Most diverse counties in Illinois
The United States has a longstanding reputation as being a melting pot (or salad bowl), with its diversity manifesting itself across many different demographics. However, some places across the country are notably more heterogeneous than others.
Stacker compiled a list of the most diverse counties in Illinois using data from using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest Simpson's diversity index score. Simpson’s diversity index measures community diversity on a scale of 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse), more on the calculation can be read here.
Think you know which counties in your home state might be the most diverse? Keep reading to see if your predictions are correct.
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#50. Coles County
- Total population: 51,353
- White: 92.9% (47,722)
- Black or African American: 3.9% (2,019)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (111)
- Asian: 1.2% (625)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (20)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (752)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (104)
#49. Adams County
- Total population: 66,085
- White: 92.9% (61,406)
- Black or African American: 4.1% (2,731)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (297)
- Asian: 0.8% (527)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (14)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (997)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (113)
#48. Saline County
- Total population: 23,994
- White: 92.7% (22,234)
- Black or African American: 2.6% (632)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (53)
- Asian: 0.7% (178)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (54)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (721)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (122)
#47. Pope County
- Total population: 4,203
- White: 92.6% (3,893)
- Black or African American: 4.2% (177)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.6% (24)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (63)
- Some other Race: 1.1% (46)
#46. Livingston County
- Total population: 36,040
- White: 92.6% (33,377)
- Black or African American: 4.2% (1,520)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (2)
- Asian: 0.9% (308)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.6% (570)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (263)
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#45. Iroquois County
- Total population: 27,812
- White: 92.6% (25,746)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (240)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (20)
- Asian: 0.4% (98)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (518)
- Some other Race: 4.3% (1,190)
#44. LaSalle County
- Total population: 109,737
- White: 92.6% (101,568)
- Black or African American: 2.7% (2,937)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (87)
- Asian: 0.7% (792)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (19)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (1,934)
- Some other Race: 2.2% (2,400)
#43. Marion County
- Total population: 37,743
- White: 92.5% (34,902)
- Black or African American: 3.7% (1,382)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (81)
- Asian: 0.6% (243)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (960)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (175)
#42. McHenry County
- Total population: 307,714
- White: 92.3% (284,009)
- Black or African American: 1.5% (4,481)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (295)
- Asian: 2.8% (8,601)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (56)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (5,957)
- Some other Race: 1.4% (4,315)
#41. Massac County
- Total population: 14,219
- White: 91.1% (12,956)
- Black or African American: 5.8% (830)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (6)
- Asian: 0.2% (29)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (398)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
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#40. Bond County
- Total population: 16,589
- White: 90.9% (15,077)
- Black or African American: 7.6% (1,264)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (84)
- Asian: 0.4% (59)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.3% (49)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (56)
#39. Williamson County
- Total population: 67,102
- White: 90.7% (60,881)
- Black or African American: 4.3% (2,874)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (154)
- Asian: 1.2% (785)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (21)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (1,721)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (666)
#38. Lee County
- Total population: 34,389
- White: 90.5% (31,133)
- Black or African American: 5.5% (1,881)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (92)
- Asian: 0.6% (193)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (31)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (702)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (357)
#37. Crawford County
- Total population: 18,972
- White: 90.2% (17,119)
- Black or African American: 6.5% (1,231)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (15)
- Asian: 0.3% (61)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (14)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (457)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (75)
#36. Morgan County
- Total population: 34,247
- White: 90.0% (30,809)
- Black or African American: 7.0% (2,398)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (88)
- Asian: 0.7% (234)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (2)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (664)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (52)
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#35. McDonough County
- Total population: 30,479
- White: 89.8% (27,372)
- Black or African American: 4.7% (1,442)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (33)
- Asian: 2.1% (653)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (820)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (159)
#34. Schuyler County
- Total population: 6,953
- White: 89.4% (6,219)
- Black or African American: 9.0% (625)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (9)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (100)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
#33. Perry County
- Total population: 21,251
- White: 88.4% (18,779)
- Black or African American: 9.1% (1,925)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (27)
- Asian: 0.7% (146)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (310)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (64)
#32. Logan County
- Total population: 29,003
- White: 88.5% (25,667)
- Black or African American: 6.9% (2,003)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (73)
- Asian: 0.8% (218)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (10)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (802)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (230)
#31. Cass County
- Total population: 12,493
- White: 88.5% (11,058)
- Black or African American: 5.2% (652)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (22)
- Asian: 0.4% (45)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (1)
- 2 or more races: 1.1% (134)
- Some other Race: 4.7% (581)
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#30. Johnson County
- Total population: 12,494
- White: 87.7% (10,954)
- Black or African American: 11.3% (1,408)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (10)
- Asian: 0.4% (44)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.3% (36)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (42)
#29. Warren County
- Total population: 17,146
- White: 88.1% (15,107)
- Black or African American: 2.9% (501)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (38)
- Asian: 2.5% (429)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.1% (197)
- Some other Race: 5.1% (874)
#28. Lawrence County
- Total population: 16,033
- White: 87.8% (14,073)
- Black or African American: 8.3% (1,331)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 1.0% (163)
- Asian: 0.5% (87)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (308)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (71)
#27. Madison County
- Total population: 264,776
- White: 87.4% (231,440)
- Black or African American: 8.7% (22,999)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (494)
- Asian: 1.1% (2,793)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (27)
- 2 or more races: 2.1% (5,521)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (1,502)
#26. Boone County
- Total population: 53,537
- White: 87.5% (46,852)
- Black or African American: 2.2% (1,184)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (183)
- Asian: 1.2% (632)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (1,291)
- Some other Race: 6.3% (3,395)
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#25. Jefferson County
- Total population: 37,985
- White: 87.3% (33,162)
- Black or African American: 8.4% (3,177)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (73)
- Asian: 1.2% (438)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (5)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (1,037)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (93)
#24. Randolph County
- Total population: 32,295
- White: 86.8% (28,031)
- Black or African American: 10.1% (3,252)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (57)
- Asian: 0.6% (190)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (3)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (473)
- Some other Race: 0.9% (289)
#23. Stephenson County
- Total population: 45,093
- White: 85.8% (38,702)
- Black or African American: 9.6% (4,334)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (83)
- Asian: 0.8% (382)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (1,417)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (175)
#22. Knox County
- Total population: 50,508
- White: 85.6% (43,219)
- Black or African American: 8.9% (4,485)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (254)
- Asian: 1.1% (554)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (901)
- Some other Race: 2.2% (1,095)
#21. DeKalb County
- Total population: 104,366
- White: 84.0% (87,649)
- Black or African American: 7.9% (8,258)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (102)
- Asian: 2.3% (2,379)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (2,550)
- Some other Race: 3.3% (3,428)
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#20. McLean County
- Total population: 172,578
- White: 83.3% (143,728)
- Black or African American: 8.4% (14,423)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (355)
- Asian: 5.1% (8,797)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (33)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (4,072)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (1,170)
#19. Vermilion County
- Total population: 77,563
- White: 82.2% (63,747)
- Black or African American: 14.1% (10,920)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (202)
- Asian: 1.0% (759)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (24)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (1,362)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (549)
#18. Sangamon County
- Total population: 196,861
- White: 81.9% (161,188)
- Black or African American: 12.9% (25,303)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (205)
- Asian: 2.0% (4,006)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (105)
- 2 or more races: 2.6% (5,214)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (840)
#17. Kendall County
- Total population: 126,054
- White: 81.4% (102,605)
- Black or African American: 7.4% (9,339)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (145)
- Asian: 3.2% (4,045)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (3,388)
- Some other Race: 5.2% (6,532)
#16. Brown County
- Total population: 6,628
- White: 79.4% (5,265)
- Black or African American: 19.2% (1,272)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (24)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.3% (23)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (44)
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#15. Kankakee County
- Total population: 110,637
- White: 79.6% (88,023)
- Black or African American: 15.2% (16,858)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (255)
- Asian: 0.8% (933)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (16)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (2,087)
- Some other Race: 2.2% (2,465)
#14. Rock Island County
- Total population: 143,873
- White: 80.2% (115,405)
- Black or African American: 10.4% (14,968)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (582)
- Asian: 2.5% (3,650)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (61)
- 2 or more races: 3.7% (5,266)
- Some other Race: 2.7% (3,941)

#13. Winnebago County
- Total population: 284,819
- White: 78.8% (224,363)
- Black or African American: 13.0% (36,935)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (831)
- Asian: 2.6% (7,530)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (44)
- 2 or more races: 3.3% (9,460)
- Some other Race: 2.0% (5,656)
#12. Macon County
- Total population: 105,528
- White: 77.9% (82,154)
- Black or African American: 14.8% (15,658)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (249)
- Asian: 1.0% (1,064)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (19)
- 2 or more races: 5.5% (5,836)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (548)
#11. DuPage County
- Total population: 929,060
- White: 76.8% (713,707)
- Black or African American: 4.8% (44,755)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (2,016)
- Asian: 11.9% (110,163)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (422)
- 2 or more races: 2.8% (26,328)
- Some other Race: 3.4% (31,669)
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#10. Jackson County
- Total population: 57,977
- White: 76.3% (44,208)
- Black or African American: 15.0% (8,723)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (167)
- Asian: 3.4% (1,996)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (62)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (1,736)
- Some other Race: 1.9% (1,085)
#9. Lake County
- Total population: 701,473
- White: 75.8% (531,609)
- Black or African American: 6.8% (47,385)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (2,162)
- Asian: 7.7% (54,157)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (285)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (20,566)
- Some other Race: 6.5% (45,309)
#8. Peoria County
- Total population: 182,770
- White: 72.7% (132,888)
- Black or African American: 17.8% (32,480)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (499)
- Asian: 4.1% (7,537)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (11)
- 2 or more races: 3.7% (6,685)
- Some other Race: 1.5% (2,670)
#7. Will County
- Total population: 689,315
- White: 73.5% (506,424)
- Black or African American: 11.3% (77,941)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (2,071)
- Asian: 5.5% (37,809)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (229)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (20,720)
- Some other Race: 6.4% (44,121)
#6. Kane County
- Total population: 531,376
- White: 73.0% (387,883)
- Black or African American: 5.5% (29,416)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (2,590)
- Asian: 4.1% (21,612)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (240)
- 2 or more races: 2.9% (15,309)
- Some other Race: 14.0% (74,326)
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#5. Champaign County
- Total population: 209,922
- White: 71.8% (150,820)
- Black or African American: 13.5% (28,283)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (348)
- Asian: 10.8% (22,579)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (179)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (5,576)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (2,137)
#4. Pulaski County
- Total population: 5,510
- White: 65.7% (3,620)
- Black or African American: 30.3% (1,669)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (6)
- Asian: 0.1% (7)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.6% (198)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (10)
#3. Alexander County
- Total population: 6,260
- White: 63.2% (3,954)
- Black or African American: 33.5% (2,094)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (37)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.6% (35)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (118)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (22)
#2. St. Clair County
- Total population: 262,338
- White: 64.1% (168,096)
- Black or African American: 29.9% (78,532)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (590)
- Asian: 1.5% (3,861)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (69)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (7,788)
- Some other Race: 1.3% (3,402)
#1. Cook County
- Total population: 5.2 million
- White: 56.7% (2,946,314)
- Black or African American: 23.4% (1,217,416)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (14,911)
- Asian: 7.3% (379,444)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (1,982)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (138,139)
- Some other Race: 9.6% (500,069)
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