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

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.

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