WABASH, county, Ill. Situated toward the S. E. part of the state, and contains 180 square ms. Wabash r. runs on its E. and S. border, and Bon Pas cr. on its W. border. Drained by Crawfish, Jordan, and Coffee creeks. The soil is generally fertile. Organized from Edwards co., in 1824. Capital, Mount Carmel. There were in 1840, neat cattle 5,570, sheep 3,602, swine 10,392; wheat 19,156 bush. produced, Ind. corn 166,659, barley 1,394, oats 51,002, potatoes 12,533, tobacco 9,978 pounds, sugar 2,295; 11 stores, cap. $50,900; 6 tanneries, 4 distilleries, 1 flouring m., 5 grist m., 8 saw m., 1 oil m., 2 printing offices, 2 weekly newspapers. Cap. in manufac. $55,200. 2 acaa. 32 students, 2 sch. 60 scholars. Pop. 4,240. (Haskell's Complete Descriptive and Statistical Gazetteer of the the United States...,1843)
WABASH COUNTY, situated on the southeasterly boundary of Illinois, with Wabash river on the southwest. Area, 180 square miles. Seat of justice, Mount Carmel. Pop. in 1840, 4,210; in 1850, 4,690. (Fanning's, 1853)
WABASH COUNTY A county in the east-south-cast part of the state, bordering on Indiana, is among the smallest counties of the state. It has an area of 110 square miles. The Wabash river, from which its name is derived, forms its boundary on the east and south, and Barba creek flows along the western border, until it enters that river.
The county contains some prairie, and is partly covered with forests. The soil is good. Indian corn, wheat, oats, grass and pork, are the staples.
It contains several churches. There are about 800 pupils attending public schools. The rapids of the Wabash river afford abundant water power near Mount Carmel, the county seat. Population, about 7,000. (Hawes Illinois State Gazetteer...,1859)