U.S. Census Bureau's 2004 Population Estimates for NIPC Area Counties

According to newly released Census Bureau estimates, the aggregate population in the six counties of northeastern Illinois was about 8.33 million in mid-2004, up nearly a quarter-million from Census Day 2000.  At the head of the class was Will County with the 15th largest numeric increase in population (+111,583) from April 2000 to July 2004 among all 3,141 counties nationally.  In the same period, Kane County ranked 31st, Lake County 45th, and McHenry County 71st in increased population among all U.S. counties.  Among the 102 counties in Illinois, these four ranked first to fourth in population gains, with DuPage County coming in fifth.  When aggregated together, the Census Bureau estimated that overall population in the region's five collar counties increased about 289,000 in the period, not appreciably different from a total statewide gain of 294,000.  In the same four-year period, however, the Bureau estimated that Cook County's population went down about 49,000, as a net loss of nearly 400,000 internal (or domestic) migrants was not totally offset by natural increases (births exceeding deaths) and a quarter-million net gain in international migration.

Looking at population growth rates from Census Day 2000 to mid-2004, Will County's estimated increase of 22.2% came in 32nd and Kane County's estimated change of 16.9% was 83rd highest among all 3,141 U.S. counties.  Kendall County, just on the outside of the region looking in, was the pacesetter in Illinois, going up by a third (33.0%) in only a little over four years (thus making it the 7th fastest-growing county nationally).  In actual size, Cook County remained the 2nd most populous county in the U.S., while DuPage, Lake, and Will came in 42nd, 78th, and 95th respectively among the nation's largest 100 counties.

Click here for a table that shows the April 2000-July 2004 population change for all Illinois counties