Established January 16, 1836, Whiteside County was formed from Jo Davies and Henry Counties. We are in the Northwestern section of Illinois. The beautiful Rock River flows freely through our county and the Mississippi River borders it to the West. Most of Whiteside County is still Farm Country. Our towns are small in size but big hearted. The folks who live here number about 60,000 and all are considered friends. Whiteside County was named in honor of General Samuel Whiteside who distinguished himself as a brave and honorable officer who participated in the Indian Wars in this section of the country from 1812 until the cose of the Black Hawk War. During the Black Hawk War he was first a Major, afterwards a Colonel, then a General of Volunteers. In his pursuit of Black Hawk in 1832, he passed through this section of Illinois and burned Prophet's Town. He was a native of Rutherford County N.C. and came to the Illinois Territory about 1806, settling in what is now Madison County. He died in 1861 and was buried in Christian County Illinois. Gen. Whiteside was a man of high integrity, great sagacity, generous impulses and was highly esteemed by the people who knew him.