Ford County

Ford County is an administrative division in east-central Illinois with Paxton serving as its county seat and main administrative hub. The region contains farmland, rural communities, and residential areas spread across the county's expanse.

The county was established on February 17, 1859, as the 102nd and final county added to Illinois, completing the state's administrative system. This founding marked an important milestone in Illinois territorial organization.

The Ford County Courthouse, constructed in 1906, stands as a central gathering point for civic meetings, legal proceedings, and community administrative functions.

The Paxton Town Square serves as a central gathering point and showcases local infrastructure, businesses, and services in the area. Visitors can navigate the region by using Paxton's main streets as natural orientation points.

The 1906 courthouse was built with a construction method that preserved a section of the original 1862 structure beneath it. A basement wall from the earlier building remained standing throughout the entire construction process, creating a physical link between two periods of the county's building history.

Location: Illinois

Inception: February 17, 1859

Capital city: Paxton

Shares border with: Kankakee County, Iroquois County, Vermilion County, Champaign County, McLean County, Livingston County

Website: https://fordcounty.illinois.gov

GPS coordinates: 40.59000,-88.22000

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:20