Introduction
Whiteside County, with the county seat of Morrison, has a population of 58,498 according to the most recent U.S. Census. The county is named for General Samuel Whiteside, an Illinois officer in the War of 1812.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Whiteside County has a total area of 697 square miles, of which 684 square miles consists of land and 12 square miles consists of water.
Major Highways
Whiteside County roads and highways are frequently busy with residents traveling back and forth to work, school, and to the activities in the area. Unfortunately, this also means that motor vehicle accidents are common including agricultural trucks, work zone accidents, car and truck accidents, motorcycle accidents, and accidents involving animals.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), in 2017, Whiteside County had 1,014 motor vehicle accidents. Of these accidents, seven (7) were fatal, 221 resulted in injuries, and 65 of these accidents resulted in A-injuries, or injuries that are classified by IDOT as any injury, other than a fatality, that prevents the injured person from walking, driving, or continuing with the activities they were capable of prior to the accident. This can include severe lacerations, skull and chest injuries, broken limbs, and abdominal injuries.
The major highways that run through Whiteside County include: Interstate 88, U.S. Highway 30, Illinois Route 2, Illinois Route 40, Illinois Route 78, Illinois Route 84, Illinois Route 110, Illinois Route 136, and Illinois Route 172.
Climate and Weather
Whiteside County weather is typical for Illinois, with highs averaging 85 °F during the summer months and lows averaging 10 °F during winter. On average, Whiteside County gets 37.6 inches of measurable precipitation in the form of rain, snow, or hail, which not only contributes to motor vehicle accidents, but also slip and falls, pedestrian accidents, rideshare accidents, and bicycle accidents.
Demographics
Whiteside County has approximately 23,740 households with 51.5% of these households consisting of married couples and 30.4% with children under the age of 18. The median household income in Whiteside County is $45,266 and for families the median income is $54,242, making Whiteside County a middle-class, family-oriented community.
Whiteside County takes seriously the health and safety of its children, families, and senior residents offering various programs geared towards promoting healthy lifestyles, providing accessible and affordable medical care to lower-income residents, and ensuring that children, adults, and seniors are provided access to any additional help they may require during difficult times.
Whiteside County lawyers at America’s Consumer Lawyer can also assist during these difficult times including incidents of nursing home abuse and neglect, motor vehicle accidents, premises accidents, and child accidents, abuse, or neglect.
Communities
Cities: Fulton, Morrison, Prophetstown, Rock Falls, Sterling, Tampico
Villages: Albany, Coleta, Deer Grove, Erie, Lyndon, Tampico
Unincorporated Communities: Galt, Malvern
Census-Designated Place: Como
Townships: Albany, Clyde, Coloma, Erie, Fenton, Fulton, Garden Plain, Genesee, Hahnaman, Hopkins, Hume, Jordan, Lyndon, Montmorency, Mount Pleasant, Newton, Portland, Prophetstown, Sterling, Tampico, Union Grove, Ustick
Education
Whiteside County has nine school districts. These include:
- East Coloma-Nelson Consolidated Elementary School District 20
- Erie Community Unit School District 1
- Montmorency Community Consolidated School District 145
- Morrison Community Unit School District 6
- Prophetstown-Lyndon-Tampico Community Unit School District 3
- River Bend Community Unit School District 2
- Rock Falls Elementary School District 13
- Rock Falls Township High School District 301
- Sterling Community Unit School District 5
Colleges and Universities
- Morrison Institute of Technology
When sending your child off to school you assume they will remain safe, however, this isn’t always the case. School bus accidents, gym and physical education accidents, lack of supervision, playground injuries, and school district negligence are just a few examples of the types of school injury cases America’s Consumer Lawyer has experience with.
Attractions
Whiteside County has many activities and attractions to offer its residents and visitors, including:
- Morrison Rockwood State Park
- Ronald Reagan Birthplace
- Sinissippi Mounds Historic Site
- Albany Mounds State Historic Site
- Lake Carlton
- Prophetstown State Recreation Area
- Windmill Cultural Center
- Crystal Lake Recreational
- Andresen Nature Center
- Wide River Winery
- Sawmill Museum
While most of the time spent at these attractions will be enjoyable and uneventful, accidents can occur, including slip and falls, dog bites, premises injuries, bicycle accidents, swimming, boating, and drowning accidents, camping injuries, drunk driving, and motor vehicle accidents.
Agruss Personal Injury: People, First
We see you as a person, not just a client – and that makes us better at work we do. We listen. We learn your story. And, as we help you get the money you deserve, we go above and beyond in a way most law firms never could and never would. Because we’re not just lawyers. And you’re not just a client. We’re friends, neighbors, family. We’re all people and here at America’s Consumer Lawyer, we put people first
