Lena, Illinois
Lena is a village of 2,761 people in Stephenson County, Illinois, founded in 1834.
Why visit Lena
Townapedia lists 3 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails, 6 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Chris Jensen Round Barn and Lena Water Tower.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 82°F; January lows average 12°F, and about 36 inches of snow fall in a normal year.
Weather in Lena
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Lena
Lena is a village in Stephenson County, Illinois. The population was 2,772 at the 2020 census.
From the Wikipedia article Lena, Illinois (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks3
Chris Jensen Round Barn
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.1 mi
Lena, Illinois, NRHP-listed
Lena Water Tower
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Water tower in Illinois, United States of America
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes6
Lena Drive-Inn
Diner · American · 0.5 mi
304 North Freedom Street, Lena
11:00-21:00
Cafe 217 Espresso & Bakery Shoppe
Cafe · Coffee Shop
North Schuyler Street, Lena
Th-Fr 06:00-14:00
Beach's Supper Club
Restaurant · Steak House, American · 0.8 mi
11369 West Galena Road, Lena
Coach's Golf & Grill
Diner · American · 0.7 mi
621 West Lena Street, Lena
Where to stay1
History
In 1853, a railroad survey by Benjamin Dornblazer determined a course through present-day Lena. Samuel F. Dodds, who owned 80 acres (320,000 m2) of land in the area, purchased an additional tract of 80 acres (320,000 m2) on behalf of the railroad company and grading work was begun. Dodds owned a stone residence which still occupies Lot No. 1 on Lena Street, while Dr. F. Voightheld owned a log home (which has subsequently been demolished) near the train depot. At the time, these two buildings made up the extent of the town.
The town was originally shaped as a parallelogram covering twenty-six blocks for a total of 304 housing lots. During the summer of 1853, lots sold rapidly, commanding prices varying from $50 to $150 each. On New Year's Day 1854, track was laid, and railway cars began running between Freeport and Warren. The population began to grow, mostly with English and Irish residents. In 1854, there were about a dozen families in Lena.
During the summer of 1855, Reber & Cheney and Dodds erected a three-story brick building at the corner of Railroad and Schuyler streets. It was completed in the fall of 1856 at a cost of about $4,000. The building is still used by local businesses. The Panic of 1857 had little effect on the growth of the town, and rapid expansion continued through 1860.
From the History section of Lena, Illinois on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship6
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging2
Schools, colleges and libraries3
Map of Lena
25 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 28°F | 12°F | 1.2 in | 10.7 in |
| Feb | 32°F | 16°F | 1.5 in | 8.1 in |
| Mar | 45°F | 27°F | 2.2 in | 4.9 in |
| Apr | 59°F | 37°F | 3.9 in | 1.3 in |
| May | 71°F | 49°F | 4.1 in | 0.1 in |
| Jun | 79°F | 59°F | 5.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 82°F | 61°F | 4.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 80°F | 59°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 74°F | 51°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 62°F | 40°F | 3.1 in | 0.5 in |
| Nov | 46°F | 29°F | 2.3 in | 2.1 in |
| Dec | 33°F | 18°F | 1.7 in | 8.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Stockton 3 Nne (9 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Stephenson County has had 9 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for snowstorms.
- 2020-03-26: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2019-09-19: Severe Storms And Flooding (Flood)
- 2011-03-17: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm (Snowstorm)
- 2010-08-19: Severe Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2008-03-13: Record Snow And Near Record Snow (Snowstorm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Albertus Airport (FEP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 16 miles away.
- Freeport 11 mi southeast, about 18 min by car
- Monroe 18 mi northeast, about 29 min by car
- Durand 26 mi east, about 41 min by car
- Galena 31 mi west, about 50 min by car
- Byron 34 mi southeast, about 54 min by car
- Rockford 40 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Machesney Park 41 mi east, about 1 h by car
- Sterling 41 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Dixon 41 mi southeast, about 1 h by car
- Beloit 42 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Lena Il Downtown4, IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
- Lena Il Downtown3, IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
- Lena Water Tower16, IvoShandor, CC BY 2.5
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.