Pontiac, IL Demographics

A map of Pontiac's Population by Race

Race	2024 Pop	2020 Pop	2024 %	2020 %
White	9,235	8,868	81.8%	79.5%
Black	1,038	922	9.2%	8.3%
Hispanic	519	891	4.6%	8.0%
Multiracial	328	327	2.9%	2.9%
Asian	147	76	1.3%	0.7%
Native American/Other	27	66	0.2%	0.6%

Pontiac, Illinois has an estimated population of 11,294, a slight increase from the 11,150 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 81.8% White, 9.2% Black, 4.6% Hispanic, 2.9% Multiracial, 1.3% Asian, and 0.2% Native American/Other. This demographic dot map shows the population of Pontiac, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Pontiac has become less racially diverse since the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Illinois overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Pontiac, that probability was 35.3% in 2020 and 32.0% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Pontiac is ranked the 205th most populous place in Illinois, out of 1,461 places. This ranking is based on the Census definition of a place, which includes incorporated places like cities, towns, and villages, as well as unincorporated census-designated places (CDPs). Pontiac was ranked the 206th most populous place in the 2020 Census.

Pontiac's White Population

9,235 residents of Pontiac, or 81.8% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Pontiac is significantly higher than in Illinois overall, where 58.1% of the population is White. Pontiac ranks 1121st statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Pontiac's White population has grown by an estimated 4.1%. White residents' share of Pontiac's population has increased from 79.5% to 81.8%.

Pontiac is less White than neighboring Cornell (92.8% White), Odell (93.3% White), Chenoa (96.2% White), Fairbury (93.7% White), and Flanagan (94% White).

Pontiac's Black Population

1,038 residents of Pontiac, or 9.2% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Pontiac is slightly lower than in Illinois overall, where 13.3% of the population is Black. Pontiac ranks 156th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Pontiac's Black population has grown by an estimated 12.6%. Black residents' share of Pontiac's population has increased from 8.3% to 9.2%.

Pontiac is more Black than neighboring Cornell (2.8% Black), Odell (0% Black), Chenoa (1.3% Black), Fairbury (0.1% Black), and Flanagan (0.4% Black).

Pontiac's Asian Population

147 residents of Pontiac, or 1.3% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Pontiac is slightly lower than in Illinois overall, where 5.9% of the population is Asian. Pontiac ranks 503rd statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Pontiac's Asian population has grown by an estimated 93.4%. Asian residents' share of Pontiac's population has increased from 0.7% to 1.3%.

Pontiac is more Asian than neighboring Cornell (0% Asian), Odell (0% Asian), Chenoa (1% Asian), Fairbury (0% Asian), and Flanagan (1.2% Asian).

Pontiac's Hispanic Population

519 residents of Pontiac, or 4.6% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Pontiac is considerably lower than in Illinois overall, where 18.8% of the population is Hispanic. Pontiac ranks 326th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Pontiac's Hispanic population has declined by an estimated 41.8%. Hispanic residents' share of Pontiac's population has decreased from 8.0% to 4.6%.

Pontiac is more Hispanic than neighboring Cornell (2.3% Hispanic), Odell (2.7% Hispanic), Chenoa (0.3% Hispanic), Fairbury (2.7% Hispanic), and Flanagan (1.4% Hispanic).

Pontiac's Native American/Other Population

27 residents of Pontiac, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Pontiac is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 0.5% of the population is Native American/Other. Pontiac ranks 389th statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Pontiac's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 59.1%. Native American/Other residents' share of Pontiac's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Pontiac is more Native American/Other than neighboring Cornell (0% Native American/Other), Odell (0% Native American/Other), Chenoa (0% Native American/Other), and Fairbury (0% Native American/Other). Pontiac is less Native American/Other than neighboring Flanagan (1.3% Native American/Other).

Pontiac's Multiracial Population

328 residents of Pontiac, or 2.9% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Pontiac is comparable to the share in Illinois overall, where 3.4% of the population is Multiracial. Pontiac ranks 959th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 1,461 places.

Since the 2020 Census, Pontiac's Multiracial population has remained roughly the same. Multiracial residents' share of Pontiac's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.9%.

Pontiac is more Multiracial than neighboring Cornell (2.1% Multiracial), Chenoa (1.3% Multiracial), and Flanagan (1.8% Multiracial). Pontiac is less Multiracial than neighboring Odell (4% Multiracial), and Fairbury (3.4% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.