List of counties in Illinois

history

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This is a list of the 102 counties in the state of Illinois. 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.

Etymologies

Many counties in the U.S. state of Illinois were named for early American leaders, especially of the American Revolutionary War, as well as soldiers from the Battle of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812. Several are named for natural features or counties in other states. Several 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.

Although Illinois has no "Lincoln County" named for its favorite son, Abraham Lincoln, it does have a Douglas County named for his political rival Stephen A. Douglas. It also has Calhoun County, named for John C. Calhoun, outspoken for his Confederate views in the years preceding the American Civil War. Many of the counties are named for Southerners, reflecting the fact that the State was originally a part of Virginia, and mainly settled by southerners. No counties are named for Northern heroes of the Civil War, mainly because the counties were almost all named before that War. The State even has a Lee County named after the family of Robert E. Lee, who at one time served in Illinois.

Alphabetical list

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

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Defunct counties

Dane 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.

References

External links