Mason county was formed in 1841 from parts of Tazewell County and is named for George Mason, author of the Virginia Declaration of Rights.
It is located in central Illinois midway between Springfield and Peoria.
The county seat, Havana, is located on the banks of the Illinois River and the county population on July 1, 1999, was 16,797, an increase of 528 over the 1990 census. Havana is also the home of the Rockwell Mounds, the second largest Native American Burial Grounds dating back to about 1200 A.D. The Mounds cover about two acres and stand 14 feet high.
Natural features and attractions include the Sand Ridge State Forest, Chautauqua Lake (part of the Chautauqua NWR) and the Sangamon River.
For information on county government, contact the National Association of Counties Web site.
Additional information is available at these pages: