I. Introduction
Understanding Illinois’ county structure is essential to understanding the state’s local governance and community dynamics. Illinois is a state divided into 102 counties, each with its unique history, culture, and demographics. In this article, we will dive deep into Illinois’ county structure and explore the impact of counties on local communities.
II. Everything You Need to Know About the Counties in Illinois
Counties are administrative divisions that play a crucial role in local governance. The county system in Illinois has its roots in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which established the division of western territories into counties. In Illinois, counties are created by the state legislature and are responsible for providing essential services to their residents, including public health, safety, and welfare.
III. Explore Illinois: A Guide to Its 102 Counties
Illinois is made up of 102 counties, each of which has a unique history and geographic location. Here’s a quick overview of all 102 counties in alphabetical order:
Adams
Alexander
Bond
Boone
Brown
Bureau
Calhoun
Carroll
Cass
Champaign
Christian
Clark
Clay
Clinton
Coles
Cook
Crawford
Cumberland
DeKalb
De Witt
Douglas
DuPage
Edgar
Edwards
Effingham
Fayette
Ford
Franklin
Fulton
Gallatin
Greene
Grundy
Hamilton
Hancock
Hardin
Henderson
Henry
Iroquois
Jackson
Jasper
Jefferson
Jersey
JoDaviess
Johnson
Kane
Kankakee
Kendall
Knox
Lake
LaSalle
Lawrence
Lee
Livingston
Logan
Macon
Macoupin
Madison
Marion
Marshall
Mason
Massac
McDonough
McHenry
McLean
Menard
Mercer
Monroe
Montgomery
Morgan
Moultrie
Ogle
Peoria
Perry
Piatt
Pike
Pope
Pulaski
Putnam
Randolph
Richland
Rock Island
Saline
Sangamon
Schuyler
Scott
Shelby
St. Clair
Stark
Stephenson
Tazewell
Union
Vermilion
Wabash
Warren
Washington
Wayne
White
Whiteside
Will
Williamson
Winnebago
Woodford
For a brief history and geographic location of each county, keep reading.
IV. Illinois County Breakdown: How Many and What You Need to Know
Illinois is divided into 102 counties, making it the fifth-most extensive state in the United States in terms of land area. Cook County, home to Chicago, is the most populous county in Illinois, while Hardin County, located in the southern part of the state, is the least populated. Counties in Illinois are classified based on their population size. Cook County, along with the other counties in the Chicago metropolitan area, are considered large counties, while a majority of the state’s counties are classified as small or medium.
Compared to other states in the Midwest, Illinois has a relatively high number of counties. Wisconsin, for example, only has 72 counties despite being just north of Illinois and having a similar land area.
V. The Impact of Illinois’ County Structure on Local Communities
County-level governance plays a crucial role in providing services and resources to local communities. Counties in Illinois are responsible for a variety of services, including law enforcement, public health, and disaster response. County governments work closely with state agencies to ensure that their residents’ needs are being met.
Counties also impact local communities in their economic development efforts. Economic development agencies often work with county governments to attract new businesses, promote tourism, and improve the overall quality of life in the area.
VI. Navigating Illinois: A Look at the State’s Different Counties
Illinois is divided into five geographic regions: Northern, Central, East-Central, West-Central, and Southern. Each region’s counties differ from one another in terms of their history, culture, and demographics. Here’s a breakdown of the distribution of counties in each region:
- Northern: 9 counties
- Central: 32 counties
- East-Central: 12 counties
- West-Central: 31 counties
- Southern: 18 counties
Exploring the differences between each region’s counties can provide a deeper understanding of the state’s overall makeup and the unique challenges and opportunities present in each area.
VII. From Cook to Jo Daviess: A Comprehensive List of Illinois’ Counties
Here is a comprehensive list of all 102 counties in Illinois, along with a brief history and geographic location for each:
Adams – Located in western Illinois, founded in 1825 and named after President John Adams
Alexander – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1819 and named after William M. Alexander
Bond – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1817 and named after Shadrach Bond, the first governor of Illinois
Boone – Located in northern Illinois, founded in 1837 and named after Daniel Boone
Brown – Located in western Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after General Jacob Brown
Bureau – Located in north-central Illinois, founded in 1837 and named after Pierre La Bourse Bureau
Calhoun – Located in western Illinois, founded in 1825 and named after John C. Calhoun
Carroll – Located in northwestern Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after Charles Carroll, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence
Cass – Located in west-central Illinois, founded in 1837 and named after Lewis Cass
Champaign – Located in central Illinois, founded in 1833 and named after Champaign County, Ohio
Christian – Located in central Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after Colonel William Christian
Clark – Located in eastern Illinois, founded in 1819 and named after George Rogers Clark
Clay – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1824 and named after Henry Clay
Clinton – Located in central Illinois, founded in 1824 and named after DeWitt Clinton
Coles – Located in eastern Illinois, founded in 1830 and named after Edward Coles, the second governor of Illinois
Cook – Located in northeastern Illinois, founded in 1831 and named after Daniel Cook, a pioneer lawyer
Crawford – Located in southeastern Illinois, founded in 1816 and named after William H. Crawford
Cumberland – Located in eastern Illinois, founded in 1843 and named after the Cumberland River
DeKalb – Located in northern Illinois, founded in 1837 and named after Johann DeKalb, a German soldier who served in the Revolutionary War
De Witt – Located in central Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after DeWitt Clinton
Douglas – Located in east-central Illinois, founded in 1859 and named after Stephen A. Douglas
DuPage – Located in northeastern Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after the DuPage River
Edgar – Located in east-central Illinois, founded in 1823 and named after John Edgar, an early settler in Illinois
Edwards – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1814 and named after Ninian Edwards, the third governor of Illinois
Effingham – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1855 and named after General Edward Effingham
Fayette – Located in central Illinois, founded in 1821 and named after the Marquis de Lafayette
Ford – Located in east-central Illinois, founded in 1859 and named after Thomas Ford, the eighth governor of Illinois
Franklin – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1818 and named after Benjamin Franklin
Fulton – Located in north-central Illinois, founded in 1823 and named after Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat
Gallatin – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1812 and named after Albert Gallatin, a U.S. Secretary of the Treasury
Greene – Located in southwestern Illinois, founded in 1821 and named after Nathanael Greene, a Revolutionary War general
Grundy – Located in northeastern Illinois, founded in 1841 and named after Felix Grundy, a U.S. Senator from Tennessee
Hamilton – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1821 and named after Alexander Hamilton
Hancock – Located in western Illinois, founded in 1825 and named after John Hancock
Hardin – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after John Hardin, an early Illinoisan who died in the Battle of Blue Licks
Henderson – Located in west-central Illinois, founded in 1841 and named after Henderson County, Kentucky
Henry – Located in northwestern Illinois, founded in 1825 and named after Patrick Henry
Iroquois – Located in east-central Illinois, founded in 1833 and named after the Iroquois tribe
Jackson – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1816 and named after Andrew Jackson
Jasper – Located in east-central Illinois, founded in 1831 and named after William Jasper, an American Revolutionary War hero
Jefferson – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1819 and named after Thomas Jefferson
Jersey – Located in southwestern Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after the Jersey Shore
JoDaviess – Located in northwestern Illinois, founded in 1827 and named after two early residents, Joseph Hamilton Daveiss and Edward W. Jo
Johnson – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1812 and named after Richard M. Johnson, a U.S. Congressman from Kentucky
Kane – Located in northeastern Illinois, founded in 1836 and named after Elias Kane, a U.S. Senator from Illinois
Kankakee – Located in northeastern Illinois, founded in 1853 and named after the Kankakee River
Kendall – Located in northeastern Illinois, founded in 1841 and named after Amos Kendall, a U.S. Postmaster General under President Andrew Jackson
Knox – Located in northwestern Illinois, founded in 1825 and named after Henry Knox, the first U.S. Secretary of War
Lake – Located in northeastern Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after Lake Michigan
LaSalle – Located in north-central Illinois, founded in 1831 and named after the French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle
Lawrence – Located in southeastern Illinois, founded in 1821 and named after James Lawrence, an American naval officer
Lee – Located in north-central Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after Richard Henry Lee, a signer of the Declaration of Independence
Livingston – Located in east-central Illinois, founded in 1837 and named after Edward Livingston, an American jurist and statesman
Logan – Located in central Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after John A. Logan, a U.S. Senator from Illinois who served in the Civil War
Macon – Located in central Illinois, founded in 1829 and named after Nathaniel Macon, a U.S. Senator from North Carolina
Macoupin – Located in southwestern Illinois, founded in 1829 and named after a Potawatomi chief
Madison – Located in southwestern Illinois, founded in 1812 and named after James Madison, the fourth U.S. President
Marion – Located in southern Illinois, founded in 1823 and named after General Francis Marion
Marshall – Located in north-central Illinois, founded in 1839 and named after John Marshall, the fourth U.S.