Honoring the rich history of rural America and examining the social problems we currently face
MORGAN COUNTY POPULATION: 35,547 INTERESTING FACTS: Named for Revolutionary war figure Daniel Morgan. Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln often served as lawyers in Morgan County. Two of the oldest colleges in the midwest, Illinois College founded in 1829 and MacMurray College founded in 1846, are located here. The first president of IL College was Edward …
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MERCER COUNTY POPULATION: 16,434 INTERESTING FACTS: Originally named for Hugh Mercer, a doctor during the American Revolution who died in battle. The land in Mercer County was originally meant for veterans of the War of 1812. MAJOR CITIES: Aledo: Population - 3,643. Aledo is the county seat of Mercer County. The town grew during the …
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McDONOUGH COUNTY POPULATION: 32,612 INTERESTING FACTS: Originally named after War 1812 hero Thomas Mcdonough. Land was originally set aside for veterans of the war of 1812. The county is actually a perfect square with the courthouse in its center. MAJOR CITIES: Macomb: Population - 21,516. Named for General Alexander Macomb from the war of 1812. …
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KNOX COUNTY POPULATION: 52,919 INTERESTING FACTS: Named for Henry Knox the 1st Secretary of War. Hosts the Knox County drive, similar to the Spoon River Scenic Drive. MAJOR CITIES: Galesburg: Population 32195. Home to Knox College and community college Carl Sandburg. Founded by Presbyterian minister George Washington Gale. Home to the 1st anti-slave society …
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HENDERSON COUNTY POPULATION: 7,331 INTERESTING FACTS: Named for Richard Henderson, founder of the Transylvania Company. MAJOR CITIES: Oquawka: Population - 1,371. Started as a successful fur trading post by brothers S.S. and Alexis Phelps. Oquawka is the Indian word for ¨Yellow Bank.¨ Serves as the County seat and the Henderson County Courthouse is the 2nd …
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HANCOCK COUNTY POPULATION: 19,104 INTERESTING FACTS: Named for John Hancock, signer of the Declaration of Independence. Originally set aside as land for military veterans of War of 1812 but not settled until after the Blackhawk Indian War in 1832. Home to Nauvoo which was one of the biggest cities in the 1840s and headquarters of …
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GREENE COUNTY POPULATION: 13,886, INTERESTING FACTS: Named for Revolutionary figure, Nathaniel Greene. Home of prehistoric archaeological Koster Site, one of the oldest known cemetery sites in North America and the Center for American Archaeology's most important discovery. MAJOR CITIES: White Hall: - Population 2,520 The town got its name from a long, white tavern owned …
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FULTON COUNTY POPULATION: 37,069, INTERESTING FACTS: Named for Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat. Home of Camp Ellis a WWII prisoner of war camp. Home of Edgar Lee Masters author of Spoon River Anthology. Known for Spoon River Scenic drive, a tradition since 1968 that happens on the first 2 weekends of October attracting …
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CASS COUNTY POPULATION: 13,642, INTERESTING FACTS: Named for former Secretary of State and general Lewis Cass. Home of the Jim Edgar Panther Creek State Fish and Wildlife Area. MAJOR CITIES: Beardstown - Population 6,123. Home to a large pork slaughterhouse that has attracted a large immigrant population. Home to the famous Almanac Trial defense where …
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CALHOUN COUNTY POPULATION: 5,089 INTERESTING FACTS: 3rd least populated county in Illinois. Often called “The Island” because the course of the IL and MS rivers form the county into a peninsula. Named after former VP John C. Calhoun. Home to Two Rivers National Park featuring several migrating birds as well as its summer peaches. The …
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The Forgottonia Project 