Today is German-American Day, and in Illinois, there is plenty of reason to celebrate.

German ancestry is the most prevalent ancestry in the state, and the culture of the German homeland has been a mainstay in Illinois for a century and a half. The strength of German-Americans helped shape Illinois’ history through the Civil War, as well as two world wars against the old country.

According to recent census totals, about 34.4% of McHenry County residents are of German descent, more than any other ethnicity.

It’s the same in other area counties. About 32.6% of DeKalb County residents and 27.8% of LaSalle County residents report German ancestry, with 21.6% in Will County, the most of any ancestry.

Of the almost 1.8 million residents of Illinois in 1860, almost 325,000 were of foreign birt

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