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Effingham County

Established
February 15, 1831 (Laws, 1831, p. 51)
Although formally established by law in 1831, an act to organize Effingham County was not approved by the legislature until December 20, 1832. This act provided for the election of the first county officials in January, 1833.

Origin of the name of the county
Named for Lord Effingham, who resigned his commission as general in the British army in 1775, refusing to serve in the war against the colonies.

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1816–1831 — Crawford
1821–1831 — Fayette
1819–1821 — Clark
1815–1816 — Edwards
1812–1815 — Madison
1801–1812 — St. Clair
1790–1801 — Knox, Northwest Territory

County Seats
1833–1860 — Ewington
1860–   — Effingham

History of county governing board
1833–1849 — County Commissioners’ Court
1849–1861 — County Court
1861–   — County Board of Supervisors

Township Government
Adopted — November 6, 1860

Township Names
Banner — Formed as Perry from Summit in September, 1874; name changed to Banner (date unknown).
Bishop — Name changed from Bishop Creek (date unknown).
Douglas
Jackson
Liberty
Lucas
Mason
Moccasin
Mound
St. Francis
Summit
Teutopolis — Formed from Douglas (date unknown).
Union
Watson
West

Township Map

Pertinent Databases
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