Woodford County History

Woodford County History, Maps and Such

Timeline of the History of Woodford County, Illinois

Why?

Throughout this web site, you'll find reference to families settling, succumbing and being buried in Tazewell and McLean counties and townships. But why are they included in a Woodford County web site?

Simply because settlement in this area began in the 1820's, twenty years before Woodford County existed.

Any activity in the geographical area that is now Woodford County was then part of either Tazewell or McLean county. Woodford County was carved out of those two counties in February, 1841, but this brief twenty year period has caused no end to confusion to me in constructing this web site. Take a look at the maps below. Maybe they will help you like they helped me.

Bill

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The Birth of Woodford County

Click on the thumbnail to see a larger picture

From: Counties of Illinois, Their origin and Evolution, 1920, courtesy of Google Books

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Woodford County Maps
	Woodford County Rail Road Map 1892 Courtesy of USGenWeb Archives Digital Map Library
	Woodford County 1875 Courtesy of USGenWeb Archives Digital Map Library
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Woodford County Plats

Cazenovia Township

Clayton Township

Cruger Township

* Plat of the town of Cruger only

El Paso Township

Greene Township

1920 *

*Note the list of "small property holders" on the bottom margin of the 1920 plat

Kansas Township

Linn Township

Metamora Township

1920 *

*Note the list of "small property holders" on the bottom margin of the 1920 plat

Minonk Township

1873

1954

Montgomery Township

1873

1954 (East)

1954 (West)

Olio Township

Palestine Township

1920 *

* Note the list of "small property holders" on the bottom margin of the 1920 plat

Panola Township

Partridge Township

Roanoke Township

Spring Bay Township

Worth Township

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Timeline of the History of Woodford County, Illinois

1818   Illinois became a State of the United States

1827   Tazewell County was established

1830   McLean County was established

1841   Woodford County was established. Made up of parts of McLean County and Tazewell County.

1841-1843   First county seat of Woodford County was at Versailles, Illinois, which was founded during the 1830’s.

1843, June 17   Versailles was defeated by vote and Hanover, Illinois became the next (second) county seat of Woodford County, Illinois.

1844-1845   Woodford County Court House in Hanover was built.
Cost was $4,400.00.

1845, February 21st   Hanover, Illinois became Metamora, Illinois and it was incorporated as a village on this same date.

1851   Townships were established in Woodford County, Illinois.

1894   County seat was moved to Eureka, Illinois.

By Ken Wiltz

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Links to Outside Historical Sources

This link is to the Linkpendium Histories of Specific Towns and Townships, and contains the following links to Woodford County Sites:

El Paso: 1896 Souvenir Album (Source: El Paso, Illinois Community History Webpage)

The Centennial Book of El Paso, Illinois (Source: El Paso, Illinois Community History Webpage)

El Paso City of El Paso

El Paso, Illinois Community History Webpage

Eureka's History (Source: The Illinois Alive! Collections)

Eureka: Woodford County Courthouse, 1897-1997 Woodford County Historical Society

History of Germantown Hills

Goodfield, Illinois (Source: Historic Illinois)

Kappa: Its Early Families and History (Source: El Paso, Illinois Community History Webpage)

History of the Lake Eureka Area

Minonk Talk History

Minonk Origins (Source: Minonk Talk)

Secor (Source: Ghosttowns.com)

Washburn History, 1851-1976 (Source: Illinois Digital Archives)

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