HAVANA, a thriving post-village, capital of Mason county, Illinois, is pleasantly situated on the E. bank of the Illinois river, opposite the mouth of the Spoon river, 218 miles, by water, from Chicago. The site is elevated about 50 feet, and the landing is convenient. The value of the produce shipped at this place, in 1852, was estimated at $200,000. Population in 1853, about 1000. (Baldwin's New and Complete Gazetteer of the United States..., 1854)
HAVANA A thriving post village, capital of Mason county, is pleasantly situated on the east bank of Illinois river, opposite the mouth of Spoon river, 218 miles from Chicago; the site is elevated, and the landing convenient; large amounts of produce are annually shipped from here, by way of the Illinois river; a railroad is soon to be built, connecting the Peoria and Oquawka railroad, with the Great Western, at Jacksonville, and passing through this place. Population, about 2,500. Orlando E. Wright, Postmaster. (Hawes' Illinois State Gazetteer..., 1859)