Columbus, Illinois

City: Columbus

County: Adams

State: Illinois

Lat/Long: 39.9833, -91.1333

In 1835 and again in 1841, citizens of Adams County made efforts to move the county seat of government from Quincy to Columbus, which was the geographic center of the county. In August 1841, there was a county election to determine the question, and Columbus won. However, the residents of Quincy fought back and filed a petition in the Adams County Commissioners' Court to block the move on account of more than 100 illegal ballots cast in Columbus's favor. The court ruled in favor of the Columbus supporters, but the Quincy supporters were still undeterred, and initiated legislation in the Illinois General Assembly to divide the county in two. After many years of appeals and two failed pieces of legislation to divide the county, Quincy ultimately won the battle and remained the county seat of government.

History of Adams County, Illinois (Chicago: Murray, Williamson and Phelps, 1879), 285-88; Illinois: A Descriptive and Historical Guide (Chicago: A. C. McClurg, 1939), 580-81; An Act to Remove the Seat of Justice of Adams County; An Act to Authorize the Removal of the Seat of Justice of Adams County.