Carthage

History

The first European-American settlers arrived in Carthage and in Hancock County in the first few decades of the 19th century. While sharing a name with the ancient city of Carthage, it is likely named more directly for Carthage, Tennessee. By 1833, they had erected simple buildings in Carthage. That year, a log cabin was built to serve as the county courthouse, and the county seat was moved from Montebello to Carthage. The town was platted in 1837. The only person legally hanged in Hancock County, William Fraim, had been defended in his trial by roaming circuit attorney Abraham Lincoln. Fraim was found guilty of murder following a drunken brawl. Lincoln filed an appeal with the judge in the trial, which was as far as most appeals in those days went. Because Carthage then had no jail, Fraim was kept at the courthouse, which was next to the school. Fraim conversed with the children from his second-floor window. As a result of those conversations, most of the school children were present when their new friend was hanged. The hanging is believed to have taken place near the current city sewer plant east of town, where a natural amphitheater allowed for a crowd to view the spectacle. While they were incarcerated in the Carthage Jail in June 1844, Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of the Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and his brother Hyrum Smith were killed by a mob on Thursday, June 27, 1844. On October 22, 1858, Lincoln spoke in Carthage while he was campaigning for the US Senate. A large stone on the south side of the Courthouse Square commemorates the spot. Over the years, the jail has been modified and used for different purposes. For a while, it was home to Carthage College. The jail has been restored to a close approximation of its appearance in 1844 and is…

Geography

Carthage is located near the center of Hancock County. U.S. Route 136 runs through the center of town as Buchanan Street. According to the 2010 census, the city has an area of , all land. In June 2006, development property on the east side of Carthage was voluntarily annexed into the city limits. This property totaled approximately , all land except for an lake.

Most-observed species

• Northern Cardinal

  Cardinalis cardinalis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  151
• American Crow

  Corvus brachyrhynchos C.L.Brehm, 1822 · Aves
  132
• Red-winged Blackbird

  Agelaius phoeniceus (Linnaeus, 1766) · Aves
  132
• Canada Goose (canadensis Group)

  Branta canadensis (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  120
• American Robin

  Turdus migratorius Linnaeus, 1766 · Aves
  118
• Blue Jay

  Cyanocitta cristata (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  117
• Mourning Dove

  Zenaida macroura (Linnaeus, 1758) · Aves
  108
• European Starling

  Sturnus vulgaris Linnaeus, 1758 · Aves
  102

Largest nearby schools

• Illini West High School
  High · Carthage · 342 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• Carthage Primary School
  Elementary · Carthage · 245 students · 18.8:1 ratio
• Carthage Middle School
  Middle · Carthage · 171 students · 14.3:1 ratio
• ROYALS Academy Carthage
  High · Carthage
• ROYALS RSSP Carthage
  High · Carthage
• WCISEC HS MD
  Other · Carthage