First Lake Co. census in 1840

The first United States census was taken in 1790.

U.S. marshals and their assistants took the count of individuals in each household, using their own ledger books and sheets of paper to record the data. It took 18 months to complete the census, which totaled the U.S. population at 3,929,214.

Though the census has been taken every 10 years since, there have been occasions when special censuses have been called. Most researchers are familiar with the 1862 census, which some refer to as a military census, but was actually a census of possible draftees. Additionally, there was a census taken in 1865, after the Civil War ended.

In Lake County, there was a special census that followed the federal census of June 1, 1840. The Lake County Commissioners' Court, led by Nelson Landon, appointed Capt. Morris Robinson to take a census of the county inhabitants on Sept. 1, 1840, by authority of the county. Landon was a very powerful landowner and politician, and Robinson, his close friend, was a schooner captain with economic interests in Little Fort (Waukegan).

Since the federal census had just been completed, the second census was unnecessary, but it quickly became clear its intent was not to enumerate residents.

According to historian, Elijah Haines (1822-1889), Robinson's purpose seems "to have been mostly that of ascertaining the minds of the people of the county on the subject of removing the county seat from Libertyville to Little Fort, and exhorting them to favor the project."

This purpose was in support of Landon's "Little Fort Party" who wished to move the county seat. The special census totaled the county's population at 2,905.

In December, Robinson was selected by the "Little Fort Party" to present to the Illinois State Legislature the petitions that had been signed during the census taking. The legislature passed an act submitting the question of removal of the county seat to Lake Countians on April 5, 1841. At the election, there were 464 votes cast in favor of the move to Little Fort, and 280 against.

This decision came as a shock to Libertyville. Landon, knowing the move would be controversial, had the county seat relocated and permanently established at Little Fort just eight days after the election.

Following the move, Robinson was again hired by the county as its agent to guard against timber being cut on the 160-acres purchased for the new courthouse.