Births hit low mark to begin 2009 in Kane County

If the current trend continues, Kane County might have its lowest number of newborn babies in almost a decade.

Numbers released by the Kane County Clerk's office Monday show the number of birth records in January and February match a low total not seen in nine years. So far in 2009, the clerk's office has processed 1,326 birth records. That compares with 1,517 in January and February of 2008. The low total to start the year hasn't been seen since the year 2000 started off with 1,303 births. The difference is the county's population has grown by about 25 percent since 2000, with roughly 100,000 more people living in its borders.

The drop so far in 2009 continues a trend of fewer births that began in 2007 after an all-time high of nearly 10,200 births in 2006.

Kane County Health Department officials did not respond to an interview request Monday about what theories they might have to explain the trends.

Other useful numbers reported by the clerk's office Monday involved a detailed view of the voting pattern in the communities that had February primary elections.

By far, the bulk of the voting in primary contests occurred at or near 6 p.m. Voter turnout was lowest first thing in the morning when polls opened at 6 a.m. There was a general uptick until the lunch hour. Turnout dropped notably right about 1 p.m., then rose steadily after that until 6 p.m.

The possible lesson: Vote before work or take a late lunch to eat and cast a ballot on April 7 and avoid long lines at the polls.