It's St. Patrick's Day and Illinois could use a little luck o' the Irish. That might not be too hard to find -- according to the U.S. Census, more than 33 million people in the U.S. claimed Irish ancestry in 2013. That's seven times higher than the population of Ireland itself!
And Illinois has plenty of Irish heritage too. In 2010, 1.6 million people in Illinois said they had some Irish background.
Where do all those people live in the state and which county has the most? Using 2010 U.S. Census data, we figured out the top 25 most Irish Illinois counties.
Below is a map showing the percentage of Illinoisans in each county who reported Irish ancestry to the U.S. Census; darker green counties have more, while lighter green have less. There's also a list of the top 25 counties by percentage, including the actual number of people in each county who claimed Irish heritage. If you aren't able to see the map, scroll down for a text version of the Top 25 list.
Top 25 most Irish Illinois counties
25) Edgar County, IL 16.05%
24) Massac County, IL 16.14%
23) Monroe County, IL 16.19%
22) Scott County, IL 16.27%
21) Coles County, IL 16.28%
20) Macoupin County, IL 16.32%
19) DuPage County, IL 16.44%
18) Putnam County, IL 16.65%
17) Marshall County, IL 16.86%
16) Williamson County, IL 17.08%
15) Livingston County, IL 17.25%
14) DeKalb County, IL 17.32%
13) Saline County, IL 17.98%
12) Will County, IL 18.30%
11) Mercer County, IL 18.35%
10) Franklin County, IL 18.50%
9) McHenry County, IL 18.57%
7) LaSalle County, IL 18.94%
6) Pope County, IL 18.95%
5) Jo Daviess County, IL 19.70%
4) Hamilton County, IL 20.66%
3) Grundy County, IL 22.36%
2) Gallatin County, IL 23.67%
1) Hardin County, IL 26.98%
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Already contributed? Log in to hide these messages.
