Category Archives: Resources

Springfield looks ahead: 1869

Posted on August 4, 2022 by editor

As 1869 began, the Illinois State Journal saw Springfield as a growing, prosperous and busy community. And the future looked even brighter: Two coal mines had just opened, plans had been drawn up for a new state Capitol, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Journalism, Media, Resources | Leave a comment

Covid-19: History in the making

Posted on May 19, 2022 by editor

At least three local institutions are documenting the Covid-19 pandemic and its impact on individuals in Illinois as it happens. Representatives of all three gave presentations May 17, 2022, to the Sangamon County Historical Society. Results from two of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Disasters, Medicine, Public health, Resources, Science | Leave a comment

Sangamo/Schlumberger Watthour Meter Serial Log

Posted on September 3, 2018 by editor

Hat tip: The following information, designed to help people determine the manufacturing dates of their Sangamo Electric watthour meters, was provided by SangamonLink reader David Dahle. Our thanks to him. Sangamo/Schlumberger watthour meter serial log Year                      Serial Numbers      … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Resources, Uncategorized | 3 Comments

Coal mines in Sangamon County (maps)

Posted on August 24, 2017 by editor

The map above is a small-scale reproduction of an Illinois State Geological Survey map showing the extent of underground coal mining in the two Springfield quadrangles, Springfield East and Springfield West. The original map can be found at the survey’s … Continue reading →

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Sangamo Electric meter chronology

Posted on March 13, 2017 by editor

The six images below give the serial numbers of watthour meters (singlephase and polyphase), mechanical and thermal demand meters, and instrument transformers manufactured by Sangamo Electric  and the years (between 1930 and 1981) they were manufactured. Collectors and people still … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Industry, Resources | 7 Comments

Birds of Sangamon County

Posted on August 28, 2015 by editor

A 40-year study by Illinois State Museum ornithologist H. David Bohlen found 359 different species of birds in Sangamon County. However, Bohlen warns in his report, published online by the museum in 2013, that increasing human population has badly reduced … Continue reading →

Posted in Prehistory, Resources, Science | Leave a comment

Sangamon County in 1837

Posted on January 6, 2015 by editor

The following description of Sangamon County is taken from Illinois in 1837: A Sketch by H.L. Ellsworth (Philadelphia, 1837); spelling and punctuation from the original. Note that, two years after this was written, the Illinois General Assembly reduced Sangamon County … Continue reading →

Posted in Communities, Histories, Maps, Resources, Sangamon County, Sangamon River, Soil, Transportation | Leave a comment

Sangamon County Historical Society

Posted on January 4, 2015 by editor

Historic preservation was the impetus for the founding of the Sangamon County Historical Society more than 50 years ago. Specifically, the founders wanted to preserve the Old State Capitol. The impetus came from members of the Springfield Historic Monuments Commission … Continue reading →

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Springfield African-American History Foundation interviews

Posted on September 21, 2014 by editor

As of late 2015, the Springfield African-American History Foundation, in conjunction with the oral history efforts of the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, had published interviews with 30 black residents of Springfield. Those interviews can be found here. Interviewees are: Adams, Rosia: … Continue reading →

Posted in African Americans, Ethnic groups, Prominent figures, Resources | Leave a comment

Population changes, 1830-2020

Posted on April 21, 2014 by editor

Below are U.S. Census population figures for Sangamon County as a whole beginning in 1830 and for the city of Springfield alone beginning in 1840. (The 1830 Census did not separate out figures for individual communities.) Racial designations below are … Continue reading →

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