Cass County, Illinois

Founding: 1837
Parent county: Morgan

Namesake: Lewis Cass, Michigan politician
Seat: Beardstown (1837–1875); Virginia (1875–)

Land area: 376 square miles

Population (2020): 13,042

Population (historic): 2,981 (1840); 11,325 (1860); 14,493 (1880); 17,222 (1900); 16,537 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1920; 1970s; 1990s

Subdivisions: Two cities; seven villages; 11 townships

National Register listings: Three

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,797 (30.8%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 48.6%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 14.3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 9.3%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 13.4%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,215
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,802

Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.8 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,164
Average farm size (1920): 144 acres
Sources of settlement: Germany, Ohio, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Virginia
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Beardstown (ex-seat)

Namesake: Thomas Beard, owner of the city site

Founding: 1827 (platting); 1831 (post office); 1837 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 5,951

Population (historic): 2,528 (1870); 4,226 (1890); 6,107 (1910); 6,344 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1920; 1930s; 1950s; 1970s; 1990–2010
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 856 (33.1%)

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Virginia

Namesake: The state of Virginia

Founding: 1836 (platting); 1839 (post office); 1857 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 1,514

Population (historic): 954 (1870); 1,602 (1890); 1,501 (1910); 1,494 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–1890; 1940–1980
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 245 (39.1%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Farm (c. 1910). 12491 Virginia Road. Arenzville. Tudor Revival.
2. Thomas Knight Farm (c. 1870). 14434 Chandlerville Road. Bluff Springs. Italianate.
3. *Allendale / Andrew Cunningham House (1852/1868). 5309 Allendale Road. Philadelphia. Gothic Revival.
4. Christian Crum House (c. 1870). 25741 Cemetery Road. Philadelphia. Italianate. Razed.
5. House (c. 1910). 19466 Chandlerville Road. Sangamon Valley. Tudor Revival.
6. *Isaac Stribling Farm (c. 1870). 6314 Hickory Road. Sangamon Valley. Italianate.
7. Farm (c. 1920). 6531 Hickory Road. Sangamon Valley. Prairie.
8. *Henderson Massey House (c. 1835). Little Indian Road, east of State Route 78. Virginia.