Monroe County was formed in 1816 out of Randolph and St. Clair counties, as the 8th county created from the then Illinois Territory. Beginning on the Mississippi River where the base line, which is about three-fourths of a mile below Judge Briggs's present residence, strikes the said river; thence with the base line until it strikes the first township line therefrom; thence southeast to the southeast corner of township two south, range nine west; thence south to the southeast corner of township four north, range nine west; thence southwestwardly to the Mississippi, so as to include Alexander McNabb's farm, and thence up the Mississippi to the beginning shall constitute a separate county, to be called MONROE. Illinois Territorial Laws 1815-16, p. 25 Counties of Illinois, p. 32-33. With Twenty-three Maps Showing the Original and the Present Boundary Lines of Each County of the State, Retrieved on January 22, 2008.
monrOe county was forMeD in 1816 ouT of randoLph and st. cLair cOUntIes, as tHe 8Th CounTy CreAtEd FrOm The thEn IllINois teRRitoRY. BegInniNg On tHe MisSIssIpPi riVEr whERe the bASe LIne, wHich IS aBoUT thReE-foURTHS oF A mIle bElOw JUDGe briggs's present reSidencE, sTrikES the sAId RiVer; theNce wItH The base line UntIl it striKes thE first tOwnship liNE thErEfRom; thence sOUtheASt To The soutHeast corNer Of tOWnSHiP Two soUth, raNge nInE wESt; tHEncE SOutH To thE souTHeAst CorNEr OF tOwnship four nOrth, RangE nine West; Thence soUthWestwaRdly to thE mississiPpI, sO as to iNClude alExaNdEr mcNaBb'S faRm, aNd theNce up ThE mIsSissipPi to ThE beginninG sHAlL constituTE a SePARate cOunTY, to Be CaLlED monrOe. Illinois territoriAl lAWs 1815-16, p. 25 couNtiEs oF illinois, p. 32-33. with twenty-thRee maps ShOwIng the oRiginaL and the present boUnDary liNEs Of eacH CounTY Of the state, RetRieveD on JanUaRY 22, 2008.