Mercer County, Illinois



Founding: 1835 (declared in 1825)
Parent county: Unorganized territory
Namesake: Hugh Mercer, Continental Army general
Seat: Millersburg (1835–1857); Aledo (1857–)
Land area: 561 square miles
Population (2020): 15,699
Population (historic): 2,352 (1840); 15,042 (1860); 19,502 (1880); 20,945 (1900); 16,641 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1830–1880; 1890s; 1930s; 1960–1980
Subdivisions: Three cities; nine villages; 15 townships
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,941 (39.7%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 55.2%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 8.2%
Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 5.1%
Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 5.9%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,738
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,795
Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.7 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,022
Average farm size (1920): 129.7 acres
Sources of settlement: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Sweden, Indiana, and Ireland
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Aledo

Namesake: Unknown
Founding: 1856 (platting); 1856 (post office); 1863 (incorporation)
Population (2020): 3,633
Population (historic): 563 (1860); 1,492 (1880); 2,081 (1900); 2,203 (1930)
Periods of population growth: 1856–1920; 1930–1980; 2000s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 584 (34.6%)
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Outstanding Buildings

  1. James Kimel Farm (c. 1865). 656 State Route 94. Mercer. Italianate.
  2. Verdurette / William Drury Farm (1855/1909). 663 65th Road. New Boston. Gothic Revival.
  3. James Thompson House (1867). 804 North Street. New Boston. Italianate.
  4. Robert Candor House (1872). 436 160th Road. Ohio Grove. Italianate.
  5. Pope Creek Presbyterian Church (1849). 160th Road, north of 40th Road. Ohio Grove. Greek Revival.
  6. Graham Lee Farm (c. 1870). 1631 State Route 94. Perryton. Italianate. Razed.
  7. Edward Farwell Farm (c. 1850). 1594 US Highway 67. Preemption. Greek Revival.
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