Map of Stark County, Illinois

Stark County is in Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it had a population of 5,994. Its county seat is Toulon.

Stark County is part of the Peoria, IL Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Stark County location map. Where is Stark County?

History

Stark County was formed in 1839 out of Knox and Putnam counties. It was named for General Colonel John Stark (August 28, 1728 – May 8, 1822), who served in the American Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He became widely known as the “Hero of Bennington” for his exemplary service at the Battle of Bennington in 1777.

• Stark County at the time of its creation in 1839

In the latter part of April, 1829 a solitary, heavily laden wagon was wending its way from the hospitable home of Mr. French, at Prince’s Grove, about a half mile north-west of the present town of Princeville, towards Spoon River, probably crossing that stream at a point since known as Boardman’s Ford, or, as others think, near the seat of Cox’s Mill, and moving on towards section fifteen in what has since been known as Essex Township.

The weather was warm and balmy considering the season. The prairie burnt over by the Indians in the fall was already green with sprouting grass. Accompanying this vehicle were as it might seem a guard of good men, and true; “neighbors” they called themselves, although they must have lived many miles apart, some of them thirty or forty from the scene of their present friendly labors, having come from LaSalle Prairie, from Chillicothe and Peoria. They were neither hunters or warriors, they feared no enemy, and sought not the “spoils of war”.

It was a peaceable expedition and its leader was the occupant of the wagon, Isaac B. Essex, then in the strength of his manhood, and with him came his young wife and infant child to found a home in the wilderness. The “neighbors” were Daniel Prince, Stephen French, Simon Reed, Frank Thomas and two Baptist ministers, Elders Silliman and Allen. The former of these two was the father of the much respected Toulon townsman Minott Silliman, the first treasurer of Stark county. And these men had come so far to raise a cabin!

Mr. Essex had been out and made a claim in 1828, and in the fall of that year cut the logs and split the clap-boards for his house, probably all of which were on the northeast quarter of section fifteen. They now proceeded to haul them together and get them in shape on the proposed building site. They all camped in the woods the first night, but towards sundown of the second day, the cabin was raised, the roof on, and as Mr. Essex graphically said “we cut a log out and moved in.”

This was emphatically the first pioneer cabin, the first home of non-Native American settlers within the present limits of Stark County.

Stark County Road Map

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 288 square miles (750 km), of which 288 square miles (750 km) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km) (0.1%) is water.

Climate and weather

In recent years, average temperatures in the county seat of Toulon have ranged from a low of 10 °F (−12 °C) in January to a high of 84 °F (29 °C) in July, although a record low of −26 °F (−32 °C) was recorded in January 1999 and a record high of 104 °F (40 °C) was recorded in July 1983. Average monthly precipitation ranged from 1.41 inches (36 mm) in February to 4.46 inches (113 mm) in June.

Major highways

• Illinois Route 17
• Illinois Route 91
• Illinois Route 40
• Illinois Route 93
• Illinois Route 78

Adjacent counties

• Henry County (northwest)
• Bureau County (north)
• Marshall County (east)
• Peoria County (south)
• Knox County (west)

Stark County Topographic Map

Stark County Satellite Map

Stark County Outline Map