Henderson County is a county in Illinois, United States, on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from Burlington, Iowa. It had a population of 6,387 at the 2020 census and covers 395 square miles (1,020 km2), of which 379 square miles (982 km2) is land, centred near 40°49′N 90°56′W.
Oquawka is the county seat, and its postal code is 61469. The county has one city, seven villages, one census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities, grouped into 11 civil townships. Henderson County is part of the Burlington, Iowa–Illinois Micropolitan Statistical Area and observes Central time. Its FIPS code is 17071.
Towns & Villages in Henderson County
Henderson County has one incorporated city (Dallas City, which crosses into neighboring Hancock County), seven villages, and one census-designated place (Carman). The rest of the county is unincorporated. County records and older place lists also carry a handful of historic hamlet names — Heapsville, Iowa Junction, Lone Tree, Milroy, Reeds, Rozetta, and Yellow Banks — that no longer have an active post office or reported population and are not included in the table below.
| Place | Type | Township | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oquawka | Village · seat | Oquawka | — | 61469 |
| Dallas City | City | Bald Bluff | — | — |
| Biggsville | Village | Biggsville | — | 61418 |
| Gladstone | Village | Gladstone | — | 61437 |
| Gulfport | Village | Media | — | — |
| Lomax | Village | Lomax | — | 61454 |
| Media | Village | Media | — | 61460 |
| Raritan | Village | Raritan | — | 61471 |
| Stronghurst | Village | Stronghurst | — | 61480 |
| Carman | CDP | Carman | — | 61425 |
| Bald Bluff | Unincorp. | Bald Bluff | — | — |
| Carthage Lake | Unincorp. | Rozetta | — | — |
| Decorra | Unincorp. | Terre Haute | — | — |
| Hopper | Unincorp. | Raritan | — | — |
| Olena | Unincorp. | Terre Haute | — | — |
| Shokokon | Unincorp. | Oquawka | — | — |
| Terre Haute | Unincorp. | Terre Haute | — | — |
Dallas City straddles the Henderson–Hancock county line; the section covered here is the Henderson County portion. Gulfport, though a village in its own right on the Mississippi River, is not the seat of its own township and is grouped with Media Township.
Townships
Henderson County is divided into 11 civil townships, most named for their principal settlement. The 2020 census did not report population separately by township on the sources checked for this page, so the figures below are omitted rather than estimated.
| Township | Pop. (2020) | Main settlements |
|---|---|---|
| Oquawka | — | Oquawka, Shokokon |
| Bald Bluff | — | Bald Bluff, Dallas City (part) |
| Biggsville | — | Biggsville |
| Carman | — | Carman |
| Gladstone | — | Gladstone |
| Lomax | — | Lomax |
| Media | — | Media, Gulfport |
| Raritan | — | Raritan, Hopper |
| Rozetta | — | Carthage Lake |
| Stronghurst | — | Stronghurst |
| Terre Haute | — | Terre Haute, Decorra, Olena |
ZIP Codes
- 61469 — Oquawka (also serves Shokokon)
- 61480 — Stronghurst
- 61425 — Carman
- 61454 — Lomax
- 61418 — Biggsville
- 61437 — Gladstone
- 61460 — Media (also serves Gulfport)
- 61471 — Raritan (PO Box service)
Dallas City uses a Hancock County ZIP code (62329) because its post office sits on that side of the county line.
Geography
Henderson County sits on the east bank of the Mississippi River in western Illinois, opposite Burlington and Fort Madison, Iowa. The terrain rises from river-bottom farmland along the Mississippi to gently rolling upland prairie inland. Big River State Forest and Delabar State Park lie within the county along the river, and Henderson Creek drains the interior before reaching the Mississippi near Oquawka.
Mercer County lies to the north, Warren County to the east, McDonough County to the southeast, and Hancock County to the south. Across the Mississippi River to the west and southwest lie Des Moines and Lee counties, Iowa.
Demographics
Henderson County had 6,387 residents at the 2020 census, making it one of the least populous counties in Illinois. Dallas City and Oquawka are its two largest communities. The county’s median household income runs below the Illinois median of $80,306, typical of the rural Mississippi River counties in this part of the state. Population density is roughly 17 people per square mile of land.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture drives the local economy — corn and soybeans on the upland farms, with livestock operations and some river-bottom cropland near the Mississippi. Big River State Forest and Delabar State Park support hunting, fishing, and camping tourism tied to the river. Oquawka, the county seat, anchors county government and a small commercial core; Dallas City, the county’s other incorporated city, sits partly in neighboring Hancock County and serves as a second local trade center.
History
Henderson County was organized in 1841 from part of Warren County. It takes its name from Henderson County, Kentucky, which was itself named for Richard Henderson, founder of the Transylvania Company, an 18th-century land venture that helped open up what became Kentucky. Oquawka, on the Mississippi, was an early river landing and steamboat stop before it became the county seat.
Getting There
U.S. Route 34 crosses the county east–west, and Illinois Routes 94, 96, 116, and 164 connect its towns and villages.
- Burlington, Iowa — across the Mississippi River, west
- Monmouth, Illinois — east, in neighboring Warren County
- Macomb, Illinois — southeast, in neighboring McDonough County
- Quincy, Illinois — south along the Mississippi
The nearest commercial airport is the Southeast Iowa Regional Airport at Burlington; Quad Cities International Airport in Moline is the closest larger commercial hub, north of the county.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Henderson County?
It is in Illinois, in the western part of the state, on the Mississippi River across from Burlington, Iowa.
What is the population of Henderson County?
6,387 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Henderson County?
395 square miles (1,020 km2), of which 379 square miles (982 km2) is land.
What is the Henderson County seat?
Oquawka is the county seat.
How many towns and villages are in Henderson County?
One city (Dallas City, shared with Hancock County), seven villages, one census-designated place, and several unincorporated communities across 11 townships.
What ZIP codes are in Henderson County?
61469 (Oquawka), 61480 (Stronghurst), 61425 (Carman), 61454 (Lomax), 61418 (Biggsville), 61437 (Gladstone), 61460 (Media), and 61471 (Raritan).
What river forms the county’s western edge?
The Mississippi River, which separates Henderson County from Iowa.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Illinois.