Calhoun

Formed January 1, 1825 (35^th county)

Calhoun County (4,435), Hardin (800)

The red brick structure was constructed in 1848 and later added to in 1978.  It is located on County Road at Main Street.  Illinois State Highway 100 is four blocks northeast of the site.  This Federalist style building was designed by William D. Hamilton.  The old stone county jail sits next to the courthouse.  The county was formed on January 1, 1825 and named for Vice President John C. Calhoun.  The county was taken from Pike County as the 35^th county with Gilead as the first county seat.  Hamburg assumed the county seat in 1847 and Hardin later in 1847.  Hardin was named for Revolutionary War hero John Hardin.  He is also the source for Hardin County. 

Calhoun County government consists of a sheriff and 5 Commissioners.  Thirteen Circuit Court Judges serve Calhoun, Adams, Brown, Cass, Mason, Menard, Pike, and Schuyler counties.  The county is in southwest Illinois on the border with Missouri.  Saint Louis, Missouri is directly south of the county and Springfield, Illinois is northeast.  The Mississippi River forms its western border and the Illinois River forms its eastern border.  The county center is 3.6 miles Northwest of Hardin.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Pike, Greene, and Jersey counties and Missouri. 

The area of the county is 253 square miles.  It is 94 out of 102 in the state.  It ranks 100 out of 102 in population in the state.  It has a density of 17.5 persons per square mile making it 98 out of 102 in the state.  Calhoun County has 33.8% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  The county is shaped like a nail with a slight bend in the tip.  Hardin is located on the eastern border of the county.  Hardin is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 18.0% of the county population.  This county is in the Saint Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area.