WASHINGTON COUNTY, situated toward the south part of Illinois, with Kaskaskia river on the northwest. Area, 656 square miles. Seat of justice, Nashville. Pop. in 1820, 1,517; in 1830, 1,674; in 1840, 4,810; in 1850, 6,593. (Fanning's, 1853)
WASHINGTON COUNTY A county in the south part of the state, has an area of 605 square miles. The Kaskaskia river washes its north-west border, and the county is drained by Elk, Beaucoup and Crooked creeks. The surface is nearly level, and consists partly of prairie and partly of timbered land. The soil, in some parts, is productive. Indian corn, wheat, oats, cattle and swine, are the staples. It contains several good churches, and has over 1,000 pupils attending public schools. The line of the Illinois Central railroad runs through the county. Capital, Nashville. Population, about 8,000. (Hawes' Illinois State Gazetteer...,1859)