BlockCarthage, Illinois
14 topographic sheets cover this place, the earliest surveyed in 1933 and the latest in 1990. It stands in Carthage Township. It lies in ZIP code area 62321. The Survey maps it on the Carthage West quadrangle. 2,490 people lived here at the 2020 count. It stands 669 feet above sea level.
Research this city
On record in Carthage
Buildings and businesses the archive holds for this place. Each opens its own page, with the source record it came from.
On the National Register 2 records
Carthage Courthouse Square Historic Districtlisted 1986
Carthage Jaillisted 1973
Topographic sheets covering this place
8 surveys from 14 printed sheetsMatched by testing this settlement's coordinate against the published boundary of every sheet in the United States Geological Survey's historical collection. Each opens the scanned sheet at the Survey.
- 1933 USGS Carthage quadrangle1:62500
- 1937 USGS Carthage quadrangle1:62500, 2 printings
- 1958 USGS Burlington quadrangle1:250000, 4 printings
- 1961 USGS Burlington quadrangle1:250000
- 1963 USGS Burlington quadrangle1:250000
- 1974 USGS Carthage West quadrangle1:24000
- 1986 USGS Keokuk quadrangle1:100000, 2 printings
- 1990 USGS Burlington quadrangle1:250000, 2 printings
In the county-history sources
27,987 words on this townshipHistory of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws, published 1880 names this settlement in its chapter on Carthage Township. These are the passages that mention it, exactly as the scans read.
Hiram O. Ferris is a son of Stephen Gano Ferris, and was born in Steuben county, N. Y., in 1S2^. He was educated at Knox College, 111.; after completing his studies there in 1850, he crossed the plains to California, where he attained considerable prominence in politics. In the winter of 1851-'2 he was appointed by the Legislature of the State of California as one of the commissioners to organize the county of Siskij'ou. After serving on this commission until their work was finished, he was elected County Clerk of that county, in which capacity he served for two terms. In 1856 he returned to this county (Hancock). Having previously read and studied law, he made application to the Supreme Court of Illinois for admission to the " Bar," which, after undergoing an examination by that honorable court, was granted. Soon afterward, Mr. Ferris formed a partnership with Hooker & Edmunds, Att'ys, at Carthage, under the firm name of Ferris, Hooker & Edmunds. This firm was dissolved in 1863, and the business continued by Ferris & Hooker. In 1864 this firm was also dissolved, Mr. Ferris continuing the same until 1865. During this year he associated himself with F. M. Corby, and organized a banking institution, the firm being Ferris & Corby. They were also largely interested in real estate transactions.
Passage source: History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws, published 1880.
This banking institution formed the nucleus of what is now " The Hancock County National Bank, of Carthage," which was organized under certificate of authority dated May 18, 1865, by the Comptroller of Currency at Washington, D. C. The institution opened its doors for business as a national Ijank June 5, 1865. Mr. Ferris was at ouce elected President of this bank, continuing to hold the position to the present time. This bank is considered one of the most solid and substantial in the country, having passed through all the panics with credit unimpaired. Its officers have the unlimited confidence of the people in all transactions. The bank building is situated on the northwest corner of the Public Square in Carthage. It is a substantial brick structure and was built in 18Y1.
Passage source: History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws, published 1880.
Mr. Ferris is a Royal Arch Mason and Knight Templar, and has been a member of the Masonic order since January, 1850. While in California he was Senior Grand Deacon of the Grand Lodge of the State for one year. He has also held the office of Master of Hancock Lodge JMo. 20, of Carthage, of the A, F. & A. M., at different times, collectively making about five years. In politics, Mr. Ferris entertains the views and principles re])resented by the Democratic part}', and during the " war " of Secession, was firm in supporting the Union cause, using his influence and his means for the speedy crushing of the Rebellion. Mr. Ferris has served four terms as President of the Board of Trustees of the town of Carthage, being elected on the anti -license ticket; and has also served
Passage source: History of Hancock County, Illinois, Together with an Outline History of the State, and a Digest of State Laws, published 1880.
Machine-read from a century-old scan, so expect the errors a machine makes: misspelled names, dropped words, stray characters.
Read the whole chapter on Carthage Township - it names this place 74 more 74 times.
Fires near this place
3 since 2003Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal wildfire occurrence database lists 3 fires within 5 miles of Carthage between 2003 and 2004, burning about 4 acres in total. None started naturally. None was recorded as arson. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a fire counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Reported cause | Fires |
|---|---|
| Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2 |
| Equipment and vehicle use | 1 |
The most recent of them, most recent first, with the day each was reported and the service that recorded it.
| Date | Cause | Size | Reported by | Name on the report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 April 2004 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 1.0 acres | Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
| 30 October 2003 | Equipment and vehicle use | 1.0 acres | Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
| 19 October 2003 | Missing data/not specified/undetermined | 2.5 acres | Illinois State Fire Marshal's Office | not named |
Settlements close enough to share some of these fires:
Mines and quarries near this place
4 within 5 milesRegional context, not property-specific evidence. The federal mineral resources record lists 4 workings within 5 miles of Carthage: 3 past producers, 1 plant. 1 still produces. What was taken out: Stone, Stone, Crushed/Broken, Sand and Gravel, Construction. Distance is straight-line from the map coordinates, so a quarry counted here may appear on a neighbouring settlement's page as well.
| Where | Site | Commodity | Status | Recorded |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mo-Mac Quarry & Mill | Stone, Crushed/Broken | Plant | ||
| Wright Pit | Sand and Gravel, Construction | Past Producer | ||
| Carthage City Pit | Stone | Past Producer | ||
| Hancock City Pit | Stone | Past Producer |
Storms near this place
51 since 1993Regional context, not property-specific evidence. The National Weather Service names Carthage in 51 storm reports between 1993 and 2025: 25 thunderstorm wind, 16 hail, 5 flood, 4 flash flood. No death or injury is recorded in these reports. Each account below is quoted exactly as the forecast office filed it, from the NOAA Storm Events Database, and each date opens the federal record of that event.
| When | Event | Place named | Harm | What the report says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | $250,000 | Wind gust estimated to be 75 mph blew down some buildings between Carthage, IL and Bentley, IL around 145 am CDT June 27. This report was relayed by a COOP Observer. |
| July 2003 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | $60,000 | Numerous trees down |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | $6,000 | Thunderstorm winds snapped several tree limbs, which resulted in spotty power outages throughout the community. One tree was uprooted, another blew down over a garage, and a third tree crushed a minivan. |
| July 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | $5,000 | Wind gusts estimated to be 65 mph snapped the top of a tree off along Main Street in Carthage, IL around 800 pm July 27. The tree fell onto some power lines snapping one line and damaging a utility pole. Portions of some area corn fields just outside of town were also flattened. |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | $5,000 | Sustained winds of 35 knots (40 mph) to over 43 knots (50 mph). |
| August 2004 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | $3,000 | Sustained winds of 35 knots (40 mph) to occasionally over 43 knots (50 mph). |
| July 2000 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | $250 | Law enforcement reported thunderstorm winds blew down a tree, which partially blocked a county road. |
| March 2025 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | Large pine tree blown down. The time was estimated from radar data. |
| March 2024 | Hail | Carthage | - | Report received from social media, with radar estimated times. |
| June 2023 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | Extensive tree damage throughout town. Strong winds lasted about 20 minutes, and began about 11 am CDT. |
| June 2019 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | A trained spotter reported that a 15 foot Bradford Pear Tree was snapped off near the base. The time of the event was estimated using radar. |
| May 2019 | Flash Flood | Carthage | - | Significant water over highways in the town of Carthage. |
| April 2014 | Hail | Carthage | - | A trained spotter reported dime sized hail. |
| June 2014 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | A trained spotter measured 60 mph winds. |
| June 2013 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | A trained spotter estimated 4 separate wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | A 65 mph wind gust was recorded about 1 mile east southeast of Carthage, IL at 144 am CDT June 27. Some power line flashes were also observed on the east side of Carthage. |
| June 2011 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph blew down several trees and limbs in Carthage, IL around 145 am CDT June 27. |
| June 2011 | Flash Flood | Carthage | - | Heavy rains caused some flash flooding in and east of Carthage, IL during the early morning of June 15. Several city streets were closed due to flooding. A portion of Highway 336/Highway 136 was closed due to water flowing over all four lanes near County Road 2500. |
| July 2010 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | Wind gusts estimated to be 65 mph blew down a couple of trees in Carthage, IL at 140 pm CDT July 24. |
| December 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | Law enforcement reported power poles snapped off and half of a barn roof blown off about 2 miles southeast of Carthage. Winds were estimated at 75 mph. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph blew down several trees in Carthage, IL at 1:50 pm June 15. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Carthage | - | Quarter to golf ball-sized hail fell in Carthage, IL at 1:50 pm June 15. |
| June 2008 | Hail | Carthage | - | Penny-sized hail fell in Carthage, IL at 1:53 pm June 15. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph blew down numerous large trees across the city of Carthage, IL at 1:50 pm June 15. Some of the trees were uprooted. A power outage was also observed. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph blew down several large healthy trees three to four feet in diameter across Carthage, IL at 1:55 pm June 15. A tall pine tree was snapped off about five feet above the ground. |
| June 2008 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | Wind gusts estimated to be 70 mph blew down several trees and branches in Carthage, IL at 1:50 pm June 15. Power lines were also down. |
| June 2002 | Flash Flood | Carthage | - | Flood water debris blocking many county roads. |
| May 2002 | Flash Flood | Carthage | - | Highway 136 and route 96 were covered with water and impassable in spots. |
| August 2001 | Hail | Carthage | - | A trained spotter reported 0.75 inch hail. |
| August 2001 | Flood | Carthage | - | Law enforcement reported street flooding in Carthage and over Route 96, south of Hamilton and Route 94, north of Carthage |
| August 2001 | Heavy Rain | Carthage | - | NWS Cooperative observer reported 24hr rainfall total of 6.30 inches |
| October 2001 | Flood | Carthage | - | Law enforcement reported steet flooding. |
| October 2001 | Flood | Carthage | - | Law enforcement reported 2.25 inches of rain in 3 hours, and numerous reports of urban ponding of water. |
| October 2001 | Hail | Carthage | - | Law enforcement reported 2.00 inch hail. |
| October 2001 | Hail | Carthage | - | Law enforcement reported 1.00 inch hail. |
| June 2000 | Flood | Carthage | - | Water covered portions of Highway 136. |
| July 2000 | Flood | Carthage | - | Torrential rains produced street flooding. |
| August 1993 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | Wind gusts to 60 mph were reported at Carthage. |
| August 2018 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| March 2016 | Hail | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| April 2015 | Hail | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| April 2014 | Hail | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| May 2009 | Hail | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| June 2009 | Hail | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| May 2004 | Hail | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| June 2001 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| February 1999 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| May 1998 | Hail | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| June 1996 | Thunderstorm Wind | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| April 1996 | Hail | Carthage | - | no account filed |
| May 1995 | Hail | Carthage | - | no account filed |
Nearest settlements
The eight closest, with where each one stands in the county. Distances are straight-line, computed from the Geographic Names Information System coordinates.
Elsewhere
Matched on this settlement's Geographic Names Information System number rather than its name, so it cannot be a different place of the same name in another state.
| Wikipedia article on Carthage | An encyclopaedic summary. Its text is share-alike, so it is linked here rather than copied. |
| Wikidata item Q579711 | The structured record the population and elevation above come from. Public domain (CC0). |
Provenance
This settlement is recorded in the Geographic Names Information System as feature 405658. The sheet list is computed by point-in-boundary test against the United States Geological Survey's historical topographic inventory. Both are works of the United States government and carry no copyright under 17 U.S.C. 105.
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.