54 topographic sheets cover 17 settlements here, and 5 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
5 National Register listings published here · the county-history sources name 2 people · people the book names include Presbyterian Church. Clarence, K.L. (Button Township, 1908) · Illinois General Description (Mona Township, 1884) (machine-read).
Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Dunnan-Hampton House | building | 2007 | 07000455 |
 | Paxton Carnegie Public Library | building | 2002 | 02000463 |
 | Paxton First Schoolhouse | building | 1980 | 80001354 |
 | Paxton Water Tower and Pump House | building | 1984 | 84000302 |
 | Alfred Phillips House | building | 1999 | 99000113 |
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 2 of them, burning about 21 acres. None started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Equipment and vehicle use | 1 |
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 September 2018 | Equipment and vehicle use | 20 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | ERIC FOX |
| 14 March 2009 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | SHORT |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 258 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 7 injuries and about $21,168,500 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 129 |
| Hail | 47 |
| Tornado | 39 |
| Flood | 18 |
| Flash Flood | 17 |
| Funnel Cloud | 3 |
| Heavy Rain | 3 |
| Lightning | 2 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 1994 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxton | 3 hurt | A tractor-semitrailer parked on the shoulder of Interstate 57 was blown over injuring three people. Part of a barn roof was blown off and trees were damaged and uprooted. |
| September 1965 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 2 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| April 1984 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | 1 hurt, $250,000 | no account filed |
| August 2018 | Lightning | Paxton | 1 hurt | A person was struck by lightning near South Cherry and West Ottawa Streets and suffered only minor injuries. |
| August 2021 | Flash Flood | Garber | $12,000,000 | Thunderstorms producing heavy rain continued to redevelop across southwest Ford County during the late morning and early afternoon producing widespread significant flash flooding in many areas, including in Gibson City. Numerous homes and businesses suffered significant flood damage. Local officials estimated about 800 properties were affected by flooding. Most roads were closed and impassable with several feet of water across some roads. Multiple cars were stalled in flood waters with multiple water rescues. A senior citizen center was inundated with flood waters and multiple water rescues were performed to remove the residents. To the southwest of Gibson City, vegetation was flattened in many low lying areas due to the fast flowing flood waters. Rainfall amounts in Gibson City and far southwest Ford County were in the 7 to 9 inch range from late morning through early afternoon. Measured rainfall amounts included 9.33 inches one mile northeast of Gibson City; 8.76 inches in Gibson City and 7.63 inches three miles west northwest of Gibson City. During the NWS storm survey, it was discovered that several private rain gauges in Gibson City ranged between 10 to 13 inches. The property damage amount was estimated in consultation with city and local officials. The crop damage amount was estimated in consultation with agriculture officials. |
| August 1982 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 1980 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gibson City | $750,000 | Numerous trees up to two feet in diameter, tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Gibson City. Some trees and tree limbs fell onto houses. A semi tanker trailer was pushed over on its side. A large grain bin under construction was knocked off its foundation. Damage to the grain bin itself was estimated at $750,000. |
| July 2014 | Flash Flood | Gibson City | $500,000 | Water 12 to 18 inches deep was reported on most streets and adjacent property across northern portions of Gibson City. Basements were flooded and 18 inches of water flooded the water treatment plant. A storm total of 4.75 inches of rain was measured. |
| January 2008 | Flood | Paxton | $500,000 | Heavy rain which fell onto saturated and frozen ground on January 8th caused widespread and significant flooding across much of Ford County through January 11th. Numerous roads were flooded and closed. Storm total rainfall amounts included 4.14 inches in Piper City and 3.62 inches in Paxton. |
| February 2008 | Flash Flood | Paxton | $500,000 | Flash flooding was reported throughout much of Ford County. Deep and fast flowing water was flowing across many roads. Piper City reported 2.69 inches of rainfall, Paxton reported 2.25 inches and Gibson City reported 2.13 inches. |
| May 2011 | Hail | Roberts | $250,000 | Hail up to the size of golf balls pounded the city of Roberts damaging numerous cars and roofs. |
| August 1982 | Tornado (F0) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| November 1965 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| March 1961 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxton | $100,000 | Widespread damage from the west side of Paxton where small and medium size tree limbs were down to about State Road 115, 4 miles west of Paxton. Numerous large limbs were down, some large trees snapped ot uprooted. Shed roofs and doors were torn off and barns collapsed. A building was damaged at the airport west of town. Damage extended several miles north and south of State Road 9, but the worst damage appeard to be along SR 9 between County Roads 1500 and 1700. |
| May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Garber | $25,000 | A semi truck was blown off of Route 47, about four miles south of Sibley. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxton | $25,000 | Wind gusts were estimated to 80 mph. Trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down across all of Paxton. Tin siding was blown off of a building. |
| June 1970 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 1958 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| August 1956 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| April 1956 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| November 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Cabery | $20,000 | A roof was lifted off a garage causing the collapse of a cinder block building. A chimney was toppled at St Joseph Church. A home TV antenna tower was blown over. There were sporadic uprooted trees and downed limbs throughout town. |
| May 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxton Arpt | $20,000 | A semi truck was blown over in the median on Interstate 57, just southwest of Paxton. |
| April 2013 | Tornado (EF0) | Gibson City | $15,000 | Witnesses described a tornado briefly touching down and hitting a barn, killing two horses, then lifting back up. Six power poles were also blown down. Emergency managers found debris as far as approximately six miles away. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Piper City | $15,000 | Trees and tree limbs were blown down. A brick garage was destroyed. |
| August 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxton | $10,000 | A roof was blown off a building on Vermillion Street between Holmes and Pine. Half of a tree fell onto a house on Washington Street. A 4 to 6 inch diameter tree limb fell onto Center Street. There were sporadic 3 to 6 inch diameter tree limbs blown down on the north side of Paxton. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gibson City | $10,000 | A 20 by 24 foot section of roofing shingles was taken off a church on the northwest side of Gibson City. Numerous 18 to 24 inch diameter trees were blown over or snapped throughout town. Some of the trees were snapped at the base while others were snapper higher. |
| March 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxton | $10,000 | Two camper trailers were overturned on Interstate 57. |
| April 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxton | $10,000 | A roof was blown off a trailer in a mobile home park. |
| April 2006 | Tornado (F0) | Piper City | $10,000 | A brief tornado touched down near US 24, east of 1700E. A tool shed was knocked over. |
| May 1995 | Tornado (F1) | Thawville to | $10,000 | A weak narrow tornado knocked down trees and collapsed a porch on a house in Thawville. Doors were blown off a barn southwest of Onarga. Two farm houses were damaged about two miles west of Onarga on Route 54. A brick wall collapsed on one house. An outbuilding was damaged and trees were down. |
| May 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Piper City | $5,000 | Eight to ten power poles were blown down. A few sheds were blown down. A big evergreen tree was blown down along with numerous large tree limbs. |
| March 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elliott | $5,000 | A roof was blown off a water pumping station. |
| April 1994 | Hail | Gibson City | $5,000 | High winds and hail damaged siding, windows and automobiles. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gibson City | $3,000 | A row of power lines were blown down into a field south of Route 9 along County Road 300E. A Large tree was uprooted across Route 54. |
| March 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gibson City | $3,000 | At State Road 9 and County Road 1100E several large evergreens were uprooted and part of the roof of an outbuilding was blown off. Further down SR 9, between 1100E and 1200E, a few utility poles and power lines were blown down. Near SR 9 and 1200E a farm house had windows broken and siding damaged by wind. A pickup truck also had windows broken. |
| March 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Melvin | $3,000 | Utility poles and power lines were blown down on Route 59 causing the road to be closed. |
| April 1958 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $2,500 | no account filed |
| May 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Piper City | $2,000 | Utility poles were blown down. |
| June 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gibson City | $2,000 | Numerous trees and tree limbs were blown down along with some power lines. One tree was blocking the road near Church and 8th Streets. Most of the damage was concentrated between 8th and 14th streets, east of Sangamon Street. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Melvin | $2,000 | Five utility poles were blown down. |
| May 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | Melvin | $2,000 | Several trees and numerous tree limbs were blown down. An empty, above ground pool was destroyed. |
| May 2003 | Tornado (F0) | Gibson City | $2,000 | A weak tornado touched down three miles north of Gibson City near Route 47 and SR 900N. The tornado damaged some out buildings and a couple farms and debris was blown across a field. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elliott | $1,000 | Power lines were blown down and a power pole was broken near the intersection of 1000E and 100N. |
| May 2006 | Thunderstorm Wind | Piper City | $1,000 | Trees and power lines were blown down. |
| April 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxton | - | An eight inch diameter tree limb was broken near the intersection of Oak St and American St in Paxton. |
| April 2026 | Tornado (EF1) | Gibson City | - | An EF-1 tornado touched down on the west side of Gibson City, producing significant roofing damage to several buildings along 8th Street. The tornado continued ENE for several miles, producing primarily tree damage before lifting approximately three miles ENE of Gibson City. |
| April 2026 | Tornado (EF1) | Perdueville | - | An EF-1 tornado with peak winds near 95 mph touched down west of Loda with initial damage consisting of the collapse of two empty grain bins. The tornado continued ENE crossing into Iroquois County southwest of Buckley, downing and uprooting trees and blowing over semi-trucks on Interstate 57. Near the end of the damage track, the roof of a large outbuilding was removed, while nearby trees were snapped near the base and deposited in various directions. |
| April 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxton | - | An eight to ten inch diameter tree limb was downed on E Patton St between Washington and College streets in Paxton. |
| April 2026 | Thunderstorm Wind | Elliott | - | A large tree was downed and blocking a driveway along IL-9 southeast of Elliot. |
| April 2026 | Flood | Paxton | - | About half a dozen streets in Paxton were under three to four inches of water. |
| May 2025 | Tornado (EFU) | Perdueville | - | Based on an eyewitness account from an emergency manager and a video shared on social media, a brief tornado occurred northeast of the intersection of State Route 9 and N 1600 Road, west of Paxton. The tornado lasted approximately 90 seconds, and did not produce any known damage. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Clarence | - | Wind gusts were estimated to 60 mph. |
| May 2025 | Heavy Rain | Paxton | - | A private weather station measured 2.1 inches of rainfall in 30 minutes with a storm total rainfall of 2.82 inches. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Paxton | - | Power lines were blown down on East Patton Street. |
| May 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gibson City | - | A tree was blown down into the roadway near Melvin Street and 15th Street. |
| June 2025 | Heavy Rain | Stelle | - | A personal weather station in Stelle recorded 1.71 during the first roughly 75 minutes since rain had begun, about 1.6 of which fell within a 30 minute window. |
| June 2025 | Heavy Rain | Piper City | - | A personal weather station near Piper City recorded 1.7 in the first roughly 90 minutes since rain had begun, 1.45 of which fell in about 15 minutes. |
| June 2025 | Flood | Kempton | - | Multiple reports were received of minor yard and agricultural flooding near Piper City and Cullom. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 9 workings inside this county. 4 still produce and 5 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 9 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corbly Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Howard Thomas West Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Jordon Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Ludlow Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Mc Call Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Paxton Pit Younggreen Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Smith Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Tucker Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Producer | ||
| Utterback Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer |
History of Ford County, Illinois : from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908 devotes a chapter to each township: its boundaries and streams, who settled it and when, the mills, the schools and the churches. All 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brenton Township | Piper City | 2,523 words | 2 | |
| Button Township | Clarence | 30,265 words | 14 | |
| Drummer Township | Derby, Garber, Gibson City, Harpster, Proctor | 3,038 words | 0 | |
| Lyman Township | Roberts | 3,239 words | 3 | |
| Mona Township | Kempton | 22,906 words | 14 | |
| Patton Township | Paxton, Perdueville | 2,791 words | 2 | |
| Peach Orchard Township | Melvin | 3,346 words | 0 | |
| Rogers Township | Stelle | 2,508 words | 4 |
2 books written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 2 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 |
|---|---|
| The whole text | 110,030 words in 7 parts |
| Chapter | Length |
|---|---|
| The whole text | 128,334 words in 9 parts |
Everyone History of Ford County, Illinois : from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908 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 1908.
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.
Block