Counties with the most veterans in Illinois
There are roughly 17.5 million veterans living in the U.S., according to data from the Department of Veterans Affairs. Though, the VA anticipates the percentage of the U.S. population with military experience will continue to decline over the next couple of decades—by 2046, it expects the number of living U.S. veterans to decrease by 35%.
Stacker compiled a list of the counties with the most veterans in Illinois using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of residents that are veterans based on the Census' 2023 5-year estimate.
Alaska, Virginia, and Wyoming are home to the most veterans per capita. American veterans live in virtually all of the country's 3,142 counties.
Keep reading to see where the most veterans live in your home state.
#50. Mason County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.7% (785 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 6
--- Korean War: 53
--- Vietnam War: 409
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 103
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 104
#49. Henry County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (2,965 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 32
--- Korean War: 94
--- Vietnam War: 1,002
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 601
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 865
#48. Macoupin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (2,767 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 76
--- Korean War: 177
--- Vietnam War: 978
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 542
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 588
#47. Putnam County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (353 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 23
--- Vietnam War: 176
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 62
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 42
#46. Crawford County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.8% (1,158 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 11
--- Korean War: 47
--- Vietnam War: 461
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 213
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 253
#45. Fulton County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.9% (2,098 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 7
--- Korean War: 101
--- Vietnam War: 879
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 333
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 320
#44. Grundy County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.9% (3,152 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 14
--- Korean War: 62
--- Vietnam War: 882
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 841
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 875
#43. Clark County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 7.9% (938 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 8
--- Korean War: 92
--- Vietnam War: 385
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 162
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 219
#42. Saline County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (1,487 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 21
--- Korean War: 71
--- Vietnam War: 574
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 397
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 237
#41. White County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (857 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 21
--- Korean War: 93
--- Vietnam War: 374
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 151
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 76
#40. Christian County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8% (2,152 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 15
--- Korean War: 102
--- Vietnam War: 757
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 390
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 531
#39. Morgan County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (2,125 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 6
--- Korean War: 192
--- Vietnam War: 852
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 341
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 336
#38. Adams County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (4,056 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 91
--- Korean War: 394
--- Vietnam War: 1,355
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 910
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 843
#37. Clay County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.1% (821 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 71
--- Korean War: 71
--- Vietnam War: 360
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 76
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 64
#36. Jefferson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (2,335 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 12
--- Korean War: 126
--- Vietnam War: 793
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 480
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 510
#35. Lawrence County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (1,005 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 9
--- Korean War: 95
--- Vietnam War: 297
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 159
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 167
#34. Perry County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (1,369 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 142
--- Vietnam War: 519
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 227
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 378
#33. Whiteside County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.2% (3,542 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 43
--- Korean War: 316
--- Vietnam War: 1,255
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 603
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 531
#32. Madison County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.3% (17,249 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 121
--- Korean War: 746
--- Vietnam War: 5,955
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 3,799
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 4,620
#31. Jo Daviess County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (1,491 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 12
--- Korean War: 50
--- Vietnam War: 802
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 171
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 195
#30. Marion County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (2,404 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 70
--- Korean War: 192
--- Vietnam War: 881
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 560
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 475
#29. Pike County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.4% (942 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 42
--- Korean War: 36
--- Vietnam War: 311
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 173
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 152
#28. Ford County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.5% (876 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 43
--- Vietnam War: 268
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 138
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 140
#27. Franklin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.5% (2,492 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 43
--- Korean War: 222
--- Vietnam War: 1,059
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 462
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 432
#26. Greene County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.5% (788 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 55
--- Vietnam War: 287
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 152
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 175
#25. Monroe County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.5% (2,309 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 67
--- Korean War: 92
--- Vietnam War: 828
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 627
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 436
#24. Randolph County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.6% (2,048 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 31
--- Korean War: 70
--- Vietnam War: 791
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 533
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 418
#23. Hardin County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.7% (271 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 67
--- Vietnam War: 100
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 54
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 19
#22. Mercer County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.7% (1,072 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 38
--- Korean War: 59
--- Vietnam War: 444
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 179
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 306
#21. Montgomery County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.7% (1,957 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 11
--- Korean War: 127
--- Vietnam War: 608
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 477
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 284
#20. Wabash County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.7% (763 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 40
--- Vietnam War: 285
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 203
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 143
#19. Williamson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.7% (4,557 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 50
--- Korean War: 129
--- Vietnam War: 1,637
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,150
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 1,077
#18. Clinton County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 8.9% (2,575 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 20
--- Korean War: 137
--- Vietnam War: 874
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 824
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 724
#17. Jersey County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9% (1,543 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 25
--- Korean War: 78
--- Vietnam War: 494
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 353
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 280
#16. Washington County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.1% (988 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 17
--- Korean War: 102
--- Vietnam War: 443
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 177
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 188
#15. Henderson County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.2% (470 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 57
--- Korean War: 28
--- Vietnam War: 166
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 105
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 32
#14. Ogle County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.2% (3,663 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 91
--- Korean War: 214
--- Vietnam War: 1,184
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 1,072
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 975
#13. Marshall County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.3% (860 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 12
--- Korean War: 49
--- Vietnam War: 334
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 181
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 163
#12. Massac County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.3% (1,018 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 6
--- Korean War: 31
--- Vietnam War: 341
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 252
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 192
#11. Carroll County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.4% (1,203 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 2
--- Korean War: 80
--- Vietnam War: 453
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 171
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 206
#10. Richland County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.5% (1,151 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 19
--- Korean War: 31
--- Vietnam War: 415
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 225
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 215
#9. De Witt County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.6% (1,165 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 45
--- Vietnam War: 425
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 235
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 251
#8. Shelby County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 9.7% (1,593 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 67
--- Korean War: 107
--- Vietnam War: 635
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 375
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 198
#7. Menard County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.1% (954 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 11
--- Korean War: 38
--- Vietnam War: 372
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 117
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 203
#6. Calhoun County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.1% (353 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 1
--- Korean War: 64
--- Vietnam War: 148
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 80
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 65
#5. Alexander County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 10.3% (405 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 10
--- Vietnam War: 209
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 103
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 22
#4. Pope County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.3% (357 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 43
--- Vietnam War: 116
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 114
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 36
#3. Schuyler County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.3% (639 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 0
--- Korean War: 6
--- Vietnam War: 291
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 134
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 124
#2. St. Clair County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.8% (22,616 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 334
--- Korean War: 979
--- Vietnam War: 5,956
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 9,109
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 8,213
#1. Pulaski County
- Percent of residents that are veterans: 11.9% (479 veterans)
- Veterans by war:
--- World War II: 3
--- Korean War: 29
--- Vietnam War: 231
--- Gulf War (08/1990 to 08/2001): 68
--- Gulf War (09/2001 or later): 27
