Hancock County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 17,620. Its county seat is Carthage, and its largest city is Hamilton. The county is made up of rural towns with many farmers.
Hancock County is part of the Fort Madison–Keokuk, IA-IL-MO Micropolitan Statistical Area.
| Name: | Hancock County |
|---|---|
| FIPS code: | 17-067 |
| State: | Illinois |
| Founded: | 1825 |
| Named for: | John Hancock |
| Seat: | Carthage |
| Largest city: | Hamilton |
| Total Area: | 814 sq mi (2,110 km²) |
| Land Area: | 794 sq mi (2,060 km²) |
| Total Population: | 17,620 |
| Population Density: | 22/sq mi (8.4/km²) |
| Time zone: | UTC−6 (Central) |
| Summer Time Zone (DST): | UTC−5 (CDT) |
| Website: | www.hancockcounty-il.gov |
Hancock County location map. Where is Hancock County?
History
Hancock County was part of the “Military Tract” set aside by Congress to reward veterans of the War of 1812. Actual settlement of the interior of the county was delayed by concerns about hostile American Indians. After their defeat in the Blackhawk War in 1832, settlement proceeded quickly.
Hancock County was formed, on January 13, 1825, out of Pike County. It was named in honor of John Hancock, who signed the Declaration of Independence.
For a brief period in the 1840s Hancock had one of Illinois’ most populous cities: Nauvoo, which was then headquarters for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The movement’s founder Joseph Smith was killed in the county seat of Carthage in 1844. Most Mormons left Hancock County in the 1840s. Today, Latter Day Saints come in increasing numbers to important Latter Day Saint sites in Hancock County, partly for vacation and partly for religious pilgrimage.
The original courthouse was at Montebello. Montebello no longer exists but was between Nauvoo and Hamilton. In 1833 the state commissioned the formation of the county seat at Carthage, which was centrally located but not well developed. A log cabin was built to serve as the courthouse and served that purpose until 1839 when the second Carthage Courthouse was built. The original log cabin continued to serve as a school and other purposes until 1945 when it was removed.
The second courthouse cost $3,700 to build and served from 1839 until 1906. It served as a location for Stephen A. Douglas (October 11, 1858) and Abraham Lincoln (October 22, 1858) to speak to residents as they were running against each other for the US Senate. In 1906 it was removed to make room for the current courthouse.
The current courthouse was dedicated October 21, 1908.
Hancock County Road Map
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 814 square miles (2,110 km), of which 794 square miles (2,060 km) is land and 21 square miles (54 km) (2.5%) is water.
Climate and weather
In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Carthage have ranged from a low of 13 °F (−11 °C) in January to a high of 87 °F (31 °C) in July, although a record low of −30 °F (−34 °C) was recorded in February 1905 and a record high of 113 °F (45 °C) was recorded in August 1934. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.47 inches (37 mm) in January to 4.58 inches (116 mm) in May.
Major highways
- U.S. Highway 136
- Illinois Route 9
- Illinois Route 61
- Illinois Route 94
- Illinois Route 96
- Illinois Route 336
Illinois 100 . sag 20pxIllinois Route 110
Adjacent counties
- Lee County, Iowa – northwest
- Henderson County – northeast
- McDonough County – east
- Schuyler County – southeast
- Adams County – south
- Lewis County, Missouri – southwest
- Clark County, Missouri – west
Hancock County Topographic Map
Hancock County Satellite Map
Hancock County Outline Map
