55 topographic sheets cover 38 settlements here, and 5 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
5 National Register listings published here · the county-history sources tell 1 story and name 52 people · people the book names include T. F. Ras15Ach (Assumption Township, 1880) · William Armstrong (Mosquito Township, 1880) (machine-read).
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
Among them: Robert A. Hazlett. These passages come from the identified county-history source books. Each inset names its own source and opens the exact section it comes from.
Ha/.lett, grandtather of Mr. Hazlett, came from Irelaud and settled in North Carolina before the Revolutionary war. Chandler Hazlett, his grandfather's brother, was a soldier in the Revolution. He was wounded at the battle of Bunker Hill, and there is still pres'erved in the family a book which he picked up as he crawled off that hotly contested field.
Every property in this county listed on the National Register of Historic Places, with the year it was listed and the federal nomination document.
| Photograph | Property | Type | Listed | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Illinois State Bank Building | building | 1984 | 84000923 |
 | Louis Jehle House | building | 1995 | 95000490 |
 | Kitchell Park | district | 1992 | 92001538 |
 | Taylorville Chautauqua Auditorium | building | 1988 | 87002519 |
 | Taylorville Courthouse Square Historic District | district | 1985 | 85003058 |
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 19 of them, burning about 178 acres. None started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 12 |
| Debris and open burning | 5 |
| Smoking | 2 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 March 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 160 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | MID STATE |
| 30 September 2015 | Smoking | 4.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | 4CORNAC |
| 8 December 2008 | Debris and open burning | 2.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | DICKEY |
| 29 July 2012 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | KRESIN |
| 8 April 2013 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | BLAND1 |
| 18 November 2013 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | ARMSTRONG |
| 18 March 2009 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | ROSINSKI |
| 18 March 2009 | Debris and open burning | 1.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | ROSINSKI |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 442 reports for this county, causing 4 deaths, 28 injuries and about $133,801,750 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 217 |
| Hail | 112 |
| Tornado | 60 |
| Flash Flood | 46 |
| Flood | 5 |
| Funnel Cloud | 1 |
| Lightning | 1 |
The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| December 2015 | Flood | Sicily | 4 killed, $2,800,000 | An extended period of heavy rain during the evening of December 26th in Christian County combined with an already saturated ground to produce flash flooding. Rainfall amounts ranged from 2.50 to 4.50 inches in less than six hours, with the heaviest rain in the southern half of the county. Most rural roads and state highways were flooded and impassable. City streets in Taylorville and Pana were also flooded. The flooding continued through all of December 27th. Additional rainfall of 2.50 to 4.75 from December 28th into the 29th aggravated the flooding situation significantly. Every road in the county was flooded which resulted in a shortage of barricades to close the roads. The village of Kincaid was hardest hit as the South Fork of the Sangamon River overtopped levees and flooded the southeast part of town for the first time in its history. People had to be rescued by boat as all roads in and out of town were flooded. Three houses were destroyed by the flooding in Kincaid, with 41 others damaged. Four fatalities occurred in two separate incidents early in the morning of December 29th. Two 18 year old males died as their pickup truck was swept away in flood waters near the South Fork of the Sangamon River and Illinois Route 104 about one mile southeast of Kincaid. Two other people died as their van was swept into the Buckhart Creek about 5 miles ENE of Edinburg. The flooding finally subsided by the afternoon of December 31st, more than four days after it started. |
| December 2018 | Tornado (EF3) | Palmer | 22 hurt, $118,900,000 | A tornado touched down about 3.2 miles east-southeast of Morrisonville at 5:01 PM CST. It hit a farmstead, destroying 3 barns and severely damaging 4 other out buildings. The tornado was rated EF2 at this location with maximum wind speeds of 112 mph. The tornado continued moving northeastward, hitting several other outbuildings and snapping trees. The tree and outbuilding damage was classified as EF1 damage with wind speeds of 100-110mph. As the tornado continued to the northeast it snapped more large trees and then hit a log home, removing 25-50% of the roof material. It also snapped many other trees on this property and destroyed a couple of small outbuildings, throwing the debris northward into a field. The tornado was rated EF2 at this location with wind speeds of 115mph. The tornado continued northeastward and moved into a wooded area, snapping and uprooting hundreds of trees along its path. It then curved north-northeastward and moved into Hewittville, a small community on the southern edge of Taylorville. Here the tornado destroyed or severely damaged multiple houses. The first house the tornado hit lost most exterior walls and the entire roof, except for the roof over the attached garage, which was on the north side of the house. It also destroyed a second garage on the property and then completely destroyed a mobile home across the street. The tornado was rated EF3 with wind speeds around 150mph at this location. The tornado continued north-northeastward, destroying a barn, pushing an unanchored home off its foundation and completely destroying another mobile home. This mobile home was partially anchored by wood posts set in slots on a concrete foundation over a basement and crawl space. The resident of this home was badly injured and was found unconscious, trapped under debris in the crawl space. The tornado was rated EF3 with wind speeds of 140mph at this location. As the tornado continued, it snapped and uprooted many more trees and took down power lines and power poles. Many more homes were damaged, to a lesser extent than the first few on the south end of town, with some damage to the homes coming from trees or tree branches falling on the homes. As the tornado moved into the northern part of Hewittville, the wind speeds seemed to increase, completely destroying another home and destroying a large, old building that had been part of an old rail-yard. The tornado also damaged other homes and garages in this area. The tornado was rated EF3 with wind speeds of 155mph at this location. As the tornado tracked north-northeastward, it moved into Taylorville, taking down more trees, power lines/poles, and damaging multiple houses. Several homes lost roofs and garages. The tornado continued through Taylorville damaging other homes and several businesses on West Spresser St. and was rated EF2 with wind speeds of 120-125mph at this point. As the tornado crossed Hwy 29 into the northern part of town, it weakened considerably, with the damage becoming less severe and more sporadic. The tornado dissipated 1.8 miles north of Taylorville at 5:25 PM CST. In total, the tornado impacted 506 structures...including major damage to 61 homes and 7 businesses and complete destruction of 28 homes. Total damage was estimated at $118.9 million. |
| April 1987 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 2 hurt, $25,000 | no account filed |
| May 1975 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 2 hurt, $2,500 | no account filed |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | 1 hurt, $75,000 | Several trees and large tree limbs were blown down in a campground just west of the Lake Taylorville Dam. One person suffered a severe head injury when a falling limb struck them while they sheltered in a tent. In addition, 3 RVs and a car were damaged by tree branches. About one half mile northeast of the campground, falling tree limbs damaged the roof of a house. |
| April 2006 | Tornado (F1) | Taylorville | 1 hurt | The tornado damaged sheds and downed numerous trees along its path. Several homes and businesses in Taylorville reported roof and structural damage. There was one injury (direct) due to falling debris. |
| August 2014 | Flash Flood | Osbernville | $4,400,000 | A severe thunderstorm produced 2.50 to 4.00 of rain within 90 minutes in northwest and central Christian County, including parts of the city of Taylorville. Most rural roads from Taylorville to Edinburg and Kincaid were impassable. Some city streets and basements in homes in northwestern portions of Taylorville were also flooded. Illinois Routes 29 and 104 from Taylorville to Kincaid were closed for a period of time during the late evening. The flooding subsided by Midnight local time. |
| December 2018 | Tornado (EF2) | Stonington | $3,300,000 | A tornado touched down along IL Route 48 on the southwest edge of Stonington at 5:34 PM CST. At this time, two circulations aloft merged near the west side of Stonington, causing the tornado to take a sharp turn toward the north. Much of the damage in the town was on the northwest side where house roofs were impacted and several garages and sheds were destroyed. The tornado continued tracking to the north and did significant damage to outbuildings at a farm 4 miles north of Stonington. The tornado then curved toward the northeast, damaging several more outbuildings and sheds before it dissipated near Mosquito Creek, about 5.9 miles east-southeast of Mt. Auburn at 5:52 PM CST. |
| June 1999 | Tornado (F1) | Morrisonville | $750,000 | A tornado formed in Montgomery County (WFO St. Louis CWA) and crossed into Christian County 4.4 miles southwest of Morrisonville. Just inside the Christian County line the tornado took the roof off of a shed and smashed it into the southwest corner of a house at the second level bedroom. A camper was tipped over on its side and a visible tornado track could be seen in the cornfield surrounding the house. A mile and a half northeast, a 16 foot wide garage door was completely removed and the west wall of the attached garage was removed as well. A carport on a nearby house was destroyed. Further up the road numerous power poles were blown down, a house was blown 3 inches to the west on its foundation, and another home sustained moderate damage from a fallen tree on one end and the attached garage frame was pushed 6 inches inward on the other end. Two inch diameter tree branches were pierced at least a foot into the ground in this area. About a mile further northeast, the tornado caused around $500,000 in damage to a farmstead. A garage was destroyed and wrapped around some farm equipment. More debris and missiles were projected several inches into the ground and a house was shifted a foot north from its foundation. Several outbuildings, grain bins, and two semis were destroyed. The tornado wrapped a grain bin around a combine and a huge grain wagon. The tornado remained on the ground for another mile and a half knocking over numerous trees and power poles before lifting and dissipating 4 miles north of Palmer. No injuries were reported and damage so far has been estimated around $750,000. |
| February 2014 | Tornado (EF1) | Pana | $500,000 | This tornado crossed into Christian County from Shelby County 2.9 miles south of Pana at 4:19 PM CST. The tornado damaged several outbuildings, trees and a garage south and east of Pana before crossing back into Shelby County 3.0 miles east of Pana at 4:25 PM CST. |
| November 2013 | Tornado (EF1) | Pana | $300,000 | A tornado touched down on the north side of Pana at 12:15 PM CST, then tracked northeastward before lifting 3.1 miles NNE of Pana at 12:18 PM CST. Several homes suffered roof damage near the intersection of Almond and Elm streets on the north side of Pana. Trees were blown down, damaging 3 cars. Numerous power lines were knocked down as well. The tornado moved NNE, damaging a house and destroying an outbuilding before dissipating in an open field. |
| March 1976 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| February 1976 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1974 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| December 2018 | Tornado (EF0) | Harvel | $140,000 | This tornado touched down in the National Weather Service St. Louis County Warning Area (CWA) just south of the Montgomery/Christian County line near the intersection of East 000 Road and North 400 Road at 4:48 PM CST. It quickly crossed into Christian County, damaging an outbuilding by knocking out a wall and pushing it off it's foundation. It then proceeded to the northeast, doing roof and wall damage to more outbuildings, as well as some tree damage, before dissipating in an open field about 2.9 miles south-southeast of Morrisonville at 4:54 PM CST. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $110,000 | Downburst winds caused widespread damage in and around the town of Taylorville. A brick outbuilding was blown down and an equipment storage shed lost part of its roof. A house lost a portion of its roof and an aluminum shed was blown into another house. Numerous trees were blown down or snapped off, with several homes sustaining damage from falling trees. One person was injured when a tree fell on their vehicle. |
| April 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Tovey | $100,000 | Several large tree branches were blown down. A few caused minor roof damage to homes. |
| April 2011 | Tornado (EF0) | Harvel | $95,000 | A tornado touched down 2 miles northeast of Taylorville at 532 PM CST. It traveled eastward, knocking over 8 empty rail cars before dissipating 2.5 miles northeast of Taylorville at 533 PM CST. |
| April 2011 | Tornado (EF1) | Tovey | $90,000 | A tornado touched down 4 miles southwest of Kincaid at 517 PM CST. It destroyed several grain bins and a large farm storage building before dissipating 2.5 miles south-southwest of Kincaid at 520 PM CST. |
| August 2019 | Tornado (EF1) | Sharpsburg | $75,000 | A tornado touched down about 2.7 miles east-southeast of Edinburg at 9:08 PM CDT. The tornado moved southeastward along County Road 1100 East north of County Road 2000 North, flattening an extensive area of corn, stripping half the roof off a machine shed, and snapping several large trees. Further southeast along County Highway 22 north of County Road 1900 North, numerous trees were damaged and two semi trailers were tipped over. Along County Road 1400 East north of 1800 North, a large tree was snapped and the roof of a house was damaged. The tornado dissipated just before reaching State Highway 48 about 4.1 miles northeast of Taylorville at 9:21 PM CDT. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $75,000 | The siding was ripped off buildings on Cherokee Street. |
| April 2011 | Tornado (EF1) | Taylorville | $60,000 | A tornado touched down 4 miles southwest of Morrisonville at 530 PM CST. It traveled eastward, knocking down several power poles along Rt. 48. The tornado then tore the roof off a hog pen, collapsed the north doors of a large metal farm building, and destroyed a small barn before dissipating 3 miles south of Morrisonville at 532 PM CST. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pana | $60,000 | The R.P. Lumber storage facility sustained significant damage. Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down around town. A large tree branch fell on a home on Franklin Street. |
| December 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kincaid | $55,000 | Multiple buildings sustained wind damage in Kincaid and Bulpitt. |
| April 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $50,000 | Several mature trees were uprooted and 2 houses were damaged. |
| April 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $50,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Taylorville, causing widespread power outages. |
| May 2009 | Tornado (EF1) | Rosamond | $50,000 | A tornado briefly touched down 4 miles west of Pana, then tracked northeastward to 3 miles west-northwest of Pana before dissipating. A pole barn was severely damaged and some minor roof damage occurred to a house. In addition, several tree tops were sheared off. |
| March 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Owaneco | $40,000 | Several machine shed and outbuilding roofs were damaged. A farm gasoline barrel was blown off its stand. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $40,000 | Twenty power poles were blown down just south of Taylorville. |
| November 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $40,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. Three miles southeast of Taylorville a cinder block building was blown over onto Highway 29. In Assumption, a couple of buildings sustained moderate damage. One of the buildings lost its roof. Damage was estimated around $40,000. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $35,000 | Trees, tree limbs, and power lines were blown down along Lincoln Trail Road just west of 1600 East Road. |
| January 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Assumption | $35,000 | Numerous tree limbs were blown down and a shed was damaged in Assumption. |
| July 2008 | Lightning | Taylorville | $35,000 | Lightning struck an oil storage facility destroying three oil tanks and their contents. There were no injuries. |
| July 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Osbernville | $32,000 | A tree was blown onto a house. |
| March 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Owaneco | $30,000 | Several trees and power lines were blown down. Sheet metal was wrapped around small tree branches. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | City Park | $30,000 | Roof damage occurred at Hickory Estates in Taylorville. |
| August 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pana | $30,000 | Numerous 12 to 18-inch diameter trees were blown down. Power lines were knocked down as well. |
| August 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $30,000 | Numerous trees and powerlines were blown down in Taylorville. One residence sustained damage to a garage as a tree fell onto it. |
| May 2021 | Tornado (EF0) | Dunkel | $25,000 | A tornado touched down in a field 2.6 miles southwest of Assumption at 2:11 PM CDT. The tornado tracked southeastward and quickly dissipated by about 2:12 PM CDT on the edge of a property. Several trees were damaged near the property line, a hole was punched into a roof by a falling tree limb, and the siding was partially ripped off one building. |
| April 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Palmer | $25,000 | Several trees and power lines were blown down. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Edinburg | $25,000 | Numerous large tree branches were blown down in Edinburg. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $25,000 | A small machine shed was destroyed near Taylorville. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Kincaid | $25,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. |
| May 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Vanderville | $25,000 | Wind gusts of more than 70 mph did extensive damage to a barn roof. The wind also peeled back siding and shingles to an adjacent house. |
| May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Edinburg | $25,000 | The roof was blown off a 10 unit rental storage building in Edinburg. A few trees were also blown down. |
| April 1964 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| September 1961 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Edinburg | $20,000 | Several 4-inch diameter tree branches were blown into power lines. An old power pole was snapped on the west side of town. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Jeisyville | $20,000 | The roof and siding was ripped off a barn in Jeisyville. |
| August 2019 | Tornado (EF0) | Assumption | $20,000 | A tornado touched down about 1.2 miles north of Assumption at 9:40 PM CDT. The tornado tracked east-southward, breaking several large tree limbs at a home, which punched a hole in the roof of the home. Along County Road 2650 East, a trailer was overturned and pushed into an outbuilding. The tornado then crossed into Shelby County 1.6 miles northeast of Assumption at 9:43 PM CDT. |
| January 2012 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mt Auburn | $20,000 | Numerous trees were blown down in Mt. Auburn. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Mt Auburn | $20,000 | A barn and machine shed were damaged two miles south of Mount Auburn. |
| May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $20,000 | A few trees and power lines were blown down between Taylorville and Assumption. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Pana | $18,000 | A tree was blown down in Pana. Numerous tree branches were knocked down around town as well. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Moweaqua | $15,000 | Multiple trees were snapped on the west side of Moweaqua. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Stonington | $15,000 | Several large tree limbs and power lines were blown down on the west side of Stonington, resulting in a power outage. |
| April 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Hewittsville | $15,000 | Power lines were blown down along Highway 48 south of Taylorville. |
| July 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Stonington | $15,000 | Numerous large tree branches were blown down, including one that fell on a garage. |
| August 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Taylorville | $15,000 | Several tree branches were blown down in Taylorville, including one that temporarily blocked Route 29 just northwest of town. |
| December 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Sharpsburg | $15,000 | The roof of an attached garage was blown off a well-built home. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 5 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 4 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 4 |
| Clay | 1 |
The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pana Shale Exposure | Clay | Prospect | ||
| Christian Cty Hwy Dept | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Pana Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Producer | ||
| Taylorville City Eng | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Tri-City Christian Quarry No. 1 | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer |
History of Christian County, Illinois devotes a chapter to each township: its boundaries and streams, who settled it and when, the mills, the schools and the churches. All 9 are reproduced here in full. Each row shows the township's own shape and where it lies in the county, drawn from the Census Bureau's boundary. Which settlements belong to which township is computed from that same boundary, not taken from the book.
| Shape and position in the county | Township | Settlements in it | Length | Sections |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assumption Township | Assumption, Dunkel | 35,922 words | 37 | |
| Greenwood Township | Vanderville | 4,063 words | 5 | |
| Locust Township | Millersville, Owaneco, Velma | 9,180 words | 5 | |
| Mosquito Township | Osbernville | 7,673 words | 8 | |
| Mount Auburn Township | Bolivia, Grove City, Mount Auburn, Roby | 8,580 words | 6 | |
| Prairieton Township | Radford | 7,800 words | 5 | |
| Rosamond Township | Rosamond | 17,081 words | 19 | |
| Stonington Township | Midway, Old Stonington, Sandersville, Stonington | 5,541 words | 6 | |
| Taylorville Township | Langleyville, Taylorville | 23,957 words | 45 |
One book written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 12 chapters in all. Every chapter is public domain, machine-read from the scan and reproduced complete. A chapter already given under one of the county's towns is not repeated in this list.
| Chapter | Length |
|---|---|
| A Brief Sketch Op the Yortii-West Territory Geographical Position | 36,886 words in 3 parts |
| Chapter 4: Customs of Early Days | 4,599 words |
| Chapter 5: Geography, Agricultural Asd .vayufactl'rixg Resources and Railroad Facilities | 2,329 words |
| Chapter 5 | 2,429 words |
| Chapter 6 | 978 words |
| Chapter 8: Flora | 906 words |
| Chapter 9: Civil History | 12,904 words |
| Chapter 10 | 5,294 words |
| Chapter 11: The Press | 5,515 words |
| Chapter with an unread heading (no. 10 of those read) | 4,726 words |
| Chapter 13: J'atrjotjsm of the Covyti | 10,993 words |
| Chapter 14 | 54,710 words in 4 parts |
Everyone History of Christian County, Illinois stops to write about, with the section that describes them. Among them are the men who founded the place and governed the Territory. Each name opens the passage itself, in the words of 1880.
Named settlements recorded in the Geographic Names Information System, each with the topographic sheets covering it. Villages, hamlets and abandoned places alike. Each is shown with the nearest named watercourse or landform and the survey quadrangle it falls on.
Buckhart township · 62531 · Edinburg quadrangle
12 sheets, 1923 to 1985
No longer a settlement
Taylorville township · 62568 · On Panther Creek · Taylorville quadrangle
12 sheets, 1923 to 1985
Stonington township · 62567 · On Brushy Branch · Willeys quadrangle
10 sheets, 1952 to 1985
Stonington township · 62567 · On Brushy Branch · Willeys quadrangle
10 sheets, 1952 to 1985
Taylorville township · 62568 · On Flat Branch · Taylorville quadrangle
12 sheets, 1923 to 1985
Greenwood township · 62546 · On Cotton Creek · Clarksdale quadrangle
13 sheets, 1946 to 1998
The vanished settlements of Christian County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.
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