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Nelson, IL
Village in Lee County, Illinois.
Population
125
Land area
0.4sq mi
People per sq mi
350
ZIP codes
0
Nelson and its ZIP codes
Nelson at a glance
- Nelson is 53% denser than Illinois as a whole.
Local data for Nelson, IL
Counts from official public data
Economy and federal money
Jobs, pay, income and spending are for Lee County. PPP loans are for Nelson.
Unemployment rate
3.7%
Aug 2026, -0.9 pts in a year
Average annual pay
$63,207
12,642 jobs, 2025
Income per person
$55,487
BEA, 2024
Federal spending
$245M
FY 2026, $7,185 per person
Environment and hazard risk
Nelson, IL, from FEMA, NOAA and EPA
Natural hazard risk
Relatively Low
Top: strong wind
Storm events since 1996
471
Countywide, mostly thunderstorm wind
Flood insurance policies
93
0.6% of homes, county
July high / Jan low
83° / 14°F
40.5 inches of rain a year
Health statistics
Share of adults in Nelson, IL, CDC PLACES estimates
Obesity
39.2%
U.S. 33.3% +5.9 pts
Diabetes
12.9%
U.S. 12.1% +0.8 pts
Smoking
15.6%
U.S. 12.8% +2.8 pts
Uninsured (18-64)
7.5%
U.S. 11.1% -3.6 pts
Cities near Nelson
| Name | Distance | Land area (sq mi) |
|---|---|---|
| SterlingCity | 4.4 mi | 5.9 |
| Rock FallsCity | 4.7 mi | 4 |
| HarmonVillage | 5.7 mi | 0.2 |
| DixonCity | 7.2 mi | 9.5 |
| GaltCensus-designated place | 8.1 mi | 0.3 |
| ComoCensus-designated place | 8.6 mi | 1.1 |
| NachusaCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 0.8 |
| Grand DetourCensus-designated place | 12 mi | 1.2 |
| ColetaVillage | 12 mi | 0.4 |
| AmboyCity | 13 mi | 6.2 |
| PoloCity | 13 mi | 1.5 |
| Deer GroveVillage | 14 mi | 0.4 |
| Lost NationCensus-designated place | 15 mi | 2.4 |
| MilledgevilleVillage | 15 mi | 0.7 |
| TampicoVillage | 15 mi | 0.4 |
| Franklin GroveVillage | 16 mi | 0.4 |
Frequently asked questions
- What county is Nelson, IL in?
- Nelson is in Lee County, Illinois.
- What is the population of Nelson, IL?
- About 125 people live in Nelson, based on American Community Survey 5-year estimates.
- What cities are near Nelson?
- Nearby places include Sterling (4.4 mi), Rock Falls (4.7 mi), Harmon (5.7 mi), Dixon (7.2 mi), Galt (8.1 mi).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau (TIGER/Line boundaries, American Community Survey) · Data as of 12/31/2023