ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES

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Adams County

Established
January 13, 1825 (Laws, 1825, p. 93)

Origin of the name of the county
Named after John Quincy Adams, sixth President of the United States, and not for John Adams, second President, as is sometimes stated.

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1821–1825 — Pike 1812–1821 — Madison 1795–1812 — St. Clair

County Seats
1825–  — Quincy

History of county governing board
1825–1850 — County Commissioners’ Court 1850–  — County Board of Supervisors

Documented Record Losses
December 9, 1835 — Fire. Some records lost or damaged.

Township Government
Adopted — November 6, 1849

Township Names
Beverly
Burton
Camp Point
Clayton
Columbus
Concord — Name changed from Jackson in June, 1850.
Ellington
Fall Creek — Name changed from Benton in June, 1850.
Gilmer — Name changed from Dover in June, 1850
Honey Creek
Houston
Keene
Liberty
Lima — Name changed from Lafayette in June, 1850.
McKee — Date of establishment uncertain.
Melrose
Mendon — Date of establishment uncertain.
Northeast
Payson
Quincy
Richfield — Name changed from Richland in June, 1850.
Riverside — Date of establishment uncertain.
Ursa

Township Map

Pertinent Databases
Adams County Almshouse Register Index (1873–1898)
Federal Township Plats of Illinois
Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916–1950
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
Local Governmental Records Database
Name Index to Illinois Local Governments