Menard County, Illinois

Founding: 1839
Parent county: Sangamon

Namesake: Pierre Menard, Illinois politician
Seat: Petersburg (1839–)

Land area: 314 square miles

Population (2020): 12,297

Population (historic): 4,431 (1840); 9,584 (1860); 13,024 (1880); 14,336 (1900); 10,575 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1900; 1930s; 1960–1980; 1990–2010

Subdivisions: Two cities; three villages; one CDP

National Register listings: Five

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,392 (24.3%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 45.8%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 16.7%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 4.1%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 8.8%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $2,339
Average outbuilding value (1930): $2,095

Average farmhouse size (1940): 6.1 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,033
Average farm size (1920): 160.6 acres
Sources of settlement: Kentucky, Germany, Ohio, and Virginia
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Petersburg

Namesake: Unknown

Founding: 1836 (platting); 1836 (post office); 1841 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 2,258

Population (historic): 714 (1850); 1,792 (1870); 2,842 (1890); 2,587 (1910); 2,319 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1836–1890; 1930s; 1950–1970; 1990s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 465 (40.9%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Carlisle Canterbury House (c. 1865). 25118 Canterbury Road. Italianate.
2. Farm (c. 1875). 24790 Hackman Road. Gothic Revival.
3. *North Sangamon Presbyterian Church (1860–1862). 24562 Indian Point Road. Greek Revival.
4. Samuel Ayers House (c. 1860). 12576 Niemeier Road. Italianate.
5. House (c. 1890). 11851 Schone Road. Eastlake.
6. *Russell Godbey House (c. 1840). 20232 Simmering Road.
7. *William Smoot Farm (c. 1870). 21070 Smoot Road. Italianate.
8. Henry Marbold House (c. 1850/1885). 21722 State Route 29. Italianate/Eastlake.
9. *Henry Wernsing Farm (1902). 22297 State Route 29. Classical Revival.
10. *James Purkapile House (1868). State Route 123, south of Cassen Road. Italianate.
11. *William Rankin House (c. 1870/1910). State Route 123, north of Tilson School Road. Italianate. Razed.
12. House (c. 1920). 20178 Sweetwater Road. Craftsman.
13. *Ebenezer Robinson Inn (c. 1843). 10343 White's Crossing Road. Greek Revival.