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Pike County

Established
January 31, 1821 (Laws, 1821, p. 59)

Origin of the name of the county
Named of Zebulon Pike, an early explorer of the Louisiana purchase. Pike’s Peak was named in his honor. He was a General of the War of 1812 and was killed at York, Canada.

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

County Seats
1821–1824 — Coles’ Grove – Now Gilead in Calhoun County.
1824–1833 — Atlas
1833–  — Pittsfield

History of county governing board
1821–1850 — County Commissioners’ Court 1850–  — County Board of Supervisors

Documented Record Losses
1831 — Fire. Some records lost or damaged .

Township Government
Adopted — November 6, 1849

Township Names
Atlas
Barry
Chambersburg
Cincinnati — Formed from Pleasant Vale (date unknown, before 1921).
Derry — Name changed from Washington on December 30, 1850.
Detroit
Fairmount
Flint
Griggsville
Hadley
Hardin
Kinderhook
Levee — Formed as Douglas from Kinderhook in November, 1875; name changed from Douglas to Levee in April, 1876.
Martinsburg
Montezuma — Name changed from Milton on December 30, 1850.
New Salem
Newburg
Pearl
Perry
Pittsfield
Pleasant Hill
Pleasant Vale
Ross — Formed as Spring Lake from Atlas in July, 1879; name changed from Spring Lake to Ross (date unknown) shortly after formation.
Spring Creek

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