The Early Days of Johnson County

Johnson County, Illinois was established on September 14, 1812, from Randolph County in the Illinois Territory. (By proclamation, Territorial Record of Illinois, pg. 26). At that time, Johnson County covered most of the northwest portion and all of the west and extreme southern portions of Southern Illinois. This area included the present day counties of Alexander, Hardin, Jackson, Massac, Perry, Pope, Pulaski, and Union. 

It was named for Richard M. Johnson, a Colonel of the Kentucky militia, who served in Indian wars and the War of 1812, and was reputed to have killed the Indian chief, Tecumseh, at the battle of Thames. Johnson served as Representative in Congress and United States Senator from Kentucky and Vice-President of the United States from 1837 to 1841.

The first county seat was in the home of Johns Bradshaw from 1813-1814. The county seat was moved the Elvira Township in 1814. It was then moved four years later (1818) to it's present location in Vienna.

Township names, set under the 1870 township organization, included: Bloomfield, Burnside, Cache, Elvira, Goreville, Grantsburg, Simpson, Tunnel Hill, and Vienna

Johnson County’s townships became precincts after the abandonment of township government in 1876.