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Montgomery County, Illinois

52 topographic sheets cover 32 settlements here, and 13 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Research this county

From the record

13 National Register listings published here.

Sources: the county history on the Internet Archive · the National Register database, National Park Service

Illinois within the United States
Montgomery County within Illinois

What the record shows

  • 364 topographic sheet readings cover the county's settlements.
  • 13 properties here are on the National Register of Historic Places: 11 buildings, 1 district and 1 structure.
  • The Geographic Names Information System records 32 populated places in this county; 32 are covered by at least one topographic sheet.
  • 1 public-domain county history, 1904, supplies 33,814 words of narrative reproduced here.

Places on the National Register

13

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
Ariston Cafebuilding200606000380
Belvidere Cafe, Motel and Gas Stationbuilding200707000060
George Blackman Housebuilding198686003180
Brown Shoe Company Factorybuilding200606001019
Freeman-Brewer-Sawyer Housebuilding199292001536
Samuel Moody Grubbs Housebuilding199090000156
Hayward-Hill Housebuilding198080001399
Litchfield Elks Lodge No. 654building199595000195
Litchfield Public Librarybuilding199999000165
Manske-Niemann Farmdistrict200303000065
Montgomery County Courthousebuilding199494001266
Route 66, Litchfield to Mount Olivestructure200101001312
Lewis H. Thomas Housebuilding198383003586

Wildfire, 2001 to 2014

25 fires

Every wildfire the federal occurrence database records inside this county: 25 of them, burning about 267 acres. 1 started naturally and 1 was recorded as arson. Each settlement page carries the fires within five miles of it.

Reported cause Fires
Debris and open burning13
Missing data/not specified/undetermined8
Natural1
Arson/incendiarism1
Recreation and ceremony1
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
15 March 2014Debris and open burning80 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources0011-14
20 March 2014Debris and open burning80 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources0014-14
15 April 2003Debris and open burning50 acresIllinois State Fire Marshal's Officenot named
12 April 2014Debris and open burning10 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources0021-14
20 March 2014Debris and open burning8.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources0013-14
11 February 2007Missing data/not specified/undetermined6.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resourcesnot named
1 November 2010Equipment and vehicle use6.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry ResourcesBROKERING
20 March 2014Debris and open burning5.0 acresIllinois Division of Forestry Resources0014-38

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

Storms, 1950 to 2026

60 of 417 shown

The NOAA Storm Events Database holds 417 reports for this county, causing 3 deaths, 18 injuries and about $2,256,504 in recorded property damage. Each settlement page carries the reports that name it.

Kind of event Reports
Thunderstorm Wind200
Hail136
Tornado55
Flash Flood21
Lightning2
Heavy Rain2
Flood1

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
April 1956Tornado (F1)not stated2 killed, $25,000no account filed
June 1999Tornado (F3)Raymond1 killed, 4 hurtno account filed
March 1976Tornado (F3)not stated4 hurt, $250,000no account filed
April 1964Tornado (F2)not stated4 hurt, $25,000no account filed
January 1950Tornado (F3)not stated3 hurt, $250,000no account filed
November 1994Thunderstorm WindWitt1 hurt, $3,300A mobile home was blown over injuring a man inside. Several grain bins and small sheds were damaged with numerous power lines down. Reported by SKYWARN spotters and a local newspaper.
July 2017Thunderstorm WindNokomis1 hurtThunderstorm winds blew over an occupied mobile home. The occupant sustained minor injuries. Also, numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down. A couple of trees fell onto homes causing minor to moderate damage around town.
July 2002LightningHillsboro1 hurtno account filed
May 1990Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
May 1982Tornado (F3)not stated$250,000no account filed
May 1978Tornado (F2)not stated$250,000no account filed
March 1961Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
March 1961Tornado (F1)not stated$250,000no account filed
May 2006Tornado (F1)Farmersville$100,000A tornado touched down 4.6 miles east northeast of Farmersville (Montgomery County in St. Louis CWA). It traveled to the southeast destroying one machine shed and damaging three other machine sheds. Two barns and two homes sustained damage as well. Debris from the machine sheds were tossed a quarter of a mile downwind from their initial locations. The tornado then crossed into Christian County (Central Illinois's CWA) south of the intersection of 3050N and the county line. No injuries were reported.
May 1996LightningWaggoner$80,000no account filed
March 2022Tornado (EF1)Waggoner$50,000A brief tornado touched down on the evening of March 5th, 2022 just south of Farmersville, IL. The tornado first touched down near East 2nd Road, where it did damage to a one story residence. At this location, the tornado ripped the roof off the garage of a home and the awning off the front porch. The tornado continued northeast, doing some minor damage to a farm building just west of Interstate 55. As it crossed Interstate 55, it blew over a semi truck on the highway. The tornado continued east of Interstate 55, doing substantial damage to some large farm buildings along Morrisonville Avenue and East 4th Road. From there, the tornado began to weaken as it struck a newly constructed hog farm along East 5th Road, before quickly lifting near Macoupin Creek. Overall, the tornado was rated EF-1 with a path length of 3.89 miles and a max path width of 40 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindLitchfield Muni Arpt$30,000Widespread wind damage occurred across the southern portions of Montgomery County. Numerous trees, tree limbs and power lines were blown down in Litchfield, Hillsboro and Coffeen. In Litchfield, a large tree branch landed on a house causing moderate roof damage.
April 1987Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
November 1955Tornado (F1)not stated$25,000no account filed
March 2023Thunderstorm WindHillsboro$20,000Thunderstorm winds uprooted several large trees and snapped a couple of large trees about 12 feet off the ground in Oak Grove Cemetery.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindRaymond$20,000Thunderstorm winds caused widespread tree damage between Raymond and the Witt/Nokomis area. Numerous trees, tree limbs and some power lines were blown down.
March 2023Tornado (EF0)Waggoner$15,000As the tornado moved into Montgomery County, it crossed Interstate 55. On the east side of the interstate, south of Morrisonville Ave, the tornado caused minor damage to tree limbs along a hedge line before crossing East nth Rd, continuing northeast. Soon after, the tornado crossed Morrisonville Ave and struck a small metal machine shed on the northern side of the road. The tornado lofted debris across East 5th Rd into a field and drainage canal before lifting at 6:53 PM. In Montgomery County the tornado was rated EF0 with a max wind speed of 80 mph. The path length was 5.48 miles and a max path width of 150 yards. Overall, the tornado was rated EF0 with a max wind speed of 80 mph. The path length was 6.33 miles and a max path width of 150 yards. No deaths or injuries were reported. No deaths or injuries were reported.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindWhite Oak$12,000Thunderstorm winds blew a road sign over near the north bound lanes of I-55 about 4 miles north of Farmersville. Also, a semi was blown over on I-55 just north of Farmersville. No injuries were reported.
August 2022Thunderstorm WindLitchfield Muni Arpt$10,000Thunderstorm winds blew down several power lines around town as well as numerous large tree limbs.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindCoffeen$10,000Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees and caused minor damage to a machine shed in Coffeen. Also, several power lines around town in Fillmore.
August 2024Thunderstorm WindFarmersville$8,800The northwest portion of Farmersville was impacted by a localized downburst with winds estimated around 70 mph. Several large trees were snapped, numerous branches and a power pole were down, and several metal outbuildings sustained damage to garage doors or siding.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindCoffeen$8,300A cooperative observer reported large trees down, a damaged grain bin, and a damaged siloh near Walshville. Power lines and road signs were blown down near Coffeen. Large trees were also toppled, one of which fell and heavily damaged a mobile home and nearby house.
May 1995Tornado (F1)Nokomis$8,200A tornado struck three farms briefly just east of Nokomis doing significant damage to several outbuildings. One farm lost a machine shed and a grain bin. Homes on the farms suffered superficial roof damage. The tornado was only on the ground for a few minutes.
May 2024Thunderstorm WindLitchfield$5,000Thunderstorm winds knocked a tree atop a mobile home, knocked numerous limbs down, and flattened an estimated acre of wheat field on the south side of Litchfield.
February 2023Thunderstorm WindWenonah$5,000Thunderstorm winds blew down several large tree limbs and caused some minor shingle damage to the roof of the house.
June 2022Thunderstorm WindFarmersville$5,000Thunderstorm winds blew down numerous large tree limbs around town. Some of the limbs briefly blocked streets.
August 2021Thunderstorm WindNokomis$5,000Several trees were snapped off in town.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindWalshville$3,300A cooperative observer reported large trees down, a damaged grain bin, and a damaged siloh near Walshville. Power lines and road signs were blown down near Coffeen. Large trees were also toppled, one of which fell and heavily damaged a mobile home and nearby house.
August 1974Tornado (F2)not stated$2,500no account filed
August 2021Thunderstorm WindHillsboro$2,000Thunderstorm winds blew over a large tree on the north side of Hillsboro.
December 2021Thunderstorm WindNokomis$1,000Thunderstorm winds blew down a large tree in town.
June 2008Flash FloodWaggoner$1,000Up to two inches of rain fell on already saturated soils in Montgomery county. Water was over several roads in the Raymond area including Illinois Route 48 west of Raymond.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindRaymond$300Large trees and power lines were blown down across much of the county.
June 1995Thunderstorm WindRaymond$300Winds gusted to 70 mph uprooting several trees.
July 1995Thunderstorm WindRaymond$200Large trees and power lines were blown down across much of the county.
November 1994Thunderstorm WindHillsboro$200Several large trees were blown down in the Hillsboro area with smaller branches knocked off in Litchfield.
May 1995Thunderstorm WindHillsboro$104Trees and power lines were blown down. A house also sustained heavy structural damage to the roof.
January 2026Thunderstorm WindIrving-Thunderstorm winds caused sporadic damage from Hillsboro northeastward to the Shelby/Montgomery/Christian county line. Municipalities include Irving, where a power pole was downed near McCords Trail and IL 16 along the Union Pacific railroad, Witt, Coalton, Nokomis, and Ohlman.
March 2026Tornado (EF1)Schram City-A brief tornado touched down on the Hillsboro Country Club where it produced minor damage to a home. The tornado then travelled northeast where it damaged trees, an outbuilding, and electrical poles. The tornado dissipated just north of White Ave west of Irving.
March 2026Tornado (EF1)Irving-A tornado touched down near Irving Road and North 17th Ave where it blew over a farm auger and lofted debris nearly a half mile to the southwest. The tornado then hit Witt directly where it lofted a carport and damaged multiple roofs and trees in town. The tornado tracked along State Route 16 into Coalton where it nearly completely removed the roof of a mobile home. From there, it turned nearly due north and entered the northwest portion of Nokomis. Although most of the damage done was to trees, the tornado did blow over an outdoor football scoreboard and ripped off portions of the local high school's roof.
March 2026Tornado (EF1)Nokomis-A tornado touched down on the east side of Nokomis where it produced tree damage before exiting town to the northeast. The tornado tracked along State Route 16 past Ohlman, collapsing older farm outbuildings and lofting the debris well to the northeast. The tornado then continued into Christian County (ILX).
March 2026Thunderstorm WindCoffeen-Thunderstorm winds downed a tree south of Coffeen. This tree blocked a road.
March 2026Thunderstorm WindButler-Thunderstorm winds damaged an old barn, a car, and a sheet metal roof from an outbuilding.
March 2026Tornado (EF0)Walshville-The tornado moved into Montgomery County from Macoupin County, where it caused minor damage to a home on W County Line Road. The tornado then took on a near due northerly track as it occluded and caused minor tree damage before it dissipated completely just north of Saint Johns Ave.
March 2026Tornado (EF1)Walshville-A tornado touched down near Niemanville Trail and trekked northeast, producing mostly tree damage in its path. At its strongest the tornado was able to produce minor damage to farm outbuildings and break wooden power poles. The tornado dissipated just east of East 8th Road.
April 2026Thunderstorm WindMc Vey-Thunderstorm winds blew a semi-truck onto the median of I-55.
April 2026Flash FloodWenonah-Heavy rain flooded roads along East 23rd Road outside of Nokomis.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindButler-Thunderstorm winds downed trees near Route 16 and Route 127.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindTaylor Spgs-Thunderstorm winds uprooted a few small trees in Taylor Springs.
May 2025Thunderstorm WindBarnett-Thunderstorm winds caused the walls of a brick outbuilding to collapse after its roof was ripped off.
July 2025Thunderstorm WindNokomis-Thunderstorm winds knocked multiple trees onto power lines in Nokomis.
March 2024HailLitchfield Muni Arpt-Large hail up to two inches in diameter fell in an area from Litchfield northeastward towards Lake Lou Yaeger.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindCoffeen-Thunderstorm winds blew down several trees along County Road 1600E north of Coffeen.
August 2023Thunderstorm WindRaymond-KTVI provided a report of winds gusting to an estimated 60 mph along the leading edge of a thunderstorm.
April 2023Thunderstorm WindLitchfield Muni Arpt-Thunderstorm winds blew down a couple of trees just west of Litchfield.

Mines and quarries

11 recorded

The Survey's mineral resources record lists 11 workings inside this county. 5 still produce and 6 are closed or unrecorded. Each settlement page carries the workings within five miles of it.

Commodity Workings
Stone, Crushed/Broken7
Stone2
Zinc1
Clay1

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

Where SiteCommodity StatusRecorded
(Facility) Hillsboro Zinc SmelterZincPlant
Fork Creek Shale ExposureClayProspect
Hillsboro PitStonePast Producer
Montgomery County PitStonePast Producer
Central Ill. Stone Quarry and MillStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Kiggins Crushed Stone Co. QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Limestone ProspectStone, Crushed/BrokenOccurrence
Litchfield QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenPast Producer
Msc Yard #15.Stone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Nokomis Quarry and MillStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer
Tri-County Stone Company QuarryStone, Crushed/BrokenProducer

The townships, in 1904

33,814 words

Past and Present of Montgomery 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 3 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 TownshipSettlements in it LengthSections
Butler Grove TownshipButler9,254 words3
Walshville TownshipWalshville18,235 words1
Zanesville TownshipShop Creek, Zanesville6,325 words0

Every populated place in the county

32

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.

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.