Illinois History
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were the first known inhabitants of Illinois?
Remains of American Indian civilizations dating back to 8,000 B.C. have been found in Illinois.
Who were the first European explorers to visit Illinois?
In 1673, Louis Jolliet and Father Jacques Marquette travelled up the mouth of the Illinois River. They portaged their canoes from the Illinois River to the Des Plains River and continued northeast down the Chicago River finally arriving at Lake Michigan (near the present day site of Chicago).
Where is the oldest European settlement in Illinois?
The French missionary settlement at Cahokia, Illinois (near present day East St. Louis) in 1697. Priests of the Seminary of Quebec founded the Mission of the Holy Family at Cahokia. The mission built in 1699 still stands and can be visited.
Where is the first incorporated town in Illinois?
Shawneetown, in Gallatin County, incorporated December 8, 1814, was the first incorporated town in what was then Illinois Territory. The town currently has approximately 400 residents and is the site of the Historic Shawneetown Bank and the first Illinois newspaper (though no longer in print).
Governors of Illinois
October 6, 1818 - December 5, 1822
Shadrach Bond
December 5, 1822 - December 6, 1826
Edward Coles
December 6, 1826 - December 6, 1830
Ninian Edwards
December 9, 1830 - December 3, 1834
John Reynolds
December 3, 1834 - December 7, 1838
Joseph Duncan
December 7, 1838 - December 8, 1842
Thomas Carlin
December 8, 1842 - December 9, 1846
Thomas Ford
December 9, 1846 - January 8, 1849
Augustus C. French
January 8, 1849 - January 10, 1853
Augustus C. French
January 10, 1853 - January 12, 1857
Joel Aldrich Matteson
January 12, 1857 - January 14, 1861
William H. Bissell
January 14, 1861 - January 16, 1865
Richard Yates
January 16, 1865 - January 11, 1869
Richard J. Oglesby
January 11, 1869 - January 13, 1873
John McAuley Palmer
January 13, 1873 - January 23, 1873
Richard J. Oglesby*
January 23, 1873 - January 8, 1877
John L. Beveridge
January 8, 1877 - January 10, 1881
Shelby M. Cullom
January 10, 1881 - February 6, 1883
Shelby M. Cullom
February 6, 1883 - January 30, 1885
John M. Hamilton
January 30, 1885 - January 14, 1889
Richard J. Oglesby
January 14, 1889 - January 10, 1893
Joseph W. Fifer
January 10, 1893 - January 11, 1897
John P. Altgeld
January 11, 1897 - January 14, 1901
John R. Tanner
January 14, 1901 - January 9, 1905
Richard Yates
January 9, 1905 - January 18, 1909
Charles S. Deneen
January 18, 1909 - February 3, 1913
Charles S. Deneen
February 3, 1913 - January 8, 1917
Edward F. Dunne
January 8, 1917 - January 10, 1921
Frank O. Lowden
January 10, 1921 - January 12, 1925
Len Small
January 12, 1925 - January 14, 1929
Len Small
January 14, 1929 - January 9, 1933
Louis F. Emmerson
January 9, 1933 - January 4, 1937
Henry Horner
January 4, 1937 - October 6, 1940
Henry Horner
October 6, 1940 - January 13, 1941
John Stelle
January 13, 1941 - January 8, 1945
Dwight H. Green
January 8, 1945 - January 10, 1949
Dwight H. Green
January 10, 1949 - January 12, 1953
Adlai E. Stevenson
January 12, 1953 - January 14, 1957
William G. Stratton
January 14, 1957 - January 9, 1961
William G. Stratton
January 9, 1961 - January 11, 1965
Otto Kerner
January 11, 1965 - May 19, 1968
Otto Kerner
May 19, 1968 - January 13, 1969
Samuel H. Shapiro
January 8, 1969 - 1973
Richard B. Ogilvie
1973 - 1977
Daniel Walker
1977 - 1991
James R. Thompson
1991 - 1999
Jim Edgar
1999 - 2003
George Ryan
2003 -
Rod R. Blagojevich
* Elected to the U.S. Senate
Illinois History Web sites
Illinois History Resource Page