Sullivan

Formed February 25, 1845 (95^th county)

Sullivan County (5,999), Milan (1,820)

The 1939 tan brick Classical Revival courthouse is sited on a square at 2^nd, Main, 3^rd, and Market streets.  The courthouse is on Missouri State Highway E (3^rd Street).  There was a nicer 1857 courthouse previously as well as a 1908 facility.  There are memorial slabs for veterans on the grounds.  Lyle V. DeWitt provided the designs.  The county was established on February 25, 1845 from Native American Territory as the 95^th county.  Milan has always been the county seat.  It is named for American Revolutionary War General John Sullivan.  Milan is named for Milan, Italy. 

Sullivan County government consists of a sheriff and 3 Commissioners.  One Circuit Court Judge serves Sullivan, Chariton, and Linn counties and One County Court Judge serves Sullivan County.  Sullivan County is in northern Missouri.  Kansas City, Missouri is southwest and Saint Louis, Missouri is southeast of the county.  The county center is in Milan 1.1 miles North-Northwest of the city center.  The county is surrounded clockwise by Putnam, Adair, Linn, Grundy, and Mercer counties. 

The area of the county is 651 square miles.  It is 42 out of 115 in the state.  It ranks 106 out of 115 in population in the state.  It has a density of 9.2 persons per square mile making it 108 out of 115 in the state.  Sullivan County has 50.6% of its population in its incorporated areas.  There are no Interstates or United States Highways in the county.  Sullivan County is a rectangle.  Milan is located near the center of the county.  Milan is the county seat and the largest city.  It is 30.3% of the county population.  The county seat is pronounced MI-LANN.