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Wayne County
Contact InformationWayne County Courthouse
301 E. Main St.
Fairfield, IL 62837
618-842-5182 – County Clerk
618-842-7684 – Circuit Clerk
618-842-5182 – Recorder
IRAD Depository
Booth Library
600 Lincoln Ave.
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, IL 61920
217-581-6093
Established
- March 26, 1819 (Laws, 1819, p. 268)
Origin of the name of the county
- Named for Anthony Wayne, a surveyor and politician of Pennsylvania, a Major General during the American Revolution, Commander-in-Chief of the Army after General St. Clair, and successful Indian Fighter in the Northwest Territory. His military exploits and fiery personality during the American Revolution quickly earned him the sobriquet Mad Anthony Wayne.
Present area, or parts of it, formerly included in
- 1815–1819 – Edwards
- 1812–1815 – Gallatin
- 1803–1812 – Randolph
- 1801–1803 – St. Clair
- 1790–1801 – Knox, Northwest Territory
County Seats
- 1819–present – Fairfield
History of county governing board
- 1819–1849 – County Commissioners’ Court
- 1849–1860 – County Court
- 1860–present – County Board of Supervisors
Documented Record Losses
- November 17, 1886 – Fire. Total record loss (1819–1886).
Township Government
- Adopted – November 8, 1859
Township Names
- Arrington
- Barnhill – Name changed from Fairfield to Douglas on June 9, 1860; name changed from Douglas to Barnhill on September 3, 1860.
- Bedford
- Berry – Formed from Arrington on December 12, 1905.
- Big Mound
- Elm River – Name changed from Newton to Elm on June 9, 1860; name changed from Elm to Elm River (date unknown, before 1921).
- Four Mile
- Garden Hill – Formed from Orchard (date unknown, before 1921).
- Grover – Formed as Fairfield from Barnhill on December 14, 1888.
- Hickory Hill
- Indian Prairie – Name changed from Johnson to Franklin on June 9, 1860; name changed from Franklin to Indian Prairie on September 3, 1860.
- Jasper
- Keith – Formed from Bedford and Indian Prairie in June, 1906.
- LaMard – Name changed from Jefferson on June 9, 1860.
- Leech – Name changed from Wabash on June 9, 1860.
- Massillon
- Mt. Erie
- Orchard – Name changed from Brush Creek on September 8, 1891.
- Orel – Formed as Wayne from Four Mile and Arrington in March, 1886; name changed from Wayne to Orel in June, 1886.
- Zif
Township Map
Pertinent Databases