VANDALIA, p-v., capital of Fayette co., Ill, and formerly capital of the state, is situated on the w. bank of Kaskaskia r. It is regularly laid out, with streets crossing each other at right angles. There is a public square in the centre, and the streets are 80 feet wide. It contains a court house, jail, a U. S. land office, 2 churches—1 Presbyterian and 1 Methodist—11 stores, 2 printing offices, each issuing a weekly newspaper, 1 steam saw m., 1 water saw m, and about 800 inhabitants. The national road extends to this place. (Haskell's Complete Descriptive and Statistical Gazetteer of the the United States...,1840)
VANDALIA. A post village, capital of Fayette county, and the former capital of the state. It is situated on the Kaskaskia river, where it is crossed by the National road 80 miles south-south-east from Springfield. It was laid out in 1818, and remained the seat of government until 1836, during which period it continued to flourish and the population increased to 2,000. After the removal of the seat of government to Springfield, the property of Vandalia, declined and the number of inhabitants was reduced to 500 or less, within four or five years. However, an improvement has taken place in the condition and prospects of the village, and property has risen in value nearly fifty per cent. At this point the Illinois Central railroad intersects the Atlantic and Mississippi railroad, which, when completed, will make vast improvements to the town. A newspaper is published here, called the "Vandalia Observer." Gratehouse, publisher. Population, about 2,000. (Hawes' Illinois State Gazetteer...,1859)