ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES

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Washington County

Established
January 2, 1818 (Territorial Laws, 1817–1818, p. 39)

Origin of the name of the county
Named for George Washington, a Revolutionary General, statesman, and first president of the United States. Commander in chief of the American forces during the Revolution (1775–1783), and president of the second Constitutional Convention, he was the first president of the newly independent United States (1789–1797).

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1790–1818 — St. Clair
1803–1818 — Randolph

County Seats
1818–1831 — Covington 1831–  — Nashville

History of county governing board
1818–1819 — Justices’ Court
1819–1849 — County Commissioners’ Court
1849–1873 — County Court
1873–1883 — Board of County Commissioners
1883–1885 — County Board of Supervisors
1885–1889 — Board of County Commissioners
1889–  — County Board of Supervisors

Township Government
Adopted — November 7, 1882
Discontinued — November 4, 1884
Adopted — November 6, 1888

Township Names
Ashley
Beaucoup
Bolo — Named May in March, 1883 report; changed to Bolo on March 26, 1883; Bolo retained under 1888 organization.
Covington
DuBois
Hoyleton
Irvington
Johannisburg
Lively Grove — Named Dickey under 1883 township organization; named Lively Grove in 1889 report.
Nashville
Oakdale — Named Elkhorn in 1883 report; changed to Oakdale on March 26, 1883; Oakdale retained under 1888 organization.
Okawville
Pilot Knob
Plum Hill
Richview
Venedy

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