Illinois Counties

Pope County sits at the southern tip of Illinois, bordered by the Ohio River and Kentucky. It’s about as rural as it gets in Illinois.

Pulaski County sits at the southern tip of Illinois, close to where the Ohio River meets the Mississippi. Mound City is the county seat

Putnam County is the smallest county in Illinois. It’s tucked away in the north-central part of the state. Hennepin is the county seat.

Randolph County stretches along the Mississippi River in southwestern Illinois. Chester, the county seat, is home of Popeye the Sailor Man.

Richland County sits in southeastern Illinois. U.S. Route 50 cuts through but it’s far from any major city. Olney is the county seat.

Rock Island County sits at the west of Illinois, right where the Mississippi and Rock rivers meet. The Quad Cities straddle the Mississippi.

Saline County is in southeastern Illinois, not far from the Kentucky border. Harrisburg is the county seat and the biggest town around here.

Sangamon County is in the middle of Illinois. Springfield, the state capital, is a major destination. This place is all about politics.

Schuyler County is a small patch of rural Illinois in between the Illinois and La Moine rivers. Rushville is the county seat.

Scott County is in west-central Illinois, right up against the Illinois River. Winchester is a village and the county seat.

Shelby County sits in central Illinois, about an hour southeast of Springfield. It’s named after Isaac Shelby, a Revolutionary War hero.

St. Clair County sits right across the Mississippi River from St. Louis. Belleville is the county seat and is the largest city in the county.

Stark County is a tiny patch of rural Illinois, sandwiched between Peoria and the Quad Cities. Toulon is the county seat, located to the west.

Stephenson County sits in the northwest corner of Illinois, along the Wisconsin border. Freeport, the county seat, is known as “Pretzel City”.

Tazewell County stretches along the Illinois River along its western edge. The county is just southeast of Peoria. Pekin is the county seat.