Honoring the rich history of rural western Illinois, and examining the problems we currently face
HENDERSON COUNTY Population: 7,331 (2020 Census) History & Culture Henderson County, established in 1841, was named after Richard Henderson, founder of the Transylvania Company, a land acquisition firm instrumental in the early settlement of Kentucky and the Ohio Valley. The county’s location along the Mississippi River has shaped its economy and culture, making it a …
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HANCOCK COUNTY Population: 19,104 (2020 Census) Key Cities & Population: Hamilton (2,951): Situated along the Mississippi River, Hamilton is directly across from Keokuk, Iowa. It was founded by Artois Hamilton and remains a vibrant town with strong historical ties. Carthage (2,605): Known for the 1844 murder of Mormon founder Joseph Smith at the Carthage Jail, …
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GREENE COUNTY Population Approximately 11,850 (2020 Census) Interesting Facts Named after Revolutionary War General Nathanael Greene. Home to the Koster Site, a prehistoric archaeological site considered one of the oldest and most significant cemetery sites in North America. It is a key discovery for the Center for American Archaeology. Hosts landmarks like the Virginia Tillery …
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FULTON COUNTY Population: 34,844 (2020 Census, named for Robert Fulton, inventor of the steamboat). County Seat: Lewistown Key Cities and Towns Canton (Population: 15,703) History & Industry: Founded in 1825, Canton thrived as a factory town due to railroads, coal, and proximity to the Illinois River. Once a major cigar producer and home to P&O …
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CASS COUNTY Population Current estimate: 13,042 (as of 2023). Key Cities Beardstown: Population: 5,951. Known for its rich history and diverse community, largely due to its large pork-processing facility, which has attracted immigrant populations from Mexico, Central America, and West Africa. Notable events include Abraham Lincoln’s defense in the famous Almanac Trial and the delivery …
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CALHOUN COUNTY Calhoun County, Illinois Population and Demographics Population: Approximately 4,437, making it the third-least populated county in Illinois. Demographics: Predominantly rural, with a close-knit community spread across several small towns and unincorporated areas. The population faces challenges typical of rural America, such as aging residents and limited infrastructure, but retains a strong cultural identity. …
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BROWN COUNTY Population and Demographics: As of 2023, Brown County has an estimated population of 6,294. The racial composition is primarily White (76.1%), with African American residents comprising 18.5%. The Hispanic or Latino community accounts for 5.8%. The median household income is $38,696, and approximately 12% of the population lives below the poverty line . …
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ADAMS COUNTY Population: 65,737 Overview:Adams County is the westernmost county in Illinois and one of the most populated in the Forgottonia region. It was named after John Quincy Adams, the 6th President of the United States. The county features a portion of the Great River National Wildlife Refuge. Key Cities Quincy Population: Around 39,463 Known …
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We've explored a number of topics revolving around social problems we face in rural America, but just because we're studying problems in rural America doesn't mean everyone is miserable. Rural places are awesome places to live and there's endless amounts of great things going on. But here´s our essential question today - can one make …
From January 2016 to January 2017, the region known as Forgottonia lost approximately 2,775 jobs. To learn why, we sat down with Dr. Trenton Ellis, a rural sociologist from Black Hills St. University. Although he lives in Spearfish, South Dakota, Ellis is a native of Forgottonia growing up in Canton, IL and graduating from Spoon River College in 2005. After SRC, Ellis completed undergraduate and master’s degrees from Western Illinois University in Macomb. In 2009 he matriculated to South Dakota State University’s Department of Sociology and Rural Studies where he graduated with a PhD in sociology in 2015. In 2016 he was awarded an outstanding Teaching Award at BHSU.
The Forgottonia Project 