ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES

IRAD Home  |  Administrative Histories / Record Descriptions  |  Local Government Records Database  |  Quick Links  |  Regional Map and Contact Information  |  Research Policy

Douglas County

Established
February 8 and February 16, 1859 (Laws, 1859, pp. 24, 28)

Origin of the name of the county
Named for Stephen A. Douglas, an eminent lawyer, brilliant political orator, Secretary of State (1840), Representative to Congress (1843–1847), United States Senator (1847–1861), and candidate for the Presidency in 1860.

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1831–1859 — Coles
1823–1831 — Edgar
1819–1823 — Clark
1816–1819 — Crawford
1815–1816 — Edwards
1812–1815 — Madison
1801–1812 — St. Clair
1790–1801 — Knox, Northwest Territory

County Seats
1859–1860 — Camargo — Temporary designation.
1860–   — Tuscola

History of county governing board
1859–1868 — County Court
1868–   — County Board of Supervisors

Township Government
Adopted — November 5, 1867

Township Names
Arcola
Bourbon
Bowdre — Name changed from Deer Creek on June 5, 1868.
Camargo
Garrett
Murdock — Formed from Camargo and Newman on December 7, 1882.
Newman
Sargent
Tuscola

Township Map

Pertinent Databases
Arthur Local Registrar's Birth Certificates Index (1868–1925)
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