Morgan County, Illinois
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 39° 44.060 W 090° 13.923
15S E 737201 N 4401935
Morgan County is named for Daniel Morgan
Waymark Code: WM18DCR
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 07/12/2023
Views: 0
County of Morgan County
Location of county: East-Central in state; crossroads of I-72, US-36, IL-104, IL-111 & US-67, IL-78, IL-267
>Courthouse location: 300 W. State Street
Jacksonville
Founded: 1823
Named After: Daniel Morgan
Elevation: 610 ft (185.9 m)
Population: 32,606 (2021)
"The first settlers began arriving in Morgan County in 1819 but it was not until 1823 that the county was formally organized. Jacksonville was laid out on a 40 acre tract in 1825 and was chosen as the Morgan County seat. Named for General Andrew Jackson, the city was incorporated in 1867.
"The area was originally part of Madison County, which was formed in 1812, before Illinois became a state.
"The present-day counties of Cass and Scott were part of Morgan County until 1837 and 1839, respectively. The boundary line with Cass County was originally farther north than the current boundary which was established in 1845. Morgan County measures 24 x 24 miles or 576 square miles. The county seat is in Jacksonville, which is named after General Andrew Jackson.
"Morgan County has seen 3 courthouses since it was established. The first courthouse was built in 1826 on the Jacksonville square. It was a 2-story frame building 30 x 40 in size. This courthouse burned on December 6, 1827. The second courthouse was built in 1830 and served the county for 39 years until the third courthouse was built. It was in the second courthouse that men such as Stephen A. Douglas served as State’s Attorney and Abraham Lincoln practiced law.
"The third courthouse was started in 1868 and took 1½ years to complete. It was not occupied into until November 1869. The commissioners at that time asked for bids for the new courthouse; the lowest bid was $147,000 by C. R. Underwood. The actual cost of the courthouse was $204,000. The Morgan County Courthouse is a model of simplicity and strength in construction. It is constructed of stone with every third tier running through the entire wall. The exterior stone came from the quarries of Joliet. The architecture reflects the influence of the French Renaissance style in its dormer-windows, towers, arched and rounded windows, and in the pillared and arched front entrance." ~ Morgan County