Vermilion County, Illinois

Land of Lincoln

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Saturday, July 29, 2006 Updated

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A county in the E. part of Illinois, bordering on Indiana, has an area estimated at 1200 square miles. It is drained by the Vermilion river (affluent of the Wabash) and by its branches, the Salt fork. Middle fork, and North fork, which unite near the middle of the county; the Little Vermilion river flows through the S. part. The surface is generally level; the soil is deep, fertile, and durable. The county contains a large portion of prairie, with plenty of timber distributed along the streams. Indian corn, wheat, oats, wool, butter, potatoes, and pork are the staples. In 1850 it produced 1,475,195 bushels of corn; 46,301 wheat; 168,976 of oats, and 178,586 pounds of butter. It contained 25 churches, 2 newspaper offices, 70 pupils attending public schools, and 200 attending an academy. A plank-road connects Danville with the Wabash river and canal. A railroad is in progress through the county, leading to Springfield and Lafayette. Vermilion river affords valuable water-power. Stone coal abounds on the banks of the river. Capital, Danville. Population, 11,492.

Source: Baldwin, Thomas and J. Thomas, M.D. New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott, Grambo, & Co., 1854. , V, p.1205

Vermilion County was established January 18, 1826; named after the Vermilion River. Danville became the County Seat in 1827. Townships in Vermilion County are: Blount, Butler, Carroll, Catlin, Danville, Elwood, Georgetown, Grant, Jamaica, Love, McKendree, MiddleFork, Newell, Oakwood, Pilot, Ross, Sidell, SouthRoss, and Vance.

Vermilion County once belonged to the Indian tribes Miamis, Kickapoo, and Pottowatombie. It was here that salt was as popular to white men as gold. The settlement of these frontiersmen became known as "Salt Salines".  You can view one of the original iron kettles on I-74 at the Salt Kettle rest area (as I was growing up, I remember this kettle sitting on Route 150 near the Vermilion County Fairgrounds).

Danville and Vermilion County were known for their Coal Mining in the 1800's rather than salt.

Danville was home to Abraham Lincoln, where he practiced law from 1841 until 1859; among  famous people including; Jerry and Dick VanDyke, Bobby Short, Donald O'Conner, Gene Hackman, and Joe Tanner (astronaut).

Addresses for Vermilion County:

Vermilion County Courthouse
6 N. Vermilion
Danville, IL 61832–5879

Lynn Foster - County Clerk

Did you attend Danville High School (Danville, Vermilion Co., IL)? If so, why not join the list and keep in touch with old classmates?

Links to Vermilion County, Illinois Sites (some sites are off-site)
Have a link pertaining to Vermilion County? Let me know!

Links to Vermilion County, Illinois Census Records (some sites are off-site)

Cities/Towns/Villages/Post-offices in Vermilion County, IL
Population is based on 2000 Census includes zip code.


Vermilion County, Illinois Schools

Libraries, Historical Societies, Museums, and Archives

Links to other Sites (May or may not be genealogical sites) [off-site]

Churches in Vermilion County
(links must contain the history of churches)

Look-Ups/Volunteers
(Do you have a book that you are willing to do lookups in? Email me and I will put your name and email address here)

Counties Boardering Vermilion
(These counties are needing a County Host (to adopt please email me)

Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet

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