About Fulton County

Fulton County was created in 1823 from land that was once part of Pike County. It was named for Robert Fulton, the inventor of the steamboat. It was a gateway point for settlers spreading out across the northern portion of Illinois. Our history is filled with interesting events & individuals that are still remembered today & celebrated.

Abraham Lincoln once practiced law here and in 1858 presented one of his most notable speeches in front of the Fulton County Courthouse.

Lewistown was the boyhood home of world-famous poet/writer Edgar Lee Masters who wrote Spoon River Anthology (1915). During World War II, Fulton County was home to Camp Ellis that was at that time the largest military installation in the United States.

Today, Fulton County is known for the annual Spoon River Scenic Drive Fall Festival which occurs the first two weekends in October. This has been a tradition since 1968 and attracts thousands of participants from all over the country.

Fulton County is blessed with sufficient rainfall, growing seasons, and soil conditions to make it a great agricultural County. Fertile upland and prairie soils, temperate seasons, and adequate moisture create prime farmland.

Agricultural and related production has long been the basis for the local economy, and farming continues to be key today. Currently, the landscape of Fulton County is dominated by agricultural land use. Fulton County has 565,543 acres with 47% of land cover as cropland, 23% woodland, 22% pasture, 4% wetland, and 4% for other purposes.