ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES

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Wabash County

Established
December 27, 1824 (Laws, 1824, p. 25)

Origin of the name of the county
Named for the Wabash River which forms the eastern boundary of the county and derives its name from the Indian word Oubache (pronounced wáw bash, wáa bash).

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1815–1824 — Edwards
1812–1815 — Gallatin
1809–1812 — Randolph
1790–1809 — Knox, Northwest Territory

County Seats
1825–1829 — Centreville
1829–   — Mt. Carmel

History of county governing board
1824–1849 — County Commissioners’ Court
1849–1873 — County Court
1873–   — Board of County Commissioners

Documented Record Losses
April 5, 1857 — Fire. Most records lost (1824–1857)

Township Government
Wabash County has never adopted township form of government. The county has been divided into precincts.

Precinct Names
Bellmont
Coffee
Compton
Friendsville
Lancaster
Lick Prairie
Mt. Carmel
Wabash

County 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