Welcome to Illinois Genealogy Trails part of the Genealogy Trails History Group Fayette County History & Genealogy

This county is available for adoption!

If you want to become a host for this county,
visit our Researcher's Information page and then email Kim

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Fayette County History

FAYETTE COUNTY, situated about 60 miles south of the geographical center of the State; was organized in 1821, and named for the French General La Fayette. It has an area of 720 square miles; population (1900), 28,065. The soil is fertile and a rich vein of bituminous coal underlies the county. Agriculture, fruit-growing and mining are the chief industries. The old, historic "Cumberland Road," the trail for all west-bound emigrants, .crossed the county at an early date. Perryville was the first county-seat, but this town is now extinct. Vandalia, the present seat of county government (population, 2,144), stands upon a succession of hills upon the west bank of the Kaskaskia. From 1820 to 1839 it was the State Capital. Besides Vandalia the chief towns are Ramsey, noted for its railroad ties and timber, and St. Elmo. Farina - a town of Fayette County, on the Chicago Division of the Illinois Central Railroad, 29 miles northeast of Centralia. Agriculature and fruit-growing constitute the chief business of the section; the town has one newspaper. Population in 1890 was 618; In 1900, 693; 1903 (est.) 800

Online Data

MILITARY DATA Fayette County Soldiers from the 97th Illinois Infantry - with a farewell address from Col. Victor Fivquain John Sears Family of Fayette County - Killed by Union Soldiers in their own home
CEMETERIES List of Cemeteries Burials in: Mahon Cemetery Nichols Cemetery Old State Cemetery Ransom Cemetery South Hill Cemetery Spring Hill Cemetery St. Bonaventure Cemetery Unknown Cemetery (may be Bethlehem Cemetery) located 2 MILES N. OF MULBERRY GROVE
COUNTY DATA
EVENTS
CENSUS DATA Federal Census Excerpts
FAMILY DATA
Obituaries		Fayette Co. Early Marriages 1827 - 1830
Fayette Co. Births (New!)		Fayette Co. Deaths (New!)
Newspaper Stories		Poland-Bolt Family Genealogy

Townships of Fayette County

Avena -    Name changed from Howard on September 24, 1860. Bear Grove - Formed as Johnson sometime in 1869; name changed to Bear Grove in June, 1869. Bowling Green Carson  - Formed from Bowling Green (date unknown). Kaskaskia LaClede Lone Grove - Formed from LaClede and Wilberton in September, 1876. Loudon North Hurricane - Formed from a split in Hurricane after 1921. Otego - Name changed from Cumberland on September 24, 1860. Pope - Formed from Kaskaskia in March, 1878. Ramsey Sefton Seminary Shafter - Formed from Sharon in December, 1920. Sharon South Hurricane - Formed from a split in Hurricane after 1921. Vandalia Wheatland Wilberton - Name changed from Richland on September 24, 1860.

Towns and Cities in Fayette County:  Brownstown (village) Farina (village) Ramsey (village)  Saint Elmo (city) Saint Peter (village) Vandalia (city)

Fayette County Is Bordered By These Neighboring Counties 

BOND*	EFFINGHAM [hosted by Judy Edwards]
CLINTON*	CLAY*
MARION [hosted by Deanna Heneghan]	MONTGOMERY [hosted by Debbie Quinn]
SHELBY [hosted by Judy Edwards]
*Available for adoption

Visit the Main Illinois Genealogy Trails Website To see what other counties Illinois Genealogy Trails has online, visit our County Selection Map At the Main Illinois Genealogy Trails Page, you will find much more data, including: Military Data  Census Data  Illinois State Data  Illinois Events  Help for your Illinois Research  Illinois Genealogy Trails Volunteer Information