Coles County, Illinois

Founding: 1830
Parent counties: Clark and Edgar

Namesake: Edward Coles, Illinois governor
Seat: Charleston (1831–)

Land area: 508 square miles

Population (2020): 46,863

Population (historic): 9,616 (1840); 14,203 (1860); 27,042 (1880); 34,146 (1900); 37,315 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840; 1850–1980; 1990–2010

Subdivisions: Two cities; four villages; 12 townships

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 5,292 (22.5%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 50.5%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 8.3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 6.7%
Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,906
Average outbuilding value (1930): $1,516

Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.8 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 2,332
Average farm size (1920): 111 acres
Sources of settlement: Indiana, Ohio, and Kentucky
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Charleston

Namesake: Uncertain—perhaps Charles Morton, the city's first postmaster

Founding: 1831 (platting); 1831 (post office); 1835 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 17,286

Population (historic): 849 (1850); 2,849 (1870); 4,135 (1890); 5,884 (1910); 8,012 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–2010
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,540 (17.1%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Coles County Infirmary (1916). 22645 East 1050 North. Ashmore. English Revival/Craftsman.
2. John Roberts House (c. 1875). 24200 East 1270 North. Ashmore. Italianate.
3. House (c. 1920). 9254 East 1800 North. Humboldt. Georgian Revival.
4. William Berkley Farm (c. 1870). 2255 North 2420 East. Hutton.
5. Five Mile House / Martin House (c. 1845). Westfield Road and State Route 130. Hutton.
6. Samuel Herman Farm (c. 1865). 10883 East 450 North. Lafayette. Italianate.
7. Amzi Walker Farm (c. 1885). 1760 North 1000 East. Pleasant Grove. Italianate.
8. Henry Borchert Farm (c. 1850). 3576 North 1180 East. Pleasant Grove. Greek Revival.

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