Kent, Illinois

Unincorporated community in Illinois, United States

42°18′31″N 89°54′07″W / 42.30861°N 89.90194°W / 42.30861; -89.90194CountryUnited StatesStateIllinoisCountyStephensonTownshipKentElevation

899 ft (274 m)Population

(2000)

• Total79Postal code

61044

Area code815

Kent is an unincorporated community in Stephenson County, Illinois. Kent is home to Solutions Bank, K & M Feed Mill, St. Paul's Lutheran Church (ELCA), Nuestro Queso cheesemakers and Kent Fire Department.

History

Kent was surveyed and platted in 1887 at the same time the Chicago Great Western Railroad laid its tracks through Stephenson County.^[1] When the village was founded it was the only village within its township and it was thought that the area had great potential for growth.^[1] Kent is probably named for the Reverend Aratus Kent, a traveling evangelist from Galena, Illinois.^[2] The post office in present-day Kent was established on July 29, 1850.^[2]

Geography

Kent is located in Stephenson County, Illinois about 12 miles west of Freeport.^[2] Kent is located in the southwestern part of its township, near the Stephenson-Jo Daviess County line. It is also in proximity to Pearl City.^[1]

Demographics

According to the 2000 Census, statistics which included the village of Kent and its surrounding zip code area,^[3] 274 people reside within the zip code 61044.^[4]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Fulwider, Addison L. History of Stephenson County, Illinois, Volume I, (Google Books link), BiblioBazaar, LLC, 2009 (reprint of public domain material), pp. 362-63, (ISBN 1110745974).
^ ^a ^b ^c Callary, Edward. Place Names of Illinois, (Google Books link), University of Illinois Press, 2008 p. 185, (ISBN 0252033566).
^ See Census reference map^{[permanent dead link]}.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.