ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES

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Macoupin County

Established
January 17, 1829 (Laws, 1829, p. 26)

Origin of the name of the county
Named for Macoupin Creek which flows through the county and is derived from the Indian word for the water lilies that grew along the creek. The tubers of the water lilies were a food source for the indians.

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1821–1829 — Greene
1825–1829
1812–1821 — Madison
1790–1812 — St. Clair

County Seats
1829–  — Carlinville

History of county governing board
1829–1849 — County Commissioners’ Court
1849–1871 — County Court
1871–  — County Board of Supervisors

Township Government
Adopted — November 1, 1870

Township Names
Barr
Bird
Brighton
Brushy Mound
Bunker Hill
Cahokia
Carlinville
Chesterfield
Dorchester
Gillespie
Girard — Formed from Virden (date unknown, before 1921).
Hillyard
Honey Point
Mt. Olive — Formed from Staunton (date unknown, before 1921).
Nilwood
North Otter
North Palmyra
Polk
Scottville
Shaws Point
Shipman
South Otter
South Palmyra — Name changed from Palmyra (date unknown).
Staunton
Virden
Western Mound

Township Map

Pertinent Databases
Federal Township Plats of Illinois
Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database
Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916–1950
Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre–1916
Illinois Statewide Marriage Index
Local Governmental Records Database
Macoupin County Coroner's Inquest Files (1835–1928)
Name Index to Illinois Local Governments