ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES

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Richland County

Established
February 24, 1841 (Laws, 1841, p. 77)

Origin of the name of the county
Named after Richland County in Ohio through the influence of emigrants from that county.

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1821–1841 — Lawrence
1824–1841 — Clay
1819–1824 — Wayne
1816–1824 — Crawford
1815–1819 — Edwards
1812–1815 — Gallatin
1812–1815 — Madison
1803–1812 — Randolph
1801–1809 — St. Clair
1790–1809 — Knox, Northwest Territory

County Seats
1841–   — Olney

History of county governing board
1841–1849 — County Commissioners’ Court
1849–1859 — County Court
1859–   — County Board of Supervisors

Township Government
Adopted — November 2, 1858
Discontinued — November 5, 1878
Adopted — November 4, 1879

Township Names
Bonpas
Claremont
Decker — Name changed from Jackson on May 2, 1859.
Denver — Name changed from Boone on May 2, 1859.
German — Name changed from Troy on May 2, 1859.
Madison
Noble
Olney
Preston — Name changed from Douglas on May 2, 1859.

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