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Illinois Counties
There are one hundred and two counties in Illinois. St. Clair County was the first county established in what is today Illinois. Most counties in Illinois were named after early American leaders, especially of the American Revolutionary War, as well as soldiers from the Battle of Tippecanoe and the War of 1812.Effingham County, Illinois
Effingham County Education, Geography, and History
Effingham County is a county located in the state of Illinois. Based on the 2010 census, the
population was 34,242. Effingham County was
created on February 15, 1831. The county
seat is
Effingham. The county is named for Lord Edward
Effingham, military officer who resigned from the British Army to avoid
fighting the American colonies.
Effingham County comprises the Effingham, IL Micropolitan Statistical Area.
Etymology - Origin of Effingham County Name
The county is named for Lord Edward Effingham, who resigned his post in the British Army rather than fight the colonies in 1775.
Demographics:
County QuickFacts: CensusBureau Quick Facts
Effingham County History
Effingham County was created on February 15, 1831 (Laws, 1831, p. 51) and was formed from Crawford and Fayette
Counties. Although formally established by law in 1831, an act to organize Effingham County was not approved by the
legislature until December 20, 1832. This act provided for the election of the first county officials in January, 1833.
Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in: Crawford County (1816-1831), Fayette County (1821-1831), Clark
County (1819-1821), Edwards County (1815-1816), Madison County (1812-1815), St. Clair County (1801-1812) and Knox,
Northwest Territory (1790-1801).
The County was named for Lord Effingham, who resigned his commission as general in the British army in 1775, refusing to
serve in the war against the colonies. The County Seat is Effingham . Prior County Seats was Ewington (1833-1860) and
Effingham (1860-Present).
Geography: Land and Water
As reported by the Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 480 square miles (1,243 km2) of which 479 square miles (1,240 km2) is land and 1 square miles (3 km2) (0.25%) is water.
Effingham county is located in south Illinois.
Neighboring Counties
Bordering counties are as follows:
- Northeast: Cumberland County
- East: Jasper County
- Southeast: Clay County
- West: Fayette County
- Northwest: Shelby County
Education
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