Economic Development Committee

Randolph County Dept. of Economic Development
1 Taylor Street, PO Box 332
Chester, IL 62233

TEL: 618-826-5000 ext. 221
or
Fax: 618-826-3750

We have a rich and colorful past just waiting for you to discover. And the scenery isn't bad either! Whether you are here for the day, the weekend, or an even longer stay, you won't be disappointed...we promise. And when you get back home, be sure to tell a few of your friends about Randolph County; but not too many, okay?

Randolph County's motto "Where Illinois Began" is symbolic of the role this area played in the settlement of our State. Historians often begin their lectures about early Illinois with a brief mention of the French Jesuit missionary Father (Pere) Jacques Marquette and his 1673 expedition down the Mississippi River with the French-Canadian explorer Louis Jolliet. In fact, however, Randolph County's history begins around 8000 B.C. with prehistoric hunters seeking refuge under a rock formation we now call the Modoc Rock Shelter. Early Indian tribes were still using this limestone bluff overhang for shelter as late as 1200 A.D. The Marquette & Jolliet expedition may or may not have actually set foot on Randolph County soil; but, in 1686 Robert de La Salle's Lieutenant Henri de Tonti scouted the Illinois Country for possible French trading post locations and did visit the area where the Village of Kaskaskia eventually developed.

The French fleur-de-lis flew over the area from the late 1600's until the British accepted control of "New France" at Fort de Chartres following the end of the French & Indian War in 1763. The British Union Jack then flew over the area until the Revolutionary War when Colonel George Rogers Clark and his "Long Knives" captured Kaskaskia and Fort Gage on July 4, 1778 (Prairie du Rocher and Cahokia surrendered soon thereafter) and proclaimed the area to be called Illinois County as part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Governor Patrick Henry appointed Colonel John Todd as County Lieutenant and Civil Commandant and named Kaskaskia as the seat of civil government.

Virginia eventually ceded its frontier holdings to the Continental Congress which, in 1787, established the Northwest Territory with General Arthur St. Clair presiding as Governor at Marietta, Ohio. In 1790, Governor St. Clair proclaimed what is now downstate Illinois to be called St. Clair County with Cahokia sharing a role in civil government with Kaskaskia. On October 5, 1795, roughly the southern half of then St. Clair County became Randolph County with Kaskaskia remaining as the seat of civil government. Randolph County took its name from noted Revolutionary War soldier and statesman, Edmund Randolph of Virginia.

In 1800 the area became part of the newly-created Indiana Territory with Wm. Henry Harrison presiding as Governor at Vincennes. Then, in 1809, the Illinois Territory came into being with Ninian Edwards presiding as Governor at Kaskaskia. Illinois was finally admitted to the Union as a sovereign State in 1818 with Shadrach Bond named as Governor and the beloved Pierre Menard as Lieutenant Governor. Kaskaskia served as Illinois' first State Capital until 1820 when it was moved to Vandalia on the Kaskaskia River some 90 miles northeast of "Where Illinois Began." Enjoy your stay and have a save trip!