Richland County ILGenWeb is a free genealogical site about the history of
the county. We hope you find helpful clues for your research of ancestors
and relatives of Richland county.
Are you familiar with the area? Do you have a family tree connection to the area? Volunteers are always needed! Please consider contributing your pieces of Richland County family history. Corrections, updates, and additions to this site are always welcome. If you are interested in helping, please contact the ILGenWeb State Coordinator.
This county is adoptable.
See this webpage for more information if you are interested.
Contact: ILGenWeb State Coordinator
Richland
County was created in 1841.
The original boundries were carved from from Clay and Lawrence counties. However, the area now contained within the limits of Richland County, previously fell into many other counties: 1790 Knox; 1801 Knox and St. Clair; 1803, Knox, St. Clair, and Randolph; 1809 Randolph; 1812 Madison and Gallatin; 1815 Edwards; 1816 Edwards and Crawford; 1819 Edwards, Crawford, and Wayne; 1821 Edwards, Crawford, Wayne, and Lawrence; 1824 Lawrence, and Clay. (Illinois boundry maps)
The Richland county "name is due to the influence of Rev. Joseph H. Reed, who was a Methodist minister, a resident of the ounty, prominent in the agitation for a new county, and subsequently a member of the State Legislature. He wished to call the county-seat Calhoun, but in deference to his efforts, and as a compromise, the county was named after Richland County, in Ohio, from whence Reed had emigrated." 1884 Historical and Biographical
| Jasper | Crawford | |
| Clay |
 |
Lawrence |
| Wayne | Edwards | Wabash |
