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Washington County
Contact InformationWashington County Courthouse
101 E. St. Louis St.
Nashville, IL 62263
618-327-4800, ext. 300 – County Clerk
618-327-4800, ext. 305 – Circuit Clerk
618-327-4800, ext. 300 – 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 2, 1818 (Territorial Laws, 1817–1818, p. 39)
Origin of the name of the county
- Named for George Washington, a General during the American Revolution, statesman, and first president of the United States. Commander in chief of the American forces during the Revolution (1775–1783), and president of the second Constitutional Convention, he was the first president of the newly independent United States (1789–1797).
Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
- 1790–1818 – St. Clair
- 1803–1818 – Randolph
County Seats
- 1818–1831 – Covington
- 1831–present – Nashville
History of county governing board
- 1818–1819 – Justices’ Court
- 1819–1849 – County Commissioners’ Court
- 1849–1873 – County Court
- 1873–1883 – Board of County Commissioners
- 1883–1885 – County Board of Supervisors
- 1885–1889 – Board of County Commissioners
- 1889–present – County Board of Supervisors
Township Government
- Adopted – November 7, 1882
- Discontinued – November 4, 1884
- Adopted – November 6, 1888
Township Names
- Ashley
- Beaucoup
- Bolo – Named May in March, 1883 report; changed to Bolo on March 26, 1883; Bolo retained under 1888 organization.
- Covington
- DuBois
- Hoyleton
- Irvington
- Johannisburg
- Lively Grove – Named Dickey under 1883 township organization; named Lively Grove in 1889 report.
- Nashville
- Oakdale – Named Elkhorn in 1883 report; changed to Oakdale on March 26, 1883; Oakdale retained under 1888 organization.
- Okawville
- Pilot Knob
- Plum Hill
- Richview
- Venedy
Township Map
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