Gilead, Illinois facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gilead, Illinois
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Original Pike County Courthouse, built 1821
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 Gilead, Illinois
Location in Illinois
Gilead, Illinois
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| County | Calhoun |
| Elevation | 469 ft (143 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-6 (Central (CST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-5 (CDT) |
| Area code(s) | 618 |
| GNIS feature ID | 409003 |
Gilead is a small place in Calhoun County, Illinois, United States. It's known as an unincorporated community, which means it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town does. Gilead is located close to the famous Mississippi River, about 8 miles (13 kilometers) south of another place called Hamburg, Illinois.
Gilead's Interesting History
Gilead might be a quiet spot today, but it has a really important past! It was once a very significant place for two different counties in Illinois.
What is a County Seat?
A county seat is like the main office for a county. It's where the county government does its work. This includes things like court hearings, keeping important records, and managing local services. Think of it as the "headquarters" for the county.
Gilead as a County Seat
Gilead was first the county seat for Pike County, Illinois. This was a very large county back then. But over time, the southern part of Pike County became its own separate county, which is now Calhoun County, Illinois. When this happened, Gilead became the county seat for the new Calhoun County.
Gilead served as Calhoun County's county seat until 1847. In that year, the county courthouse, which was the main building for the county government, sadly burned down. After the fire, the county seat was moved to another location.
