Piatt County, Illinois
Piatt County is a small patch of rural Illinois, sitting between Champaign and Decatur. Monticello, the county seat, has a downtown that feels like stepping into a time machine.
This is prime farmland, with some of the richest soil you’ll find anywhere. The Sangamon River winds through the county, creating a green corridor amid the sea of crops.
Allerton Park is a 1,500-acre estate featuring formal gardens, hiking trails, and quirky statues. It’s a park that, in my view, rivals some of the better-known parks in the state. Across Piatt County, massive grain elevators are a common sight.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| County Name | Piatt County |
| County Seat | Monticello |
| Etymology | Named after James A. Piatt |
| Cities, Towns, and Communities | Monticello, Bement, Cerro Gordo, and several unincorporated communities including Mansfield and White Heath |
| Interstates and Highways | U.S. Highway 36, Illinois Route 105, Illinois Route 47 |
| FIPS Code | 17-147 |
| Total Area (Land and Water) | 446 square miles (land: 444 sq mi, water: 2 sq mi) |
| Adjacent Counties (and Direction) | McLean County (North), Champaign County (East), Douglas County (Southeast), Moultrie County (South), Macon County (Southwest), DeWitt County (West) |
| Time Zone | Central Time Zone (CT) |
| Population | Approximately 16,000 |
| State | Illinois |
| Coordinates | 40.0375° N, 88.5783° W |
| Major Landmarks | Piatt County Courthouse, the Monticello Railway Museum, and the Piatt County Historical Society |
