ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES

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Winnebago County

Established
January 16, 1836 (Laws, 1836, p. 273)

Origin of the name of the county
Named for the Winnebago indian tribe who once occupied that part of northern Illinois. The indian word Winnebago translates to "fish eater."

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
Eastern Part:
1831–1836 — LaSalle
1825–1831 — Putnam
1823–1825 — Fulton
1821–1823 — Pike
1819–1821 — Clark
1816–1819 — Crawford
1815–1816 — Edwards
1812–1815 — Madison
1801–1812 — St. Clair
Western Part:
1827–1836 — JoDaviess
1825–1827 — Putnam
1823–1825 — Fulton
1821–1823 — Pike
1817–1821 — Bond
1812–1817 — Madison
1801–1812 — St. Clair

County Seats
1836–1839 — Winnebago—Temporary designation.
1839–  — Rockford

History of county governing board
1836–1850 — County Commissioners’ Court
1850–  — County Board of Supervisors

Township Government
Adopted — November 6, 1849

Township Names
Burritt
Cherry Valley — Name changed from New Milford circa 1869.
Durand — Name changed from Howard circa 1869.
Harlem
Harrison
Laona
Owen
Pecatonica — Name changed from Lysander (date unknown).
Rockford
Rockton
Roscoe
Seward
Shirland
Winnebago — Name changed from Elida circa 1869.

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