Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) System Illinois State Archives
IRAD Home • Administrative Histories / Record Descriptions • Local Government Records Database • Quick Links • Regional Map and Contact Information • Research Policy
Iroquois County

Iroquois County Administrative Center
1001 E. Grant St.
Watseka, IL 60970
815-432-6960 – County Clerk
815-432-6962 – Recorder
Circuit Clerk
Iroquois County Courthouse
550 S. 10th St.
Watseka, IL 60970
815-432-6950
IRAD Depository
Illinois State University
2016 Warehouse Rd.
Campus Box 1520
Normal, IL 61790-1520
309-452-6027
Established
- February 26, 1833 (Laws, 1833, p. 19)
Origin of the name of the county
- Name of a former confederacy of six Native North American peoples, the Mohawk, Oneida, Seneca, Onondaga, Cayuga, and Tuscarora who originally settled along the Hudson River Valley. The name of the tribe was given originally to a river stretching 120 miles between Jasper County, Indiana and the Kankakee River in Illinois and was later transferred to the county.

Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
- 1826–1833 – Vermilion
- 1823–1826 – Edgar
- 1819–1823 – Clark
- 1816–1819 – Crawford
- 1815–1816 – Edwards
- 1812–1815 – Madison
- 1801–1812 – St. Clair
- 1795–1801 – Knox, Northwest Territory
County Seats
- 1837–1839 – Montgomery
- 1839–1865 – Middleport
- 1865–present – Watseka
History of county governing board
- 1833–1849 – County Commissioners’ Court
- 1849–1856 – County Court
- 1856–present – County Board of Supervisors
Documented Record Losses
- October 16, 1866 – Fire. Some records lost or damaged (18 years).
Township Government
- Adopted – November 6, 1855
Township Names
- Artesia – Formed from Ash Grove and Loda (date unknown, before 1921).
- Ash Grove
- Ashkum – Formed from Chebanse and Onarga in March, 1857.
- Beaver
- Beaverville – Formed from Papineau and Beaver in September, 1921.
- Belmont
- Chebanse
- Concord
- Crescent – Formed as Logan from Belmont on September 17, 1868; name changed to Grenard in September, 1869 and Crescent (date unknown).
- Danforth – Formed from Douglas and Ashkum (date unknown, before 1921).
- Douglas – Formed from Onarga in May, 1858.
- Fountain Creek – Formed from Ash Grove on September 15, 1868.
- Iroquois – Formed as Westfield from Middleport in May, 1858; name changed to Iroquois (date unknown).
- Loda
- Lovejoy – Formed form Milford on February 19, 1868.
- Martinton – Formed as Buchanan from Wygant (Papineau) in September, 1857; named changed to Martinton (date unknown).
- Middleport – Name changed to Watseka in September, 1863 and back to Middleport (date unknown).
- Milford
- Milks Grove – Formed from Chebanse (date unknown, before 1921).
- Onarga
- Papineau – Name changed from Wygant on September 16, 1862.
- Pigeon Grove – Formed from Loda and Fountain Creek in September, 1875.
- Prairie Green – Formed as Prairie from Crab Apple (Stockland) in March, 1857; name changed to Prairie Green in March, 1858.
- Ridgeland – Formed as Ridge from Onarga on January 29, 1879; name changed to Ridgeland (date unknown).
- Sheldon – Formed from Concord on February 19, 1868.
- Stockland – Formed as Crab Apple in September, 1864.
Township Map
Pertinent Databases