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Jersey County

Established
February 28, 1839 (Laws, 1839, p. 208)

Origin of the name of the county
Named for the State of New Jersey, which derived its name from the Isle of Jersey in Great Britain.

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1821–1839 — Greene
1812–1821 — Madison
1790–1812 — St. Clair

County Seats
1839–  — Jerseyville

History of county governing board
1839–1849 — County Commissioners’ Court
1849–1861 — County Court
1861–18?? — County Board of Supervisors
18??–1879 — County Court (after 1873, Board of County Commissioners)
1879–  — County Board of Supervisors

Township Government
Adopted — November 5, 1878
Note: Jersey County approved township organization on November 6, 1860, and the County Court even appointed commissioners to divide the county into townships, but this organization was never completed. The commissioners’ report of 1861 divided the county into six townships (see below).

Township Names under 1878 Organization
Elsah
English
Fidelity
Jersey
Mississippi
Otter Creek
Piasa
Quarry — Name changed from Grafton on April 1, 1880.
Richwoods
Rosedale — Name changed from Illinois on June 7, 1882.
Ruyle

Township Names under the 1860 Failed Organization
Delphi
Fidelity
Fieldon
Illinois
Jersey
Mississippi

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