| Established: |
February 9, 1831 (Laws, 1831, p. 52) |
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County organization was completed in 1833. |
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| Origin
of the name of the county: |
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Named from rock island of that name in
the Mississippi. |
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| Present
area, or parts of it, formerly included in: |
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1831–1833 |
Attached to JoDaviess County (Laws, 1831,
p. 53) |
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1827–1831 |
JoDaviess |
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1825–1827 |
Mercer |
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1825–1827 |
Henry |
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1821–1825 |
Pike |
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1823–1825 |
Fulton |
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1812–1821 |
Madison |
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1794–1812 |
St. Clair |
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| County
Seats: |
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1833–1835 |
Farnhamsburg—House
of John Barrell (temporary designation). |
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1835–1841 |
Stephenson—Name
changed to Rock Island in 1841. |
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1841– |
Rock Island |
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| History
of county governing board: |
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1833–1835 |
County Commissioners’
Court |
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1849–1857 |
County Court |
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1857– |
County Board of
Supervisors |
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| Township
Government |
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Adopted: |
November 4, 1856 |
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| Township
Names: |
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Andalusia |
Formed from Edgington
in September, 1858. |
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Blackhawk |
Name changed from Camden on October 1, 1857. |
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Bowling |
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Buffalo Prairie |
Name changed from Buffalo to Copper on October 1,
1857; from Copper to Buffalo Prairie in January, 1858. |
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Canoe Creek |
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Coal Valley |
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Coe |
Name changed from Fremont to Penn on October 1,
1857; from Penn to Coe in January, 1858. |
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Cordova |
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Drury |
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Edgington |
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Hampton |
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Moline |
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Port Byron |
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Rock Island |
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Rural |
Formed from Coal Valley (date unknown). |
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South Moline |
Formed from Moline in March, 1879. |
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South Rock Island |
Formed from Rock Island on March 1, 1878. |
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Zuma |
Name changed from Walker on October 1, 1857. |
