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List of counties in Illinois

There are 102 counties in Illinois. The largest of these by population is Cook County, home to Chicago and the second-most populous county in the United States, while the smallest is Hardin County. The largest by land area is McLean County while the smallest is Putnam County. Illinois's FIPS state code is 17 and its postal abbreviation is IL.

Counties of Illinois
LocationState of Illinois
Number102
Populations3,650 (Hardin) – 5,173,146 (Cook)
Areas160 square miles (410 km2) (Putnam) – 1,184 square miles (3,070 km2) (McLean)
Government
Subdivisions

What is now Illinois was claimed as part of Illinois County, Virginia, between 1778 and 1782. Modern-day county formation dates to 1790 when the area was part of the Northwest Territory; two counties—St. Clair and Knox—were created at that time. Knox would later become a county in Indiana and is unrelated to the current Knox County in Illinois, while St. Clair would become the oldest county in Illinois. 15 counties had been created by the time Illinois achieved statehood in 1818. The last county, Ford County, was created in 1859. Cook County, established in 1831 and named for the early Illinois Attorney General Daniel Pope Cook, contained the absolute majority of the state's population in the first half of the 20th century and retains more than 40% of it as of the 2020 Census.

Most counties in Illinois were named after early American leaders, especially of the American Revolutionary War, as well as soldiers from the Battle of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812. Some are named after natural features or counties in other states. Some are named for early Illinois leaders. Two counties are named for Native American tribes, and one bears the name of a plant used as a food source by Native Americans. While it does have a Lincoln city, Illinois does not have a county named after its favorite son, Abraham Lincoln; it does, however, have a Douglas County (founded 1859) named after his political rival Stephen A. Douglas. It also has Calhoun County (founded 1825), named after John C. Calhoun, outspoken for his pro-slavery and pro-southern views in the years preceding the American Civil War. Several of the counties are named after Southerners, reflecting the fact that Illinois was for a short time part of Virginia, and settled in its early years by many Southerners. No counties are named after heroes of the Civil War, mainly because the counties were all named before that war. The state does have a Lee County (founded 1839) named after Henry Lee III, the father of Robert E. Lee, who at one time served in Illinois. Illinois also has two counties named after the same person, New York governor DeWitt Clinton (DeWitt County, and Clinton County).

Information on the FIPS county code, county seat, year of establishment, origin, etymology, population, area and map of each county is included in the table below.

Counties

Note: the links in the FIPS County Code column are to the United States Census Bureau page for that county.

County
FIPS code[1] County seat[2] Est.[2] Origin Etymology[3][4] Population[5] Area[2] Map
Adams County 001 Quincy 1825 Pike County John Quincy Adams (1767–1848), sixth President of the United States 64,954 855 sq mi
(2,214 km2)
 
Alexander County 003 Cairo 1819 Union County William M. Alexander, settler and state representative in the Illinois General Assembly 5,030 236 sq mi
(611 km2)
 
Bond County 005 Greenville 1817 Crawford County, Edwards County, and Madison County Shadrach Bond (1773–1832), first Governor of Illinois 16,596 380 sq mi
(984 km2)
 
Boone County 007 Belvidere 1837 Winnebago County Daniel Boone (1734–1820), trailblazer of the Wilderness Road in Kentucky 53,159 280 sq mi
(725 km2)
 
Brown County 009 Mount Sterling 1839 Schuyler County Jacob Brown (1775–1828), successful War of 1812 army officer responsible for Great Lakes defenses 6,421 305 sq mi
(790 km2)
 
Bureau County 011 Princeton 1837 Putnam County Pierre de Bureo, Frenchman, North American fur trader 32,883 869 sq mi
(2,251 km2)
 
Calhoun County 013 Hardin 1825 Pike County John C. Calhoun (1782–1850), South Carolina senator and seventh Vice President of the United States 4,369 253 sq mi
(655 km2)
 
Carroll County 015 Mount Carroll 1839 Jo Daviess Charles Carroll of Carrollton (1737–1832), signed the Declaration of Independence on behalf of Maryland 15,698 445 sq mi
(1,153 km2)
 
Cass County 017 Virginia 1837 Morgan County Lewis Cass (1782–1866), second governor of Michigan Territory, fourteenth United States Secretary of War 12,773 375 sq mi
(971 km2)
 
Champaign County 019 Urbana 1833 Vermilion County Champaign County, Ohio, which took its name from the French for "open level country" 205,943 996 sq mi
(2,580 km2)
 
Christian County 021 Taylorville 1839 Sangamon County Christian County, Kentucky, which was named after William Christian 33,662 709 sq mi
(1,836 km2)
 
Clark County 023 Marshall 1819 Crawford County George Rogers Clark (1752–1818), highest-ranking officer in the Northwest Territory during the American Revolution 15,300 501 sq mi
(1,298 km2)
 
Clay County 025 Louisville 1824 Wayne, Lawrence, Fayette, and Crawford County Henry Clay (1777–1852), Kentucky legislator who negotiated the Missouri Compromise 13,143 468 sq mi
(1,212 km2)
 
Clinton County 027 Carlyle 1824 Washington, Bond, and Fayette County DeWitt Clinton (1769–1828), Governor of New York, responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal 36,793 474 sq mi
(1,228 km2)
 
Coles County 029 Charleston 1830 Clark and Edgar County Edward Coles (1786–1868), second Governor of Illinois, responsible for the abolition of slavery in Illinois 46,765 508 sq mi
(1,316 km2)
 
Cook County 031 Chicago 1831 Putnam County Daniel Pope Cook (1794–1827), politician and first Attorney General of Illinois 5,173,146 944 sq mi
(2,445 km2)
 
Crawford County 033 Robinson 1816 Edwards County William H. Crawford (1772–1834), ninth United States Secretary of War, seventh Secretary of the Treasury 18,659 443 sq mi
(1,147 km2)
 
Cumberland County 035 Toledo 1843 Coles County Disputed: Cumberland Road, which entered the county; Cumberland, Maryland; or Cumberland River in Kentucky 10,345 345 sq mi
(894 km2)
 
DeKalb County 037 Sycamore 1837 Kane County Johann de Kalb (1721–1780), German soldier in the Continental Army who fought alongside Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette 100,414 631 sq mi
(1,634 km2)
 
DeWitt County 039 Clinton 1839 Macon and McLean County DeWitt Clinton (1769–1828), Governor of New York, responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal 15,341 397 sq mi
(1,028 km2)
 
Douglas County 041 Tuscola 1859 Coles County Stephen A. Douglas (1813–1861), prominent Illinois Democrat who engaged in debates with Abraham Lincoln 19,722 416 sq mi
(1,077 km2)
 
DuPage County 043 Wheaton 1839 Cook County DuPage River 924,885 327 sq mi
(847 km2)
 
Edgar County 045 Paris 1823 Clark County John Edgar (c. 1750–1832), Illinois delegate to the Northwest Territory legislature; at the time, wealthiest man in Illinois 16,520 623 sq mi
(1,614 km2)
 
Edwards County 047 Albion 1814 Gallatin County and Madison County Ninian Edwards (1775–1833), third Governor of the State of Illinois and only governor of the Illinois Territory 6,075 222 sq mi
(575 km2)
 
Effingham County 049 Effingham 1831 Fayette and Crawford County Thomas Howard, 3rd Earl of Effingham, military officer who resigned from the British Army to avoid fighting the American colonies 34,430 478 sq mi
(1,238 km2)
 
Fayette County 051 Vandalia 1821 Bond, Wayne, Clark, Jefferson, and Crawford County Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette (1757–1834), French military officer who was a key factor in the American and French Revolutions. 21,384 716 sq mi
(1,854 km2)
 
Ford County 053 Paxton 1859 Vermilion County Thomas Ford (1800–1850), eighth Governor of Illinois; served during the Illinois Mormon War 13,511 485 sq mi
(1,256 km2)
 
Franklin County 055 Benton 1818 White County and Gallatin County Benjamin Franklin (1706–1790), prolific writer, inventor, and politician; key factor in the American Revolution 37,442 408 sq mi
(1,057 km2)
 
Fulton County 057 Lewistown 1823 Pike County Robert Fulton (1765–1815), inventor of the steamboat 33,197 865 sq mi
(2,240 km2)
 
Gallatin County 059 Shawneetown 1812 Randolph County Albert Gallatin (1761–1849), fourth and longest-serving United States Secretary of the Treasury 4,903 322 sq mi
(834 km2)
 
Greene County 061 Carrollton 1821 Madison County Nathanael Greene (1742–1786), major general in the Continental Army 11,843 543 sq mi
(1,406 km2)
 
Grundy County 063 Morris 1841 LaSalle County Felix Grundy (1777–1840), Tennessean senator who served as the thirteenth United States Attorney General 52,989 418 sq mi
(1,083 km2)
 
Hamilton County 065 McLeansboro 1821 White County Alexander Hamilton (1755–1804), first United States Secretary of the Treasury 7,911 434 sq mi
(1,124 km2)
 
Hancock County 067 Carthage 1825 Adams County John Hancock (1737–1793), first governor of the Massachusetts colony and president of the Second Continental Congress 17,400 793 sq mi
(2,054 km2)
 
Hardin County 069 Elizabethtown 1839 Pope County Hardin County, Kentucky, which was named after John Hardin 3,650 177 sq mi
(458 km2)
 
Henderson County 071 Oquawka 1841 Warren County Henderson County, Kentucky, which was named after Richard Henderson 6,312 378 sq mi
(979 km2)
 
Henry County 073 Cambridge 1825 Fulton County Patrick Henry (1736–1799), American Revolutionary War figure; first and sixth Governor of Virginia 48,907 822 sq mi
(2,129 km2)
 
Iroquois County 075 Watseka 1833 Vermilion County Iroquois Native Americans 26,827 1,117 sq mi
(2,893 km2)
 
Jackson County 077 Murphysboro 1816 Randolph County and Johnson County Andrew Jackson (1767–1845), seventh President of the United States, United States Senator from Tennessee, and general in the War of 1812 52,565 584 sq mi
(1,513 km2)
 
Jasper County 079 Newton 1831 Clay and Crawford County Sgt. William Jasper (c. 1750–1779), American Revolutionary War soldier popularized by Parson Weems 9,193 494 sq mi
(1,279 km2)
 
Jefferson County 081 Mount Vernon 1819 Edwards and White County Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third President of the United States, second Vice President of the United States, Governor of Virginia, and one of the foremost Founding Fathers of the United States 36,877 571 sq mi
(1,479 km2)
 
Jersey County 083 Jerseyville 1839 Greene County State of New Jersey, from which many early settlers hailed 21,333 369 sq mi
(956 km2)
 
Jo Daviess County 085 Galena 1827 Henry, Mercer, and Putnam County Joseph Hamilton Daveiss (1774–1811), commander of the Indiana Dragoons at the Battle of Tippecanoe 21,939 600 sq mi
(1,554 km2)
 
Johnson County 087 Vienna 1812 Randolph County Richard Mentor Johnson (c. 1780–1850), ninth Vice President of the United States and United States Senator from Kentucky 13,463 343 sq mi
(888 km2)
 
Kane County 089 Geneva 1836 LaSalle County Elias Kane (1794–1835), United States Senator from Illinois 515,588 519 sq mi
(1,344 km2)
 
Kankakee County 091 Kankakee 1853 Iroquois and Will County Kankakee River 106,601 676 sq mi
(1,751 km2)
 
Kendall County 093 Yorkville 1841 LaSalle and Kane County Amos Kendall (1789–1869), United States Postmaster General under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren 134,867 320 sq mi
(829 km2)
 
Knox County 095 Galesburg 1825 Fulton County Gen. Henry Knox (1750–1806), American Revolutionary War general and first United States Secretary of War 49,268 716 sq mi
(1,854 km2)
 
Lake County 097 Waukegan 1839 McHenry County Lake Michigan 711,239 443 sq mi
(1,147 km2)
 
LaSalle County 099 Ottawa 1831 Putnam and Tazewell County Sieur de la Salle (1643–1687), French explorer of the Great Lakes 108,965 1,135 sq mi
(2,940 km2)
 
Lawrence County 101 Lawrenceville 1821 Crawford and Edwards County Capt. James Lawrence (1781–1813), commander of the USS Chesapeake in the War of 1812. Famous for his command "Don't give up the ship!" 15,152 372 sq mi
(963 km2)
 
Lee County 103 Dixon 1839 Ogle County "Light Horse" Henry Lee III (1756–1818), American Revolutionary War officer and ninth Governor of Virginia 34,049 724 sq mi
(1,875 km2)
 
Livingston County 105 Pontiac 1837 LaSalle and McLean County Edward Livingston (1764–1836), prominent jurist, Congressman from New York and Louisiana, and U.S. Secretary of State from 1831-33 35,664 1,043 sq mi
(2,701 km2)
 
Logan County 107 Lincoln 1839 Sangamon County John Logan, country doctor and early settler, and the father of John A. Logan 27,992 618 sq mi
(1,601 km2)
 
Macon County 115 Decatur 1829 Shelby County Nathaniel Macon (1758–1837), sixth Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senator from North Carolina 102,432 580 sq mi
(1,502 km2)
 
Macoupin County 117 Carlinville 1829 Greene County Native American word macoupin, meaning "American lotus" 44,406 862 sq mi
(2,233 km2)
 
Madison County 119 Edwardsville 1812 St. Clair County and Randolph County James Madison (1751–1836), fourth President of the United States and principal author of the Constitution of the United States 264,490 716 sq mi
(1,854 km2)
 
Marion County 121 Salem 1823 Fayette and Jefferson County Francis Marion (c. 1732–1795), general in the American Revolutionary War known as "The Swamp Fox" 37,390 572 sq mi
(1,481 km2)
 
Marshall County 123 Lacon 1839 Putnam County John Marshall (1755–1835), fourth and longest-serving Chief Justice of the United States, wrote opinion in Marbury v. Madison establishing the principle of judicial review 11,663 386 sq mi
(1,000 km2)
 
Mason County 125 Havana 1841 Tazewell and Menard County Named after Mason County, Kentucky, itself named after George Mason 12,881 539 sq mi
(1,396 km2)
 
Massac County 127 Metropolis 1843 Pope and Johnson County Fort Massac, a colonial-era fort on the Ohio River 13,960 237 sq mi
(614 km2)
 
McDonough County 109 Macomb 1826 Schuyler County Commodore Thomas Macdonough (1783–1825), commander of American naval forces at the Battle of Plattsburgh 26,828 589 sq mi
(1,526 km2)
 
McHenry County 111 Woodstock 1836 Cook and LaSalle County Major William McHenry (c. 1771–1835), officer during several campaigns against Native Americans and was a member of the Illinois legislature 311,122 603 sq mi
(1,562 km2)
 
McLean County 113 Bloomington 1830 Tazewell County John McLean (1791–1830), United States Representative and United States Senator from Illinois (the latter from 1824-25 and 1829-30) 170,889 1,183 sq mi
(3,064 km2)
 
Menard County 129 Petersburg 1839 Sangamon County Pierre Menard (1766–1844), prominent early settler and first Lieutenant Governor of Illinois 12,164 314 sq mi
(813 km2)
 
Mercer County 131 Aledo 1825 Schuyler County Hugh Mercer (1726–1777), British officer in the Seven Years' War and general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War 15,582 561 sq mi
(1,453 km2)
 
Monroe County 133 Waterloo 1816 Randolph County and St. Clair County James Monroe (1758–1831), seventh United States Secretary of State, eighth United States Secretary of War, Governor of Virginia, and fifth President of the United States 34,932 385 sq mi
(997 km2)
 
Montgomery County 135 Hillsboro 1821 Bond and Madison County Gen. Richard Montgomery (1738–1775), brigadier-general in the Continental Army who led the unsuccessful invasion of Canada 28,084 703 sq mi
(1,821 km2)
 
Morgan County 137 Jacksonville 1823 Sangamon County Gen. Daniel Morgan (1736–1802), successful tactician in the American Revolutionary War and later United States Representative from Virginia 32,606 568 sq mi
(1,471 km2)
 
Moultrie County 139 Sullivan 1843 Shelby and Macon County Gen. William Moultrie (1730–1805), American Revolutionary War general and Governor of South Carolina 14,510 335 sq mi
(868 km2)
 
Ogle County 141 Oregon 1836 Jo Daviess Joseph Ogle (1737–1821), early settler in southwest Illinois, who helped found the first Methodist church in Illinois 51,449 758 sq mi
(1,963 km2)
 
Peoria County 143 Peoria 1825 Fulton County The Peoria Native American tribe 179,432 618 sq mi
(1,601 km2)
 
Perry County 145 Pinckneyville 1827 Randolph and Jackson County Cmdre. Oliver Hazard Perry (1785–1819), American naval officer who led the victorious American forces at the Battle of Lake Erie 20,985 441 sq mi
(1,142 km2)
 
Piatt County 147 Monticello 1841 DeWitt and Macon County James A. Piatt, the patriarch of a prominent settler family in the early history of the county 16,753 439 sq mi
(1,137 km2)
 
Pike County 149 Pittsfield 1821 Madison, Bond, and Clark County Zebulon Pike (1779–1813), early explorer of the American Southwest, namesake of Pikes Peak 14,618 831 sq mi
(2,152 km2)
 
Pope County 151 Golconda 1816 Gallatin and Johnson County Nathaniel Pope (1784–1850), early Delegate from Illinois Territory to Congress and judge on the United States District Court for the District of Illinois 3,779 368 sq mi
(953 km2)
 
Pulaski County 153 Mound City 1843 Alexander and Johnson County Gen. Casimir Pulaski (1745–1779), Polish American general of cavalry in the American Revolutionary War 5,065 199 sq mi
(515 km2)
 
Putnam County 155 Hennepin 1825 Fulton County Gen. Israel Putnam (1718–1790), commander of American forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill 5,566 160 sq mi
(414 km2)
 
Randolph County 157 Chester 1795 St. Clair County Edmund Randolph (1753–1813), first Attorney General of the United States, and briefly United States Secretary of State 30,142 575 sq mi
(1,489 km2)
 
Richland County 159 Olney 1841 Clay and Lawrence County Richland County, Ohio, itself named for its rich soil 15,796 360 sq mi
(932 km2)
 
Rock Island County 161 Rock Island 1831 Jo Daviess County Rock Island 142,909 427 sq mi
(1,106 km2)
 
Saline County 165 Harrisburg 1847 Gallatin County The Saline River and salt springs in the county 23,320 379 sq mi
(982 km2)
 
Sangamon County 167 Springfield 1821 Madison and Bond County Sangamon River 194,734 868 sq mi
(2,248 km2)
 
Schuyler County 169 Rushville 1825 Pike and Fulton County Gen. Philip Schuyler (1733–1804), American Revolutionary War general and United States Senator from New York 6,843 437 sq mi
(1,132 km2)
 
Scott County 171 Winchester 1839 Morgan County Scott County, Kentucky, itself named after Charles Scott 4,836 250 sq mi
(647 km2)
 
Shelby County 173 Shelbyville 1827 Fayette County Isaac Shelby (1750–1826), soldier in the American Revolutionary War and War of 1812; first and fifth Governor of Kentucky 20,789 758 sq mi
(1,963 km2)
 
St. Clair County 163 Belleville 1790 original two counties Arthur St. Clair (1737–1818), major general in the American Revolutionary War and first Governor of the Northwest Territory 254,796 657 sq mi
(1,702 km2)
 
Stark County 175 Toulon 1839 Knox and Putnam County Gen. John Stark (1728–1822), general in the American Revolutionary War, called the "Hero of Bennington" 5,294 288 sq mi
(746 km2)
 
Stephenson County 177 Freeport 1837 Jo Daviess and Winnebago County Benjamin Stephenson (1769–1822), representative of Illinois Territory in the United States Congress from 1814 to 1816 44,021 564 sq mi
(1,461 km2)
 
Tazewell County 179 Pekin 1827 Sangamon County Littleton Waller Tazewell (1774–1860), United States Senator from (and later governor of) Virginia 130,413 646 sq mi
(1,673 km2)
 
Union County 181 Jonesboro 1818 Johnson County The union of the United States 16,923 413 sq mi
(1,070 km2)
 
Vermilion County 183 Danville 1826 Edgar County The Vermilion River 73,095 898 sq mi
(2,326 km2)
 
Wabash County 185 Mount Carmel 1824 Edwards County The Wabash River 11,202 223 sq mi
(578 km2)
 
Warren County 187 Monmouth 1825 Schuyler County Joseph Warren (1741–1775), played a role in American Patriot movements, a prominent early fatality in the American Revolutionary War 16,531 542 sq mi
(1,404 km2)
 
Washington County 189 Nashville 1818 St. Clair County George Washington (1732–1799), commander-in-chief of American forces in the American Revolutionary War and first President of the United States 13,655 562 sq mi
(1,456 km2)
 
Wayne County 191 Fairfield 1819 Edwards County Gen. "Mad" Anthony Wayne (1745–1796), major general in the United States Army in the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War 15,963 713 sq mi
(1,847 km2)
 
White County 193 Carmi 1815 Gallatin County Isaac White (1776–1811), resident of Illinois who enlisted in the Indiana militia and was killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe 13,784 494 sq mi
(1,279 km2)
 
Whiteside County 195 Morrison 1836 Jo Daviess and Henry County Samuel Whiteside (1783–1868), state legislator and militia leader 55,305 684 sq mi
(1,772 km2)
 
Will County 197 Joliet 1836 Cook and Iroquois County Conrad Will (1779–1835),[6] physician, local businessman and longtime member of the state legislature 697,252 835 sq mi
(2,163 km2)
 
Williamson County 199 Marion 1839 Franklin County Williamson County, Tennessee, which was named for Hugh Williamson 66,879 420 sq mi
(1,088 km2)
 
Winnebago County 201 Rockford 1836 Jo Daviess County Winnebago Native Americans 283,119 513 sq mi
(1,329 km2)
 
Woodford County 203 Eureka 1841 Tazewell and McLean County Woodford County, Kentucky, which was named for William Woodford 38,225 527 sq mi
(1,365 km2)
 

Defunct counties

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau 2019 FIPS Codes". census.gov. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c "County Explorer". National Association of Counties. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  3. ^ "Illinois County Biographies". Genealogy Trails.com. Genealogy Trails. 2000. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  4. ^ "The Origin of Illinois County Names". Genealogy Trails.com. Genealogy Trails. 2000. Retrieved September 21, 2008.
  5. ^ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Illinois". Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  6. ^ Matile, Roger (June 22, 2006). "Reflections: Was Dr. Conrad Will really worth his salt?". Ledger-Sentinel. Retrieved October 11, 2011.

References

  • Hébert, Michael L. (2012). . ILGenWeb. Archived from the original on January 26, 2016. Retrieved June 16, 2010.
  • White, Jesse (March 2010). "Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties" (PDF). Illinois Secretary of State.

External links

  • Illinois Association of County Board Members
  • Illinois Association of County Officials
  • Illinois City/County Management Association

list, counties, illinois, there, counties, illinois, largest, these, population, cook, county, home, chicago, second, most, populous, county, united, states, while, smallest, hardin, county, largest, land, area, mclean, county, while, smallest, putnam, county,. There are 102 counties in Illinois The largest of these by population is Cook County home to Chicago and the second most populous county in the United States while the smallest is Hardin County The largest by land area is McLean County while the smallest is Putnam County Illinois s FIPS state code is 17 and its postal abbreviation is IL Counties of IllinoisJD SN WI BN MH LK CK WL DP KA KE DK LE OG CR WS RI MR HE BU PM ML LS GY KK IQ FD LV WF PE ST KX WR HD HK MU SR FN MS TZ ME LO DW MC PT CH VE ED DG CO MT SH CN SA MD CS BR AD PK MG SC GR CA JY MP MY MI BD FA EF CD CL JA CF LA RH CY MN CT CI MO RA WA JE WN ES WB WH HM FK PY JK WM SL GA HA PO JN UN AL PU MALocationState of IllinoisNumber102Populations3 650 Hardin 5 173 146 Cook Areas160 square miles 410 km2 Putnam 1 184 square miles 3 070 km2 McLean GovernmentCounty governmentSubdivisions261 Precincts 1 433 TownshipsWhat is now Illinois was claimed as part of Illinois County Virginia between 1778 and 1782 Modern day county formation dates to 1790 when the area was part of the Northwest Territory two counties St Clair and Knox were created at that time Knox would later become a county in Indiana and is unrelated to the current Knox County in Illinois while St Clair would become the oldest county in Illinois 15 counties had been created by the time Illinois achieved statehood in 1818 The last county Ford County was created in 1859 Cook County established in 1831 and named for the early Illinois Attorney General Daniel Pope Cook contained the absolute majority of the state s population in the first half of the 20th century and retains more than 40 of it as of the 2020 Census update Most counties in Illinois were named after early American leaders especially of the American Revolutionary War as well as soldiers from the Battle of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812 Some are named after natural features or counties in other states Some are named for early Illinois leaders Two counties are named for Native American tribes and one bears the name of a plant used as a food source by Native Americans While it does have a Lincoln city Illinois does not have a county named after its favorite son Abraham Lincoln it does however have a Douglas County founded 1859 named after his political rival Stephen A Douglas It also has Calhoun County founded 1825 named after John C Calhoun outspoken for his pro slavery and pro southern views in the years preceding the American Civil War Several of the counties are named after Southerners reflecting the fact that Illinois was for a short time part of Virginia and settled in its early years by many Southerners No counties are named after heroes of the Civil War mainly because the counties were all named before that war The state does have a Lee County founded 1839 named after Henry Lee III the father of Robert E Lee who at one time served in Illinois Illinois also has two counties named after the same person New York governor DeWitt Clinton DeWitt County and Clinton County Information on the FIPS county code county seat year of establishment origin etymology population area and map of each county is included in the table below Contents 1 Counties 2 Defunct counties 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksCounties EditNote the links in the FIPS County Code column are to the United States Census Bureau page for that county County FIPS code 1 County seat 2 Est 2 Origin Etymology 3 4 Population 5 Area 2 MapAdams County 001 Quincy 1825 Pike County John Quincy Adams 1767 1848 sixth President of the United States 64 954 855 sq mi 2 214 km2 Alexander County 003 Cairo 1819 Union County William M Alexander settler and state representative in the Illinois General Assembly 5 030 236 sq mi 611 km2 Bond County 005 Greenville 1817 Crawford County Edwards County and Madison County Shadrach Bond 1773 1832 first Governor of Illinois 16 596 380 sq mi 984 km2 Boone County 007 Belvidere 1837 Winnebago County Daniel Boone 1734 1820 trailblazer of the Wilderness Road in Kentucky 53 159 280 sq mi 725 km2 Brown County 009 Mount Sterling 1839 Schuyler County Jacob Brown 1775 1828 successful War of 1812 army officer responsible for Great Lakes defenses 6 421 305 sq mi 790 km2 Bureau County 011 Princeton 1837 Putnam County Pierre de Bureo Frenchman North American fur trader 32 883 869 sq mi 2 251 km2 Calhoun County 013 Hardin 1825 Pike County John C Calhoun 1782 1850 South Carolina senator and seventh Vice President of the United States 4 369 253 sq mi 655 km2 Carroll County 015 Mount Carroll 1839 Jo Daviess Charles Carroll of Carrollton 1737 1832 signed the Declaration of Independence on behalf of Maryland 15 698 445 sq mi 1 153 km2 Cass County 017 Virginia 1837 Morgan County Lewis Cass 1782 1866 second governor of Michigan Territory fourteenth United States Secretary of War 12 773 375 sq mi 971 km2 Champaign County 019 Urbana 1833 Vermilion County Champaign County Ohio which took its name from the French for open level country 205 943 996 sq mi 2 580 km2 Christian County 021 Taylorville 1839 Sangamon County Christian County Kentucky which was named after William Christian 33 662 709 sq mi 1 836 km2 Clark County 023 Marshall 1819 Crawford County George Rogers Clark 1752 1818 highest ranking officer in the Northwest Territory during the American Revolution 15 300 501 sq mi 1 298 km2 Clay County 025 Louisville 1824 Wayne Lawrence Fayette and Crawford County Henry Clay 1777 1852 Kentucky legislator who negotiated the Missouri Compromise 13 143 468 sq mi 1 212 km2 Clinton County 027 Carlyle 1824 Washington Bond and Fayette County DeWitt Clinton 1769 1828 Governor of New York responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal 36 793 474 sq mi 1 228 km2 Coles County 029 Charleston 1830 Clark and Edgar County Edward Coles 1786 1868 second Governor of Illinois responsible for the abolition of slavery in Illinois 46 765 508 sq mi 1 316 km2 Cook County 031 Chicago 1831 Putnam County Daniel Pope Cook 1794 1827 politician and first Attorney General of Illinois 5 173 146 944 sq mi 2 445 km2 Crawford County 033 Robinson 1816 Edwards County William H Crawford 1772 1834 ninth United States Secretary of War seventh Secretary of the Treasury 18 659 443 sq mi 1 147 km2 Cumberland County 035 Toledo 1843 Coles County Disputed Cumberland Road which entered the county Cumberland Maryland or Cumberland River in Kentucky 10 345 345 sq mi 894 km2 DeKalb County 037 Sycamore 1837 Kane County Johann de Kalb 1721 1780 German soldier in the Continental Army who fought alongside Gilbert du Motier marquis de Lafayette 100 414 631 sq mi 1 634 km2 DeWitt County 039 Clinton 1839 Macon and McLean County DeWitt Clinton 1769 1828 Governor of New York responsible for the construction of the Erie Canal 15 341 397 sq mi 1 028 km2 Douglas County 041 Tuscola 1859 Coles County Stephen A Douglas 1813 1861 prominent Illinois Democrat who engaged in debates with Abraham Lincoln 19 722 416 sq mi 1 077 km2 DuPage County 043 Wheaton 1839 Cook County DuPage River 924 885 327 sq mi 847 km2 Edgar County 045 Paris 1823 Clark County John Edgar c 1750 1832 Illinois delegate to the Northwest Territory legislature at the time wealthiest man in Illinois 16 520 623 sq mi 1 614 km2 Edwards County 047 Albion 1814 Gallatin County and Madison County Ninian Edwards 1775 1833 third Governor of the State of Illinois and only governor of the Illinois Territory 6 075 222 sq mi 575 km2 Effingham County 049 Effingham 1831 Fayette and Crawford County Thomas Howard 3rd Earl of Effingham military officer who resigned from the British Army to avoid fighting the American colonies 34 430 478 sq mi 1 238 km2 Fayette County 051 Vandalia 1821 Bond Wayne Clark Jefferson and Crawford County Gilbert du Motier marquis de Lafayette 1757 1834 French military officer who was a key factor in the American and French Revolutions 21 384 716 sq mi 1 854 km2 Ford County 053 Paxton 1859 Vermilion County Thomas Ford 1800 1850 eighth Governor of Illinois served during the Illinois Mormon War 13 511 485 sq mi 1 256 km2 Franklin County 055 Benton 1818 White County and Gallatin County Benjamin Franklin 1706 1790 prolific writer inventor and politician key factor in the American Revolution 37 442 408 sq mi 1 057 km2 Fulton County 057 Lewistown 1823 Pike County Robert Fulton 1765 1815 inventor of the steamboat 33 197 865 sq mi 2 240 km2 Gallatin County 059 Shawneetown 1812 Randolph County Albert Gallatin 1761 1849 fourth and longest serving United States Secretary of the Treasury 4 903 322 sq mi 834 km2 Greene County 061 Carrollton 1821 Madison County Nathanael Greene 1742 1786 major general in the Continental Army 11 843 543 sq mi 1 406 km2 Grundy County 063 Morris 1841 LaSalle County Felix Grundy 1777 1840 Tennessean senator who served as the thirteenth United States Attorney General 52 989 418 sq mi 1 083 km2 Hamilton County 065 McLeansboro 1821 White County Alexander Hamilton 1755 1804 first United States Secretary of the Treasury 7 911 434 sq mi 1 124 km2 Hancock County 067 Carthage 1825 Adams County John Hancock 1737 1793 first governor of the Massachusetts colony and president of the Second Continental Congress 17 400 793 sq mi 2 054 km2 Hardin County 069 Elizabethtown 1839 Pope County Hardin County Kentucky which was named after John Hardin 3 650 177 sq mi 458 km2 Henderson County 071 Oquawka 1841 Warren County Henderson County Kentucky which was named after Richard Henderson 6 312 378 sq mi 979 km2 Henry County 073 Cambridge 1825 Fulton County Patrick Henry 1736 1799 American Revolutionary War figure first and sixth Governor of Virginia 48 907 822 sq mi 2 129 km2 Iroquois County 075 Watseka 1833 Vermilion County Iroquois Native Americans 26 827 1 117 sq mi 2 893 km2 Jackson County 077 Murphysboro 1816 Randolph County and Johnson County Andrew Jackson 1767 1845 seventh President of the United States United States Senator from Tennessee and general in the War of 1812 52 565 584 sq mi 1 513 km2 Jasper County 079 Newton 1831 Clay and Crawford County Sgt William Jasper c 1750 1779 American Revolutionary War soldier popularized by Parson Weems 9 193 494 sq mi 1 279 km2 Jefferson County 081 Mount Vernon 1819 Edwards and White County Thomas Jefferson 1743 1826 third President of the United States second Vice President of the United States Governor of Virginia and one of the foremost Founding Fathers of the United States 36 877 571 sq mi 1 479 km2 Jersey County 083 Jerseyville 1839 Greene County State of New Jersey from which many early settlers hailed 21 333 369 sq mi 956 km2 Jo Daviess County 085 Galena 1827 Henry Mercer and Putnam County Joseph Hamilton Daveiss 1774 1811 commander of the Indiana Dragoons at the Battle of Tippecanoe 21 939 600 sq mi 1 554 km2 Johnson County 087 Vienna 1812 Randolph County Richard Mentor Johnson c 1780 1850 ninth Vice President of the United States and United States Senator from Kentucky 13 463 343 sq mi 888 km2 Kane County 089 Geneva 1836 LaSalle County Elias Kane 1794 1835 United States Senator from Illinois 515 588 519 sq mi 1 344 km2 Kankakee County 091 Kankakee 1853 Iroquois and Will County Kankakee River 106 601 676 sq mi 1 751 km2 Kendall County 093 Yorkville 1841 LaSalle and Kane County Amos Kendall 1789 1869 United States Postmaster General under Presidents Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren 134 867 320 sq mi 829 km2 Knox County 095 Galesburg 1825 Fulton County Gen Henry Knox 1750 1806 American Revolutionary War general and first United States Secretary of War 49 268 716 sq mi 1 854 km2 Lake County 097 Waukegan 1839 McHenry County Lake Michigan 711 239 443 sq mi 1 147 km2 LaSalle County 099 Ottawa 1831 Putnam and Tazewell County Sieur de la Salle 1643 1687 French explorer of the Great Lakes 108 965 1 135 sq mi 2 940 km2 Lawrence County 101 Lawrenceville 1821 Crawford and Edwards County Capt James Lawrence 1781 1813 commander of the USS Chesapeake in the War of 1812 Famous for his command Don t give up the ship 15 152 372 sq mi 963 km2 Lee County 103 Dixon 1839 Ogle County Light Horse Henry Lee III 1756 1818 American Revolutionary War officer and ninth Governor of Virginia 34 049 724 sq mi 1 875 km2 Livingston County 105 Pontiac 1837 LaSalle and McLean County Edward Livingston 1764 1836 prominent jurist Congressman from New York and Louisiana and U S Secretary of State from 1831 33 35 664 1 043 sq mi 2 701 km2 Logan County 107 Lincoln 1839 Sangamon County John Logan country doctor and early settler and the father of John A Logan 27 992 618 sq mi 1 601 km2 Macon County 115 Decatur 1829 Shelby County Nathaniel Macon 1758 1837 sixth Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and United States Senator from North Carolina 102 432 580 sq mi 1 502 km2 Macoupin County 117 Carlinville 1829 Greene County Native American word macoupin meaning American lotus 44 406 862 sq mi 2 233 km2 Madison County 119 Edwardsville 1812 St Clair County and Randolph County James Madison 1751 1836 fourth President of the United States and principal author of the Constitution of the United States 264 490 716 sq mi 1 854 km2 Marion County 121 Salem 1823 Fayette and Jefferson County Francis Marion c 1732 1795 general in the American Revolutionary War known as The Swamp Fox 37 390 572 sq mi 1 481 km2 Marshall County 123 Lacon 1839 Putnam County John Marshall 1755 1835 fourth and longest serving Chief Justice of the United States wrote opinion in Marbury v Madison establishing the principle of judicial review 11 663 386 sq mi 1 000 km2 Mason County 125 Havana 1841 Tazewell and Menard County Named after Mason County Kentucky itself named after George Mason 12 881 539 sq mi 1 396 km2 Massac County 127 Metropolis 1843 Pope and Johnson County Fort Massac a colonial era fort on the Ohio River 13 960 237 sq mi 614 km2 McDonough County 109 Macomb 1826 Schuyler County Commodore Thomas Macdonough 1783 1825 commander of American naval forces at the Battle of Plattsburgh 26 828 589 sq mi 1 526 km2 McHenry County 111 Woodstock 1836 Cook and LaSalle County Major William McHenry c 1771 1835 officer during several campaigns against Native Americans and was a member of the Illinois legislature 311 122 603 sq mi 1 562 km2 McLean County 113 Bloomington 1830 Tazewell County John McLean 1791 1830 United States Representative and United States Senator from Illinois the latter from 1824 25 and 1829 30 170 889 1 183 sq mi 3 064 km2 Menard County 129 Petersburg 1839 Sangamon County Pierre Menard 1766 1844 prominent early settler and first Lieutenant Governor of Illinois 12 164 314 sq mi 813 km2 Mercer County 131 Aledo 1825 Schuyler County Hugh Mercer 1726 1777 British officer in the Seven Years War and general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War 15 582 561 sq mi 1 453 km2 Monroe County 133 Waterloo 1816 Randolph County and St Clair County James Monroe 1758 1831 seventh United States Secretary of State eighth United States Secretary of War Governor of Virginia and fifth President of the United States 34 932 385 sq mi 997 km2 Montgomery County 135 Hillsboro 1821 Bond and Madison County Gen Richard Montgomery 1738 1775 brigadier general in the Continental Army who led the unsuccessful invasion of Canada 28 084 703 sq mi 1 821 km2 Morgan County 137 Jacksonville 1823 Sangamon County Gen Daniel Morgan 1736 1802 successful tactician in the American Revolutionary War and later United States Representative from Virginia 32 606 568 sq mi 1 471 km2 Moultrie County 139 Sullivan 1843 Shelby and Macon County Gen William Moultrie 1730 1805 American Revolutionary War general and Governor of South Carolina 14 510 335 sq mi 868 km2 Ogle County 141 Oregon 1836 Jo Daviess Joseph Ogle 1737 1821 early settler in southwest Illinois who helped found the first Methodist church in Illinois 51 449 758 sq mi 1 963 km2 Peoria County 143 Peoria 1825 Fulton County The Peoria Native American tribe 179 432 618 sq mi 1 601 km2 Perry County 145 Pinckneyville 1827 Randolph and Jackson County Cmdre Oliver Hazard Perry 1785 1819 American naval officer who led the victorious American forces at the Battle of Lake Erie 20 985 441 sq mi 1 142 km2 Piatt County 147 Monticello 1841 DeWitt and Macon County James A Piatt the patriarch of a prominent settler family in the early history of the county 16 753 439 sq mi 1 137 km2 Pike County 149 Pittsfield 1821 Madison Bond and Clark County Zebulon Pike 1779 1813 early explorer of the American Southwest namesake of Pikes Peak 14 618 831 sq mi 2 152 km2 Pope County 151 Golconda 1816 Gallatin and Johnson County Nathaniel Pope 1784 1850 early Delegate from Illinois Territory to Congress and judge on the United States District Court for the District of Illinois 3 779 368 sq mi 953 km2 Pulaski County 153 Mound City 1843 Alexander and Johnson County Gen Casimir Pulaski 1745 1779 Polish American general of cavalry in the American Revolutionary War 5 065 199 sq mi 515 km2 Putnam County 155 Hennepin 1825 Fulton County Gen Israel Putnam 1718 1790 commander of American forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill 5 566 160 sq mi 414 km2 Randolph County 157 Chester 1795 St Clair County Edmund Randolph 1753 1813 first Attorney General of the United States and briefly United States Secretary of State 30 142 575 sq mi 1 489 km2 Richland County 159 Olney 1841 Clay and Lawrence County Richland County Ohio itself named for its rich soil 15 796 360 sq mi 932 km2 Rock Island County 161 Rock Island 1831 Jo Daviess County Rock Island 142 909 427 sq mi 1 106 km2 Saline County 165 Harrisburg 1847 Gallatin County The Saline River and salt springs in the county 23 320 379 sq mi 982 km2 Sangamon County 167 Springfield 1821 Madison and Bond County Sangamon River 194 734 868 sq mi 2 248 km2 Schuyler County 169 Rushville 1825 Pike and Fulton County Gen Philip Schuyler 1733 1804 American Revolutionary War general and United States Senator from New York 6 843 437 sq mi 1 132 km2 Scott County 171 Winchester 1839 Morgan County Scott County Kentucky itself named after Charles Scott 4 836 250 sq mi 647 km2 Shelby County 173 Shelbyville 1827 Fayette County Isaac Shelby 1750 1826 soldier in the American Revolutionary War and War of 1812 first and fifth Governor of Kentucky 20 789 758 sq mi 1 963 km2 St Clair County 163 Belleville 1790 original two counties Arthur St Clair 1737 1818 major general in the American Revolutionary War and first Governor of the Northwest Territory 254 796 657 sq mi 1 702 km2 Stark County 175 Toulon 1839 Knox and Putnam County Gen John Stark 1728 1822 general in the American Revolutionary War called the Hero of Bennington 5 294 288 sq mi 746 km2 Stephenson County 177 Freeport 1837 Jo Daviess and Winnebago County Benjamin Stephenson 1769 1822 representative of Illinois Territory in the United States Congress from 1814 to 1816 44 021 564 sq mi 1 461 km2 Tazewell County 179 Pekin 1827 Sangamon County Littleton Waller Tazewell 1774 1860 United States Senator from and later governor of Virginia 130 413 646 sq mi 1 673 km2 Union County 181 Jonesboro 1818 Johnson County The union of the United States 16 923 413 sq mi 1 070 km2 Vermilion County 183 Danville 1826 Edgar County The Vermilion River 73 095 898 sq mi 2 326 km2 Wabash County 185 Mount Carmel 1824 Edwards County The Wabash River 11 202 223 sq mi 578 km2 Warren County 187 Monmouth 1825 Schuyler County Joseph Warren 1741 1775 played a role in American Patriot movements a prominent early fatality in the American Revolutionary War 16 531 542 sq mi 1 404 km2 Washington County 189 Nashville 1818 St Clair County George Washington 1732 1799 commander in chief of American forces in the American Revolutionary War and first President of the United States 13 655 562 sq mi 1 456 km2 Wayne County 191 Fairfield 1819 Edwards County Gen Mad Anthony Wayne 1745 1796 major general in the United States Army in the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War 15 963 713 sq mi 1 847 km2 White County 193 Carmi 1815 Gallatin County Isaac White 1776 1811 resident of Illinois who enlisted in the Indiana militia and was killed at the Battle of Tippecanoe 13 784 494 sq mi 1 279 km2 Whiteside County 195 Morrison 1836 Jo Daviess and Henry County Samuel Whiteside 1783 1868 state legislator and militia leader 55 305 684 sq mi 1 772 km2 Will County 197 Joliet 1836 Cook and Iroquois County Conrad Will 1779 1835 6 physician local businessman and longtime member of the state legislature 697 252 835 sq mi 2 163 km2 Williamson County 199 Marion 1839 Franklin County Williamson County Tennessee which was named for Hugh Williamson 66 879 420 sq mi 1 088 km2 Winnebago County 201 Rockford 1836 Jo Daviess County Winnebago Native Americans 283 119 513 sq mi 1 329 km2 Woodford County 203 Eureka 1841 Tazewell and McLean County Woodford County Kentucky which was named for William Woodford 38 225 527 sq mi 1 365 km2 Defunct counties EditDane County was renamed in 1840 to the current Christian County The original Knox County Illinois became extinct with the formation of the Illinois Territory in 1809 or more precisely it became Knox County Indiana The modern Knox County Illinois was formed much later and was not a part of the original Knox County See also Edit Illinois portalList of census designated places in Illinois List of cities in Illinois List of Illinois townships List of precincts in Illinois List of towns and villages in Illinois List of unincorporated communities in Illinois National Association of Counties National Register of Historic Places listings in IllinoisNotes Edit U S Census Bureau 2019 FIPS Codes census gov Retrieved January 8 2021 a b c County Explorer National Association of Counties Retrieved January 8 2021 Illinois County Biographies Genealogy Trails com Genealogy Trails 2000 Retrieved September 21 2008 The Origin of Illinois County Names Genealogy Trails com Genealogy Trails 2000 Retrieved September 21 2008 U S Census Bureau QuickFacts Illinois Retrieved March 30 2022 Matile Roger June 22 2006 Reflections Was Dr Conrad Will really worth his salt Ledger Sentinel Retrieved October 11 2011 References EditHebert Michael L 2012 Illinois County Boundaries 1790 Present ILGenWeb Archived from the original on January 26 2016 Retrieved June 16 2010 White Jesse March 2010 Origin and Evolution of Illinois Counties PDF Illinois Secretary of State External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Counties of Illinois Census 2000 U S Gazetteer Files Illinois Association of County Board Members Illinois Association of County Officials Illinois City County Management Association Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title List of counties in Illinois amp oldid 1120608864, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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