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

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.

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