202 (17.4% of population)
--- Midwest (8.0%), Northeast (1.1%), South (6.2%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 2,495 (2.38% of population)
--- Africa (0.16%) , Asia (0.95%), Europe (0.50%), Latin America (0.68%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.00%)

#45. Knox County

- Population: 50,052
- Born in Illinois: 40,010 (79.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,127 (16.2% of population)
--- Midwest (7.3%), Northeast (1.5%), South (4.5%), West (2.9%)
- Born in another country: 1,558 (3.11% of population)
--- Africa (0.80%) , Asia (0.78%), Europe (0.26%), Latin America (1.17%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.09%)

#44. Jefferson County

- Population: 37,774
- Born in Illinois: 30,282 (80.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,523 (17.3% of population)
--- Midwest (8.4%), Northeast (1.3%), South (6.0%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 682 (1.81% of population)
--- Africa (0.08%) , Asia (0.96%), Europe (0.39%), Latin America (0.32%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)

#43. Sangamon County

- Population: 195,963
- Born in Illinois: 157,398 (80.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 31,558 (16.1% of population)
--- Midwest (7.7%), Northeast (1.5%), South (4.6%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 5,973 (3.05% of population)
--- Africa (0.31%) , Asia (1.58%), Europe (0.46%), Latin America (0.59%), North America (0.09%), Oceania (0.02%)

#42. Washington County

- Population: 13,967
- Born in Illinois: 11,222 (80.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,492 (17.8% of population)
--- Midwest (10.5%), Northeast (1.2%), South (4.0%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 176 (1.26% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.74%), Europe (0.19%), Latin America (0.31%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.01%)

#41. Woodford County

- Population: 38,503
- Born in Illinois: 30,938 (80.4% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,632 (17.2% of population)
--- Midwest (9.5%), Northeast (1.5%), South (3.9%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 691 (1.79% of population)
--- Africa (0.09%) , Asia (0.50%), Europe (0.69%), Latin America (0.33%), North America (0.18%), Oceania (0.00%)

#40. Calhoun County

- Population: 4,782
- Born in Illinois: 3,869 (80.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 874 (18.3% of population)
--- Midwest (14.8%), Northeast (2.0%), South (1.1%), West (0.3%)
- Born in another country: 39 (0.82% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.04%), Europe (0.61%), Latin America (0.17%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#39. Hamilton County

- Population: 8,151
- Born in Illinois: 6,600 (81.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,394 (17.1% of population)
--- Midwest (10.3%), Northeast (0.7%), South (4.5%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 127 (1.56% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.67%), Europe (0.45%), Latin America (0.43%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#38. Iroquois County

- Population: 27,437
- Born in Illinois: 22,246 (81.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,053 (14.8% of population)
--- Midwest (8.0%), Northeast (0.9%), South (4.1%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 872 (3.18% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.42%), Europe (0.52%), Latin America (2.21%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#37. Coles County

- Population: 51,065
- Born in Illinois: 41,468 (81.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 8,295 (16.2% of population)
--- Midwest (7.9%), Northeast (1.6%), South (3.7%), West (3.0%)
- Born in another country: 947 (1.85% of population)
--- Africa (0.15%) , Asia (0.86%), Europe (0.44%), Latin America (0.34%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)

#36. Lee County

- Population: 34,204
- Born in Illinois: 27,786 (81.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,307 (15.5% of population)
--- Midwest (8.5%), Northeast (1.1%), South (3.7%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 950 (2.78% of population)
--- Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.70%), Europe (0.61%), Latin America (1.20%), North America (0.21%), Oceania (0.01%)

#35. Ford County

- Population: 13,155
- Born in Illinois: 10,746 (81.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,212 (16.8% of population)
--- Midwest (7.3%), Northeast (2.0%), South (5.7%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 157 (1.19% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.33%), Europe (0.26%), Latin America (0.55%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)

#34. Montgomery County

- Population: 28,598
- Born in Illinois: 23,397 (81.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,707 (16.5% of population)
--- Midwest (8.6%), Northeast (1.3%), South (3.9%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 359 (1.26% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.40%), Europe (0.57%), Latin America (0.24%), North America (0.05%), Oceania (0.00%)

#33. Bureau County

- Population: 32,878
- Born in Illinois: 26,931 (81.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,545 (13.8% of population)
--- Midwest (7.0%), Northeast (1.3%), South (3.9%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 1,240 (3.77% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.70%), Europe (0.68%), Latin America (2.35%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

#32. Tazewell County

- Population: 132,524
- Born in Illinois: 108,663 (82.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 21,028 (15.9% of population)
--- Midwest (8.1%), Northeast (1.2%), South (4.4%), West (2.3%)
- Born in another country: 2,306 (1.74% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.81%), Europe (0.20%), Latin America (0.65%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.02%)

#31. Piatt County

- Population: 16,412
- Born in Illinois: 13,458 (82.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,653 (16.2% of population)
--- Midwest (7.7%), Northeast (1.6%), South (4.2%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 202 (1.23% of population)
--- Africa (0.02%) , Asia (0.37%), Europe (0.52%), Latin America (0.29%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)

#30. Macoupin County

- Population: 45,243
- Born in Illinois: 37,229 (82.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 7,330 (16.2% of population)
--- Midwest (8.9%), Northeast (0.9%), South (3.8%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 434 (0.96% of population)
--- Africa (0.03%) , Asia (0.28%), Europe (0.27%), Latin America (0.29%), North America (0.08%), Oceania (0.00%)

#29. Logan County

- Population: 28,818
- Born in Illinois: 23,811 (82.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,406 (15.3% of population)
--- Midwest (7.2%), Northeast (1.0%), South (5.3%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 446 (1.55% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.29%), Europe (0.37%), Latin America (0.82%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.07%)

#28. LaSalle County

- Population: 108,998
- Born in Illinois: 90,216 (82.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 14,189 (13.0% of population)
--- Midwest (5.3%), Northeast (1.5%), South (4.1%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 3,975 (3.65% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.63%), Europe (0.47%), Latin America (2.47%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.00%)

#27. Vermilion County

- Population: 76,704
- Born in Illinois: 63,531 (82.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 11,260 (14.7% of population)
--- Midwest (7.4%), Northeast (1.0%), South (4.5%), West (1.7%)
- Born in another country: 1,507 (1.96% of population)
--- Africa (0.07%) , Asia (0.87%), Europe (0.26%), Latin America (0.69%), North America (0.07%), Oceania (0.01%)

#26. Marion County

- Population: 37,524
- Born in Illinois: 31,090 (82.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 5,931 (15.8% of population)
--- Midwest (7.9%), Northeast (1.4%), South (5.1%), West (1.4%)
- Born in another country: 404 (1.08% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.61%), Europe (0.22%), Latin America (0.18%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)

#25. Franklin County

- Population: 38,688
- Born in Illinois: 32,085 (82.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,110 (15.8% of population)
--- Midwest (7.1%), Northeast (1.3%), South (4.8%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 403 (1.04% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.32%), Europe (0.26%), Latin America (0.26%), North America (0.20%), Oceania (0.00%)

#24. Douglas County

- Population: 19,551
- Born in Illinois: 16,230 (83.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,589 (13.2% of population)
--- Midwest (5.9%), Northeast (0.7%), South (4.4%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 599 (3.06% of population)
--- Africa (0.15%) , Asia (0.45%), Europe (0.29%), Latin America (2.12%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.00%)

#23. Stark County

- Population: 5,393
- Born in Illinois: 4,479 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 802 (14.9% of population)
--- Midwest (6.9%), Northeast (0.6%), South (4.1%), West (3.4%)
- Born in another country: 94 (1.74% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.43%), Europe (0.76%), Latin America (0.54%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

#22. Grundy County

- Population: 50,798
- Born in Illinois: 42,232 (83.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 6,443 (12.7% of population)
--- Midwest (6.0%), Northeast (1.6%), South (3.0%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 1,845 (3.63% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.85%), Europe (0.55%), Latin America (2.12%), North America (0.06%), Oceania (0.04%)

#21. Perry County

- Population: 21,092
- Born in Illinois: 17,654 (83.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,077 (14.6% of population)
--- Midwest (6.8%), Northeast (0.8%), South (4.0%), West (3.1%)
- Born in another country: 273 (1.29% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.52%), Europe (0.01%), Latin America (0.73%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)

#20. Fayette County

- Population: 21,418
- Born in Illinois: 17,977 (83.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,007 (14.0% of population)
--- Midwest (7.0%), Northeast (1.3%), South (3.7%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 370 (1.73% of population)
--- Africa (0.04%) , Asia (0.56%), Europe (0.45%), Latin America (0.59%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.07%)

#19. Menard County

- Population: 12,261
- Born in Illinois: 10,342 (84.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,709 (13.9% of population)
--- Midwest (6.1%), Northeast (0.6%), South (4.6%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 132 (1.08% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.25%), Europe (0.23%), Latin America (0.60%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#18. DeWitt County

- Population: 15,764
- Born in Illinois: 13,330 (84.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,183 (13.8% of population)
--- Midwest (6.5%), Northeast (1.1%), South (4.7%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 203 (1.29% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.13%), Europe (0.40%), Latin America (0.76%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#17. Marshall County

- Population: 11,562
- Born in Illinois: 9,783 (84.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,532 (13.3% of population)
--- Midwest (5.9%), Northeast (1.0%), South (4.3%), West (2.0%)
- Born in another country: 184 (1.59% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.16%), Europe (0.39%), Latin America (1.01%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)

#16. Morgan County

- Population: 34,012
- Born in Illinois: 28,849 (84.8% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,540 (13.3% of population)
--- Midwest (6.7%), Northeast (1.1%), South (3.9%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 562 (1.65% of population)
--- Africa (0.45%) , Asia (0.43%), Europe (0.22%), Latin America (0.54%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

#15. Schuyler County

- Population: 6,897
- Born in Illinois: 5,866 (85.1% of population)
- Born in a different state: 904 (13.1% of population)
--- Midwest (6.7%), Northeast (1.2%), South (2.4%), West (2.8%)
- Born in another country: 105 (1.52% of population)
--- Africa (0.93%) , Asia (0.14%), Europe (0.00%), Latin America (0.20%), North America (0.25%), Oceania (0.00%)

#14. Livingston County

- Population: 35,757
- Born in Illinois: 30,471 (85.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,579 (12.8% of population)
--- Midwest (5.4%), Northeast (1.1%), South (4.6%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 650 (1.82% of population)
--- Africa (0.21%) , Asia (0.41%), Europe (0.31%), Latin America (0.88%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.00%)

#13. Fulton County

- Population: 34,654
- Born in Illinois: 29,553 (85.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 4,560 (13.2% of population)
--- Midwest (5.4%), Northeast (0.9%), South (4.3%), West (2.5%)
- Born in another country: 418 (1.21% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.07%), Europe (0.34%), Latin America (0.76%), North America (0.04%), Oceania (0.00%)

#12. Moultrie County

- Population: 14,557
- Born in Illinois: 12,415 (85.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,992 (13.7% of population)
--- Midwest (7.0%), Northeast (0.5%), South (3.5%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 104 (0.71% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.17%), Europe (0.17%), Latin America (0.36%), North America (0.01%), Oceania (0.00%)

#11. Mason County

- Population: 13,486
- Born in Illinois: 11,587 (85.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,755 (13.0% of population)
--- Midwest (6.2%), Northeast (0.7%), South (4.6%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 96 (0.71% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.33%), Europe (0.17%), Latin America (0.22%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#10. Brown County

- Population: 6,599
- Born in Illinois: 5,672 (86.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 731 (11.1% of population)
--- Midwest (4.7%), Northeast (0.5%), South (3.1%), West (2.7%)
- Born in another country: 189 (2.86% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.00%), Europe (0.47%), Latin America (2.39%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#9. Effingham County

- Population: 34,151
- Born in Illinois: 29,358 (86.0% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,861 (11.3% of population)
--- Midwest (6.1%), Northeast (0.6%), South (2.6%), West (2.1%)
- Born in another country: 739 (2.16% of population)
--- Africa (0.05%) , Asia (0.35%), Europe (0.49%), Latin America (1.10%), North America (0.14%), Oceania (0.03%)

#8. Clay County

- Population: 13,217
- Born in Illinois: 11,392 (86.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,690 (12.8% of population)
--- Midwest (5.9%), Northeast (0.7%), South (4.6%), West (1.6%)
- Born in another country: 54 (0.41% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.27%), Europe (0.13%), Latin America (0.01%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#7. Cumberland County

- Population: 10,787
- Born in Illinois: 9,335 (86.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,344 (12.5% of population)
--- Midwest (8.4%), Northeast (0.7%), South (1.9%), West (1.4%)
- Born in another country: 99 (0.92% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.18%), Europe (0.05%), Latin America (0.70%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#6. Christian County

- Population: 32,705
- Born in Illinois: 28,415 (86.9% of population)
- Born in a different state: 3,680 (11.3% of population)
--- Midwest (4.5%), Northeast (0.6%), South (3.4%), West (2.6%)
- Born in another country: 412 (1.26% of population)
--- Africa (0.01%) , Asia (0.60%), Europe (0.22%), Latin America (0.40%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

#5. Putnam County

- Population: 5,720
- Born in Illinois: 4,991 (87.3% of population)
- Born in a different state: 626 (10.9% of population)
--- Midwest (6.6%), Northeast (0.8%), South (2.0%), West (1.5%)
- Born in another country: 98 (1.71% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.58%), Europe (0.68%), Latin America (0.42%), North America (0.03%), Oceania (0.00%)

#4. Greene County

- Population: 12,988
- Born in Illinois: 11,454 (88.2% of population)
- Born in a different state: 1,451 (11.2% of population)
--- Midwest (6.1%), Northeast (0.3%), South (2.6%), West (2.2%)
- Born in another country: 37 (0.28% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.10%), Europe (0.14%), Latin America (0.05%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.00%)

#3. Shelby County

- Population: 21,623
- Born in Illinois: 19,130 (88.5% of population)
- Born in a different state: 2,216 (10.2% of population)
--- Midwest (5.3%), Northeast (0.7%), South (3.2%), West (1.1%)
- Born in another country: 232 (1.07% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.19%), Europe (0.82%), Latin America (0.03%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

#2. Scott County

- Population: 4,982
- Born in Illinois: 4,414 (88.6% of population)
- Born in a different state: 487 (9.8% of population)
--- Midwest (5.5%), Northeast (0.5%), South (1.9%), West (1.8%)
- Born in another country: 74 (1.49% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.44%), Europe (0.18%), Latin America (0.20%), North America (0.00%), Oceania (0.66%)

#1. Jasper County

- Population: 9,547
- Born in Illinois: 8,470 (88.7% of population)
- Born in a different state: 962 (10.1% of population)
--- Midwest (5.4%), Northeast (1.3%), South (2.1%), West (1.2%)
- Born in another country: 79 (0.83% of population)
--- Africa (0.00%) , Asia (0.08%), Europe (0.03%), Latin America (0.69%), North America (0.02%), Oceania (0.00%)

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