60 topographic sheets cover 35 settlements here, and 7 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.
7 National Register listings published here, 1 of them a National Historic Landmark · the county-history sources name 3 people · people the book names include General Improvements (Galesburg City Township, 1912) · J. W. Miles (Persifer Township, 1921) (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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | J. Newton Conger House | building | 1979 | 79003111 |
 | Knox College Alumni Hall | building | 1976 | 76000715 |
 | Knox County Courthouse and Hall of Records | building | 1992 | 92000051 |
 | Knox County Jail | building | 1992 | 92000050 |
 | Meetinghouse of the Central Congregational Church | building | 1976 | 76000716 |
 | Old Main, Knox College | building | 1966 | 66000323 |
 | Walnut Grove Farm | district | 1989 | 89001114 |
Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 4 of them, burning about 45 acres. None started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2 |
| Debris and open burning | 1 |
| Arson/incendiarism | 1 |
The five largest, by the area the report gives. One of them was set deliberately.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 April 2013 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 25 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | 40513 |
| 23 March 2013 | Debris and open burning | 20 acres | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | 323133 |
| 23 March 2013 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | under an acre | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | 323132 |
| 30 March 2008 | Arson/incendiarism | under an acre | Illinois Division of Forestry Resources | LOT |
Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.
The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 393 reports for this county, causing 2 deaths, 26 injuries and about $52,007,550 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.
| Kind of event | Reports |
|---|---|
| Thunderstorm Wind | 205 |
| Hail | 114 |
| Flash Flood | 34 |
| Tornado | 31 |
| Flood | 8 |
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| August 2007 | Thunderstorm Wind | (Gbg)Galesburg Arpt | 1 killed, 7 hurt, $800,000 | A swath of wind damage cut through Knox county. The winds produced considerable tree, power line, and crop damage. Numerous structures were also damaged along the path, primarily due to falling trees and tree limbs. A man was killed in the Victoria area by a falling tree. Seven injuries were reported in the Galesburg area due to the storm, at least one due to a falling tree. |
| March 2002 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | 1 killed | As a severe thunderstorm moved northeast across Knox County, it blew down several trees and power lines. Also, 2.4 miles south southeast of Rio on IL Route 150 at 2500 N, the thunderstorm winds caused a woman to lose control of her car. She slid sideways and struck a utility pole. She was killed in the crash. No other injuries or deaths were reported. |
| May 1961 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 8 hurt, $2,500,000 | no account filed |
| May 1995 | Tornado (F2) | St Augustine | 2 hurt, $1,600,000 | A tornado touched down 1 N of St. Augustine and traveled to the northeast. Twelve farm structures and 14 pieces of farm equipment were destroyed. Eighteen homes were either damaged or destroyed. Numerous trees were blown over and a 10 acre orchard with over 1200 trees was destroyed. The tornado also took off the roof of the Maquon Fire Department before it lifted and dissipated 1 NE of Maquon. Two people sustained minor injuries and damage was estimated around $1.6 million. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Countywide | 2 hurt, $1,000,000 | no account filed |
| March 1975 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | 2 hurt, $25,000 | no account filed |
| June 2005 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | 2 hurt | Numerous trees blown down in Galesburg. Two minor injuries occurred when a tree fell on a car. |
| June 1998 | Tornado (F1) | Williamsfield | 1 hurt, $2,000,000 | A tornado touched down 3.5 miles southwest of Williamsfield. It destroyed a steel corn crib, blew down a large tree which damaged a home. Also, several windows were blown out on the home. As the tornado travelled east it caused major tree damage for a mile. Then it blew a large tree onto another home and destroyed an empty silo. Next it destroyed a barn and two outbuildings, knocked yet another tree onto a home, as well as, breaking several windows and blowing several 2x4s into the home. Further down the road, the roof and east walls of two homes were destroyed. Then for the last half of a mile, ten power poles were blown down, as well as, numerous trees and a barn sustained moderate damage. One woman sustained minor injuries from flying glass. Damage is estimated around $2 million. |
| June 1997 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | 1 hurt | Thunderstorm winds blew down several large trees and tree limbs in Galesburg. Also, some minor siding damage was reported on one home. Also, the thunderstorm winds blew over a semi tractor-trailer near the junction of I-74 and US 34. The truck driver was treated for minor injuries and released. No other injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available. |
| June 1974 | Tornado (F3) | not stated | 1 hurt | no account filed |
| April 2013 | Flash Flood | Yates City | $39,500,000 | Torrential rainfall of 4.00 to 8.00 inches resulted in damage to thousands of houses and businesses in the county, including several in the cities of Galesburg and Knoxville. Every creek and stream in the county was flooded. Nearly every road in the county was impassable, and several water rescues were made. This rainfall lead to record or near record flooding on the Spoon River from April 18th through the 24th. |
| May 2013 | Flash Flood | Rio | $1,000,000 | Thunderstorms with torrential rainfall produced nearly 3.00 inches of rain in just one hour. Due to the already saturated ground, much of this additional rainfall rapidly caused flash flooding in the northern half of Knox County. The city of Galesburg was impacted the greatest. Rapidly rising water on many city streets led to at least 30 stranded motorists and one water rescue. Water flooded parts of Carl Sandburg College as well, causing nearly $300,000 in damage to flooring, furniture, and equipment. Numerous homes and businesses also sustained considerable flood damage.|Nearly all rural roads in the northern half of Knox County were closed due to the flooding. |
| June 2010 | Tornado (EF2) | Douglas | $420,000 | A tornado touched down 4.5 miles west-northwest of Yates City in eastern Knox County then tracked southeastward to the Knox-Peoria County line. Large tree limbs were snapped and crops were scoured in numerous places along this path. A house had the roof torn off and much of the upper level of the structure severely damaged. The attached garage was also destroyed. In addition, a large garage was destroyed, and seven outbuildings were severely damaged. The tornado continued southeastward into Peoria County. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Yates City | $300,000 | Several trees were blown down, including some up to 3-feet in diameter. Several homes and buildings were damaged by falling trees and limbs. |
| May 1967 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| July 1961 | Tornado (F1) | not stated | $250,000 | no account filed |
| June 2021 | Tornado (EF1) | Hermon | $150,000 | A tornado touched down 3.5 miles east-southeast of Abingdon at 11:50 PM CDT. The tornado tracked southeastward, flattening crops and knocking down numerous trees along its path. Significant damage occurred to several farm outbuildings along County Road 850 East north of County Highway 39, with debris being strewn southeastward for over a half mile. The tornado lifted about 0.5 miles west of Rapatee just north of the Fulton County line at 12:05 AM CDT. |
| August 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $100,000 | Numerous tree branches and power lines were blown down across Galesburg. |
| September 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Abingdon | $100,000 | A downburst with estimated winds of 80-90mph created considerable damage at several farms near the town of Abingdon. A silage wagon was flipped over, the roof of a livestock barn was ripped off, and a machine shed was destroyed at Malone Farms. Numerous trees were blown down around the area, and neighboring farm buildings were damaged as well. |
| May 2011 | Flash Flood | Rio | $100,000 | Severe thunderstorms produced heavy rainfall for the second time within five days in northwest Knox County. Once again, the greatest impacts were near the town of Rio where 3.00 to 5.00 of rain occurred during the morning of May 29th. Many roads in this area were impassable, including U.S. Highway 150 about one mile north of Rio, where Polk Creek overflowed its banks and a landslide blocked one lane of the highway. |
| June 1998 | Thunderstorm Wind | Knoxville | $100,000 | As a severe thunderstorm moved northeast across Knox County, thunderstorm winds blew over a semi on I-74 one mile northeast of Knoxville. The driver was not injured. The winds also blew over several trees and caused minor damage to 5 homes in the area. Also, a part of the roof of a machine shed was peeled off and a garage was destroyed. Damage is estimated around $100,000. |
| August 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $80,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down in Galesburg. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Abingdon | $75,000 | Numerous trees and powerlines were damaged in Abingdon, causing a power outage in town. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Altona | $75,000 | Numerous trees, tree limbs, and power lines were blown down in and around Altona, Galesburg, and Abingdon. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Abingdon | $75,000 | Numerous large tree limbs were blown down and shingles were stripped off roofs in Abingdon. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $75,000 | Numerous trees and power lines were blown down. |
| May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $70,000 | Several power poles were blown down in Galesburg. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Victoria | $65,000 | A two-story barn and numerous trees were blown down. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | Abingdon | $60,000 | Several trees were snapped and power lines were blown down along Route 41. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $60,000 | Numerous tree branches and power lines were blown down around Galesburg. |
| June 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $55,000 | A few trees and power lines were blown down in Galesburg. One tree fell onto a house. |
| June 2021 | Thunderstorm Wind | London Mills | $50,000 | Several trees were snapped and powerlines were blown down. |
| May 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Abingdon | $50,000 | Several power poles were blown down in Abingdon. |
| May 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $50,000 | A power pole was snapped and numerous trees were blown down on the west side of Galesburg. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $45,000 | Several trees and power lines were blown down. |
| November 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Gilson | $45,000 | A barn was blown down about 2 miles south of Gilson. |
| July 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $40,000 | Numerous large trees and tree branches were blown down from Galesburg to Knoxville. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $40,000 | Numerous trees were blown down in Galesburg and Knoxville. Trees were knocked down across I-74 near mile marker 50. |
| November 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $35,000 | Numerous trees were blown down across Galesburg. |
| October 2017 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $30,000 | Numerous trees and large tree branches were blown down across Galesburg. |
| June 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Abingdon | $30,000 | Numerous tree branches were blown down. |
| November 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | East Galesburg | $30,000 | A portion of a church roof was blown off. |
| September 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $30,000 | Several large trees were snapped or uprooted in downtown Galesburg and in the Standish Park area. An industrial building lost part of its roof and a transformer pole was snapped when a large tree fell across a road. A large portion of Galesburg was without power due to the storm. |
| May 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $30,000 | Numerous large tree limbs were blown down and some siding was ripped off a few houses. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Altona | $25,000 | Several large tree limbs were blown down. |
| July 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $25,000 | A few trees and power lines were blown down in Galesburg. |
| May 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Abingdon | $25,000 | Part of a chicken coop was blown down. |
| July 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Abingdon | $25,000 | Numerous large tree limbs were blown down just north of Abingdon. |
| November 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Centerville | $25,000 | Ten pine trees were snapped off at the base and about a dozen large headstones were toppled at the Galva Cemetery one mile south of Galva in far northern Knox County. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $25,000 | Numerous tree limbs and power lines were blown down around Galesburg. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $25,000 | Numerous trees, tree limbs, and power lines were blown down between Galesburg, Altona, and Victoria. |
| March 1976 | Tornado (F2) | not stated | $25,000 | no account filed |
| July 2015 | Thunderstorm Wind | Knoxville | $20,000 | Numerous power lines were blown down in Knoxville. |
| September 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Abingdon | $20,000 | Large tree branches were blown down near Abingdon. |
| November 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $20,000 | A few trees and powerlines were blown down in Galesburg. |
| June 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $20,000 | One tree and numerous tree limbs were blown down from Galesburg to Dahinda. Several power lines were downed as well. |
| June 2009 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $20,000 | Several trees were blown down in Galesburg. |
| December 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Knoxville | $20,000 | A semi was blown over and a roof was ripped off a lumber yard near I-74. |
| September 2016 | Thunderstorm Wind | Henderson | $18,000 | Several 1-foot diameter trees were blown down and shingles were torn off a roof in Henderson. |
| June 2020 | Thunderstorm Wind | Galesburg | $15,000 | Several trees were blown down in Galesburg. |
The Survey's mineral resources record lists 4 workings inside this county. None of them still produces: all are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.
| Commodity | Workings |
|---|---|
| Stone | 1 |
| Clay | 1 |
| Sand and Gravel, Construction | 1 |
| Stone, Crushed/Broken | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abingdon Quarry | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Past Producer | ||
| Galesburg Pit | Stone | Past Producer | ||
| Knox County Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Purington Brick Co.Clay Shale Pit | Clay | Past Producer |
History of Knox 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 18 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Township | Abingdon, Saluda | 13,949 words | 1 | |
| Chestnut Township | Bridgeport, Burnside, Hermon | 2,837 words | 0 | |
| Copley Township | Victoria | 15,353 words | 1 | |
| Elba Township | Elba Center, Eugene | 3,082 words | 0 | |
| Galesburg City Township | Galesburg | 17,124 words | 7 | |
| Haw Creek Township | Gilson | 2,185 words | 0 | |
| Henderson Township | Henderson, Henderson Grove, Soperville | 14,041 words | 2 | |
| Indian Point Township | Saint Augustine | 6,036 words | 1 | |
| Knox Township | East Galesburg, Knox, Knoxville | 5,083 words | 0 | |
| Lynn Township | Centerville | 4,107 words | 1 | |
| Maquon Township | Maquon, Rapatee | 5,621 words | 4 | |
| Ontario Township | Oneida, Ontario | 47,831 words | 11 | |
| Orange Township | DeLong | 3,382 words | 0 | |
| Persifer Township | Appleton, Dahinda, Oak Run, Trenton Corners | 12,484 words | 1 | |
| Salem Township | Douglas, Uniontown, Yates City | 3,803 words | 2 | |
| Sparta Township | Wataga | 8,133 words | 1 | |
| Truro Township | Truro, Williamsfield | 8,259 words | 1 | |
| Walnut Grove Township | Altona | 16,179 words | 7 |
2 books written about this county, cut here where the book itself is cut, at its printed chapters: 24 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 | 879,314 words in 56 parts |
Everyone History of Knox 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 1878.
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.
Chestnut township · 61458 · On Littlers Creek · Fairview quadrangle
17 sheets, 1912 to 1995
No longer a settlement
Chestnut township · 61458 · On Brush Creek · DeLong quadrangle
18 sheets, 1925 to 1998
No longer a settlement
Persifer township · 61428 · On Sugar Creek · Williamsfield quadrangle
16 sheets, 1941 to 1990
Persifer township · 61436 · On Court Creek · Williamsfield quadrangle
16 sheets, 1941 to 1990
Truro township · 61489 · Near Tucker Hollow · Williamsfield quadrangle
16 sheets, 1941 to 1990
The vanished settlements of Knox County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.
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