Hamilton County, Illinois
Hamilton County is a quiet corner of southern Illinois that most people never think about. McLeansboro is the county seat, a small town with a big heart. It’s farm country, with plenty of corn and soybeans.
The population has been shrinking for years, but the folks who stay are stubborn in the best way. There’s an old courthouse square that looks like it’s frozen in time.
The county fair is still popular every summer. Hunting is popular too, as deer season is practically a holiday. It’s flat as a pancake, making for some killer sunsets. People here don’t lock their doors much because everybody knows everybody else.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| County Name | Hamilton County |
| County Seat | McLeansboro |
| Etymology | Named after Alexander Hamilton, the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and one of the Founding Fathers |
| Cities, Towns, and Communities | McLeansboro, Dahlgren, Belle Prairie City, Broughton, Macedonia, and various other unincorporated communities. |
| Interstates and Highways | Illinois Route 14, Illinois Route 142, Illinois Route 242 |
| FIPS Code | 17-065 |
| Total Area (Land and Water) | 436 square miles (land: 431 sq mi, water: 5 sq mi) |
| Adjacent Counties (and Direction) | Wayne County (North), White County (East), Gallatin County (Southeast), Saline County (South), Franklin County (West), Jefferson County (Northwest) |
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone (CT) |
| Population | Approximately 7,500 |
| State | Illinois |
| Coordinates | 38.0847° N, 88.5409° W |
| Major Landmarks | Dolan Lake State Park, Hamilton County Courthouse, Ten Mile Creek FWA |
