Belvidere is a city in Boone County, Illinois, United States. The population was 20,820 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Boone County 2005 population estimates show a large increase, as the population rose to 24,593.

Belvidere is part of the Rockford, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

Belvidere is located at 42°15′17″N, 88°50′39″W (42.254758, -88.844093), and sits at an altitude that is approximately 800 feet above sea level. Located in north central Illinois, Belvidere is approximately 75 miles northwest of the downtown of Chicago, and approximately 12 miles east of Rockford. Belvidere is divided by the Kishwaukee River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 9.1 square miles (23.6 km²), of which, 9.1 square miles (23.5 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.55%) is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,820 people, 7,531 households, and 5,324 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,295.3 people per square mile (886.3/km²). There were 7,970 housing units at an average density of 878.6/sq mi (339.3/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 54.53% White, 1.15% African American, 0.37% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 11.57% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race are 60.07% of the population.

There were 7,531 households out of which 38.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.9% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.3% were non-families. 24.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.73 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the city the population was spread out with 29.7% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 31.2% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 12.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 97.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.7 males.

Belvidere Curfews

--- weekdays 11:30 p.m.- 5:30 a.m. --- weekends 12:30 a.m.- 5:00 a.m.

The median income for a household in the city was $42,529, and the median income for a family was $50,601. Males had a median income of $37,116 versus $24,454 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,804. About 7.8% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.0% of those under age 18 and 8.0% of those age 65 or over.