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Pope County

Pope County Courthouse
310 E. Main St.
Golconda, IL 62938
618-683-4466 – County Clerk
618-683-3941 – Circuit Clerk
618-683-4466 – Recorder
IRAD—c/o Records Management
Morris Library, Mail Code 6808
Southern Illinois University
1835 University Press Dr.
Carbondale, IL 62901-6808
618-453-3040
Established
- January 10, 1816 (Territorial Laws, 1815–1816, p. 66)
Origin of the name of the county
- Named for Nathaniel Pope, first Territorial Secretary of State (1809–1816), and last Territorial Delegate to Congress from Illinois.
Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
- 1812–1816 – Gallatin
- 1801–1812 – Randolph
- 1812–1816 – Johnson
- 1790–1801 – Knox, Northwest Territory
County Seats
- 1816–1817 – Sarahsville (Name changed to Golconda on June 24, 1817.)
- 1817–present – Golconda
History of county governing board
- 1816–1818 – County Court
- 1818–1819 – Justices’ Court
- 1819–1849 – County Commissioners’ Court
- 1849–1873 – County Court
- 1873–present – Board of County Commissioners
Township Government
- Pope County has never adopted township form of government. The county has been divided into precincts.
Precinct Names
- Alexander
- Columbus
- Eddyville
- Golconda
- Grand Pierre
- Jackson
- Jefferson
- Logan
- Monroe
- Polk
- Union
- Washington
- Webster
County Map
Pertinent Databases