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In 1817, Illinois wanted to become a state.
Indiana had become a state in 1816. Mississippi had become a state that year. Missouri was getting its paperwork together. And the frontier folk in Illinois weren’t about to let Missouri beat them out.
There was just one problem...
Indiana had become a state in 1816. Mississippi had become a state that year. Missouri was getting its paperwork together. And the frontier folk in Illinois weren’t about to let Missouri beat them out.
There was just one problem...
The population of the Illinois territory had not reached 60,000 as suggested for statehood by the Northwest Ordinance.
They didn’t even have 35,000 people, the number of people for Congressional representation at the time.
So? What to do? Gotta beat Missouri.
They didn’t even have 35,000 people, the number of people for Congressional representation at the time.
So? What to do? Gotta beat Missouri.
One man, Daniel Pope Cook, led his fellow territory legislators to petition Congress for statehood anyway.
Surprisingly, Congress not only agreed to allow Illinois in as a state if a census proved they had the right number of people; that number was lowered from 60,000 to 40,000
Surprisingly, Congress not only agreed to allow Illinois in as a state if a census proved they had the right number of people; that number was lowered from 60,000 to 40,000
President Monroe signed the bill into law in April of 1818.
And shortly after, candidates began to campaign to be delegates to Illinois’ very first Constitutional Convention.
Then disaster. The census results came back in June and Illinois only had 34,620 people. Uh-oh.
And shortly after, candidates began to campaign to be delegates to Illinois’ very first Constitutional Convention.
Then disaster. The census results came back in June and Illinois only had 34,620 people. Uh-oh.
The delegates were elected and decided to meet anyway.
They convened in Kaskaskia, IL. An old French settlement in the southwest part of the state; the area where the majority of Illinoisans lived at the time.
The convention delegates tensely reviewed the census results.
They convened in Kaskaskia, IL. An old French settlement in the southwest part of the state; the area where the majority of Illinoisans lived at the time.
The convention delegates tensely reviewed the census results.
Surprise! New census results showed that Illinois’ population was 40,258. A solid 258 more than needed.
The Miracle on the Mississippi River.
While later investigation found the results dubious, no one raised any doubts at the convention.
IL would be a state! Beat MO to boot
The Miracle on the Mississippi River.
While later investigation found the results dubious, no one raised any doubts at the convention.
IL would be a state! Beat MO to boot
When a new county in the northeast part of Illinois was carved out of Putnam County in 1831, it seemed natural to name this new county after the man that supercharged Illinois’ process to statehood: Daniel Pope Cook.
Cook County has lived up to his legend ever since.
Cook County has lived up to his legend ever since.
