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Menard County, Illinois

49 topographic sheets cover 21 settlements here, and 6 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

6 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the National Register database, National Park Service

Illinois within the United States
Menard County within Illinois

What the record shows

  • 294 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 6 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 4 buildings and 2 districts.
  • 3 of the 6 listings were added during the 1970s.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 21 populated places in this county; 21 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.

Places on the National Register

6

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 PropertyType ListedReference
Lincoln's New Salem Villagedistrict197272000464
North Sangamon United Presbyterian Churchbuilding197979000858
Petersburg Historic Districtdistrict197676000722
Petersburg Historic District (Boundary Increase)building198686000138
Robinson-Bonnett Innbuilding199090001198
Col. Matthew Rogers Buildingbuilding200505000431

Wildfire, 2010 to 2017

24 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 24 of them, burning about 29 acres. None started naturally and none was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning17
Missing data/not specified/undetermined6
Equipment and vehicle use1

The five largest, by the area the report gives. None of them was recorded as arson.

DateCause SizeReported by Name on the report
30 March 2015Debris and open burning10 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources2015-000064
21 March 2015Debris and open burning5.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources2015-000059
25 March 2016Debris and open burning3.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources2016-000041
26 April 2014Debris and open burning2.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources14-000060
19 June 2017Debris and open burning1.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources2017-000137
20 February 2017Debris and open burning1.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources2017-000041
28 March 2015Debris and open burning1.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources2015-000062
12 April 2010Missing data/not specified/undeterminedunder an acreIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesHURIE

Every settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it - see the settlement index below.

Storms, 1966 to 2025

60 of 258 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 258 reports for this county, causing no deaths, 7 injuries and about $14,598,000 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind139
Hail79
Flash Flood23
Tornado14
Flood2
Lightning1

The most serious of them, by death, then injury, then recorded damage. The accounts are quoted exactly as the forecast office filed them.

WhenEvent Place namedHarm What the report says
June 1998Thunderstorm WindPetersburg3 hurtThunderstorm winds blew down a beer tent at the county fair. The tent injured 3 people, one seriously. Also, numerous trees, tree limbs, and power lines were blown down countywide.
July 2008Flash FloodAthens2 hurt, $40,000Two 8-inch diameter culverts were washed out on Harvest Road southwest of Athens. A car plunged into the void, resulting in two minor injuries.
December 2010Tornado (EF3)Lincns New Salem St1 hurt, $12,000,000A tornado touched down on the west side of Lake Petersburg at 12:37 PM CST, then tracked northeast over the lake and across Sunny Acres Road, before lifting southeast of the intersection of Tice Road and Illinois 123 at 12:40 PM CST. A total of 29 homes sustained significant structural damage, four of which could not be repaired. Two barns were also destroyed, and nearly 100 houses and a nursing home had minor damage along the path of the tornado. One person was seriously injured when the tornado caused a large tree limb to fall on their automobile, crushing the car and trapping the occupant.
July 1997Thunderstorm WindAthens1 hurtThunderstorm winds blew a tent over in a park in Athens resulting in a minor injury to one person. Also, numerous power lines and tree limbs were blown down. No other injuries were reported and no damage estimate was available.
May 1996Flash FloodCountywide$1,000,000no account filed
April 2011Tornado (EF1)Culver$450,000A tornado touched down in a field 3 miles northeast of Athens at 625 PM CDT. It tracked northward...damaging the roof of a house, destroying a small garage, and damaging several automobiles. Further north, the tornado knocked two trees down onto a house, doing severe damage to its roof and interior walls. It then tipped over a semi-trailer and damaged several trees before dissipating 4.8 miles north-northeast of Athens at 631 PM CDT.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindSweet Water$200,000Downburst thunderstorm winds of 75 to 85 mph produced a path of damage from Sweetwater to approximately 3 miles east of Sweetwater. Numerous trees and tree branches were blown down and several trees were uprooted. In addition, a few homes sustained minor roofing damage, as did several grain bins and farm outbuildings.
August 1999Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$75,000Trees were blown down countywide, as well as, 11 power poles along Route 29 just north of Athens.One tree fell onto a house and truck just north of Petersburg. No injuries were reported. Thousands of acres of corn were flattened, especially in the northern part of the county. Damage to the crops was estimated around $6 million.
July 2008Flash FloodAthens$65,000High flowing water washed out a bridge and road on the south side of Athens. Parts of IL Route 29 were flooded between IL Route 123 and the town of Athens.
June 2015Thunderstorm WindGreenview$60,000Several utility poles were blown down along North Middletown Blacktop.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindTallula$60,000Several tree branches and power lines were blown down.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$50,000Several trees were blown down in Petersburg.
April 2009LightningPetersburg$50,000Lightning struck the water treatment plant in Petersburg. The lightning damaged the automatic control system and security system. There were no injuries and water service was not disrupted.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindCurtis$45,000Seven power poles were snapped at Cline St and Illinois Route 123 east of Petersburg.
June 2008Thunderstorm WindOakford$40,000Numerous trees, power lines, and power poles were blown down across Menard County. A concentrated area of 17 power poles was blown down on Route 29 just north of Greenview.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindGreenview$36,000Numerous trees and tree branches were blown down in Greenview. One power pole was snapped.
November 2013Thunderstorm WindGreenview$35,000Several large trees and power lines were blown down on Rt. 29.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$30,000Several tree branches and power lines were blown down along IL-97 from Petersburg to Oakford.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindCulver$30,000Several trees were blown down near Illinois Route 29 and Indian Point Road.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindAtterberry$25,000Several trees were uprooted along a half mile path near Atterberry.
April 2017Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$24,000A three-foot diameter oak tree was blown down. Several other trees and power lines were blown down as well.
April 2011Thunderstorm WindSweet Water$20,000Downburst winds did minor damage to a lean-to-shed and the roof of a house and knocked down several trees at the Sugar Grove Cemetary.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$20,000Several trees were blown down in Petersburg.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$20,000A 2 to 3-foot diameter tree fell onto a house north of the courthouse in Petersburg. In addition, numerous small branches were blown down around town.
July 2008Flash FloodPetersburg$20,000A culvert was washed out on Foggy Bottom Avenue 7 miles south of Petersburg.
May 2016Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$18,000Multiple tree limbs were blown down and an apple tree was snapped at the base.
June 2015Tornado (EF0)Culver$15,000A tornado briefly touched down 8 miles east of Petersburg at 8:22 PM CDT. The tornado knocked down several trees and damaged an old barn. An anemometer at the residence where the damage occurred measured a peak wind of 77 mph. The tornado quickly dissipated by 8:23 PM CDT.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindGreenview$15,000Numerous trees were blown down in Greenview.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindTice$15,000Several 2 to 3-foot diameter trees were blown down in the Chautauqua Park area north of the Athens Blacktop.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindOakford$15,000A tree was blown down onto a car in Oakford.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindAthens$15,000Large tree limbs were blown down in Athens.
May 2012Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$14,000A few trees were blown down and roofing was torn off a home.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindLincns New Salem St$12,000Several trees were blown down near New Salem Park and Highway 97.
May 2013Thunderstorm WindLincns New Salem St$12,000A few trees were blown down at New Salem State Park along State Highway 97.
April 2011Tornado (EF0)Athens$10,000A tornado touched down in a field 1 mile northeast of Athens at 622 PM CDT. It moved north-northwest...damaging a window, siding, and gutters on a house before dissipating 2 miles north-northeast of Athens at 624 PM CDT.
November 2013Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$8,000Several tree limbs were blown down in Petersburg.
July 2010Thunderstorm WindOakford$8,000Four to five inch diameter branches and a few light poles were blown down.
May 2008Thunderstorm WindCulver$7,000Strong winds broke off the top of a couple healthy trees. The winds also caused minor roof damage to an outbuilding and a barn.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindGreenview$6,000A power pole was knocked down and shingles were blown off a roof.
June 2011Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$5,000A 20-foot ornamental tree was snapped 3 feet above the ground and 4-inch diameter tree branches were blown down over Route 97.
September 2014Thunderstorm WindAthens$4,000Power lines were blown down onto a house in Athens.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$4,000A large tree limb and power line were blown down.
May 2009Thunderstorm WindGreenview$4,000Several branches were blown down in eastern Menard County.
June 2014Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$3,000A large tree and a power line were blown down.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$3,000A tree was blown down.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindGreenview$2,000A 4-foot diameter tree was blown down across IL-29 on the north side of Greenview.
June 2016Thunderstorm WindGreenview$2,000A four-foot diameter tree was blown down in Greenview.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindSweet Water$2,000A tree was blown down on Middletown Road between Middletown and Greenview.
July 2009Thunderstorm WindGreenview$2,000A large tree was blown down in Greenview.
September 2014Thunderstorm WindPetersburg$1,000A large tree limb was blown down in Petersburg just south of the IL-123 and 97 junction.
June 2010Thunderstorm WindOakford$1,000A window was blown out of a house on Lincoln Trail Road.
March 2025Thunderstorm WindGreenview-A tree was blown down, resulting in damage to a garage and power lines.
May 2025HailAthens-Ping-pong ball sized hail fell at Athens Community Park.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindAthens-Scattered tree damage occurred throughout Athens.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindLincns New Salem St-A farm shed was destroyed on Hurie Avenue west of Highway 97 and a sign was blown over on Highway 97.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindAthens-Wind-driven hail damage occurred to a home north of Athens.
June 2025Tornado (EF1)Tallula-Sentinel satellite data indicated a tornado began 2.6 miles northwest of Berlin in Sangamon County. The tornado tracked northeast through Sangamon County, damaging trees and grain bins, eventually crossing County Road 7 into Menard County. It produced tree damage at a residence just north of County Road 7, as well as a residence along Rock Creek Avenue, after which point it dissipated. It produced EF-1 damage in both Sangamon and Menard counties.
June 2025Tornado (EFU)Tallula-Video shared by a trained spotter showed a brief tornado began in eastern Cass County south of Newmansville. Sentinel satellite imagery showed the tornado tracking for approximately 1.8 miles through Cass County before crossing County Line Road north of Pschirrer Road and continuing into western Menard County. The tornado continued for 1.3 miles before dissipating north of Newmansville Avenue. No damage was reported in either county, so a damage intensity rating could not be assigned.
June 2025Thunderstorm WindAtterberry-Sentinel satellite imagery showed an area of mild crop damage oriented towards the northeast. The area of crop damage extended from near the intersection of Fairgrounds Street and Cape Horn Hill Road northeast towards the Sangamon River, ending at Wilken Avenue.
June 2025Tornado (EF1)Atterberry-The tornado began along Ed Hinrichs Road, where it produced minor damage to trees. It then moved northeast, destroying five grain bins and removing the tops of hardwood trees at a farmstead along Gellerman Road. The last observed damage was at a pair of homes along Newmansville Avenue, where large, healthy tree limbs were blown off of hardwoord trees, numerous evergreen trees were topped, and shingles were removed from both homes. The tornado was rated EF-1. ||EF-1 tornado with max winds of 110 mph. It tracked 1.4 miles and caused tree damage, destroyed 5 grain bins, and removed shingles from two homes.

Mines and quarries

9 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 9 workings inside this county. 1 still produces and 8 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken6
Stone2
Clay1

The least common of them first, because a county's hundredth gravel pit says nothing its first ten did not.

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
Springfield Clay Prod.Co.Clay PitClayPast Producer
Menard County PitStonePast Producer
Petersburg City PitStonePast Producer
Athens QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Indian Point QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Limestone ProspectStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
Limestone ProspectStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
Unnamed Limestone QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Unnamed Limestone QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer

Every populated place in the county

21

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.

The vanished settlements of Menard County: the places named above that are no longer on the map.

Provenance

  • Topographic sheets. USGS Historical Topographic Map Collection, county index, measured from the bulk metadata.
  • Fire insurance maps. Library of Congress Sanborn collection, faceted to this county.
  • Photographs. Each place queried individually against the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs search.
  • Wildfire. Short, Karen C. 2022. Spatial wildfire occurrence data for the United States, 1992-2020 [FPA_FOD_20221014]. 6th Edition. Fort Collins, CO: Forest Service Research Data Archive. https://doi.org/10.2737/RDS-2013-0009.6 Collected with United States Government funding and usable without additional permissions or fees.
  • Mines and quarries. USGS Mineral Resources Data System (MRDS) https://mrdata.usgs.gov/mrds/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
  • Storms. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/stormevents/ A work of the United States government, no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105. Narratives are quoted verbatim from the National Weather Service report and are not edited or summarised.