Annotations

BOONE COUNTY, in the north boundary of Illinois, and drained by Kishwaukee river. Area, 400 square miles. Seat of justice, Belvidere. Pop. in 1840, 1,705; in 1850, 7,626. (Fanning's, 1853)

BOONE COUNTY  One of the northern tier of counties, lying about seventy miles north-west of Chicago. It contains eight towns, and an area of twelve by twenty-four miles. The north end joins the Wisconsin line. The first settlements were made at Belvidere, about 1835. The county is one of the thickest settled in the state, the inhabitants being mostly from New York and New England. It is traversed by three streams, the Kishwaukee, Pikesaw and Beaver, each of which affords power for several mills. It has a fair supply of timber and the farming land is mostly rich, rolling prairie. The main products are wheat, oats, corn, etc. Two railroads cross the county, the Galena & Chicago Union, and the Beloit Branch. The county seat is Belvidere, where a fine, substantial court house and jail are erected, costing about $15,000, on the public square; a beautiful mound, on the top of which is the grave of "Big Thunder," the noted chief of Pottawattomies. The county has a flourishing agricultural society. Population, about 12,000.  County Judge, Allen C. Fuller.  Sheriff, Elias L. Tisdel.  (Hawes' Illinois State Gazetteer...,1859)

Total Population 1840
1705
Total Population 1850
7624
Total Population 1860
11678
Free Black Population 1860
8
Free Black Population 1850
6
Presidential Election Result 1840
Democrat
Presidential Election Result 1844
Democrat
Presidential Election Result 1848
Free Soil
Presidential Election Result 1852
Whig
Presidential Election Result 1856
Republican
Presidential Election Result 1860
Republican
Presidential Election Result 1864
Unconditional Union (1864)
Latitude
42.318983
Longitude
-88.824295
Railroads
Yes
Type
County
County
Boone
State
Illinois