ILLINOIS STATE ARCHIVES

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Madison County

Established
September 14, 1812
(By proclamation, Territorial Records of Illinois, p. 26)

Origin of the name of the county
Named for James Madison, statesman and fourth president of the United States. He played a leading role in the Constitutional Convention (1787) and served two terms as president (1809–1817).

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
1790–1812 — St. Clair

County Seats
1812–  — Edwardsville

History of county governing board
1812–1814 — Court of Common Pleas
1814–1818 — County Court
1818–1819 — Justices’ Court
1819–1849 — County Commissioners’ Court
1849–1873 — County Court
1873–1876 — Board of County Commissioners
1876–  — County Board of Supervisors

Township Government
Adopted — November 2, 1875

Township Names
Alhambra
Alton
Chouteau — Name changed from Gillham February 14, 1876.
Collinsville
Edwardsville
Fort Russell
Foster — Name changed from Fosterburg (date unknown, after 1921).
Godfrey
Granite City — Date of creation unknown, after 1921.
Hamel
Helvetia
Jarvis
Leef
Marine
Moro
Nameoki
New Douglas
Olive
Omphghent
Pin Oak
Saline
St. Jacob
Venice
Wood River

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
Madison County Probate Case Files Index (1813–1903)
Name Index to Illinois Local Governments