Blog · October 14, 2026 · Illinois
The Jefferson County Township Map: an Illinois guide
How to tell which township a parcel in Jefferson County sits in, and what that means near Bluford.
Main page: Jefferson County, IL GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, Jefferson County facts and neighboring maps).
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If a deed near Bonnie mentions a township, or a tax bill names one, the Jefferson County township map is how you locate it on the ground. Below we sort out the kinds of townships in Jefferson County and where to see each one.
Townships in Jefferson County explained
A township name on a county tax record refers to the civil township where the land near Bonnie sits. Separately, Illinois land near Bonnie follows the federal survey grid, where a licensed survey township is about 6 miles square; each holds 36 sections, so a farm near Bakerville may span two.
Finding the tract on the Jefferson County map
For land around Belle Rive, open the Sidwell Portico - Jefferson County Assessor (Sidwell's Portico platform); it is the map Jefferson County itself publishes. Most people locate their Jefferson County tract fastest by searching an address in Belle Rive, then clicking the outline. For a backup route to the map covering Belle Rive, our Jefferson County directory entry keeps the link current.
Using the Jefferson County parcel viewer as a Jefferson County township map
The Sidwell Portico - Jefferson County Assessor is the quickest Jefferson County township map for most people: switch on boundaries and click a parcel near Bakerville. Some Jefferson County viewers include a PLSS layer that labels sections, which is useful when a deed near Bonnie cites T and R numbers.
How the survey grid is numbered
Near Dix, section 1 sits in the northeast corner of a licensed survey township, and the numbering ends at 36 in the southeast corner. Aliquot descriptions for land near Bakerville make sense in reverse: locate the southwest quarter, then its northeast quarter, on the county grid. Correction lines and irregular sections exist, so a section near Belle Rive may not be exactly 640 acres.
Deeds, districts and roads
If a county deed near Bakerville cites a township that no longer appears on the map, the county recorder can generally explain the change. Road maintenance questions near Bakerville depend on whether a road is a state, county or local road, so ask the county highway office if you're unsure.
Work and land use in Jefferson County
County Business Patterns counted 900 business establishments in Jefferson County for 2022, led by retail trade, health care and social assistance, and other services. Oil and gas extraction and support activities for mining and drilling make up an above-average share of Jefferson County businesses, a clue to how land around Bluford gets used.
Towns and land across Jefferson County
From Mount Vernon, the seat of the county, the map spreads out to Nason, Belle Rive, Bluford, and Bonnie. Unincorporated communities in the county, including Opdyke, Bakerville, and Boyd, display up as small groups of parcels along the roads. Roughly 571 square miles of land and about 36,320 residents (2023 estimate) make up Jefferson County. Platted neighborhoods near Belle Rive give way to rural acreage elsewhere in the county. Jefferson County was organized in 1819, so deeds for older farms near Mount Vernon can run back a long way.
Near the Jefferson County line
Near the edge of the county, check the next map over: Franklin County, Hamilton County, Marion County, Perry County, and Washington County all border it. Our Illinois page links each map neighboring Jefferson County.
Jefferson County land records
For land near Mount Vernon, the deed itself lives in the county recording office, and the map is an index to it. Copy the parcel ID and legal description from the county record well before you request a deed for land near Bonnie.
Why the township matters
For a parcel near Belle Rive, township lines can matter more than the mailing town, so check the record before assuming. Assessment and tax districts in Jefferson County are commonly tied to the township, so two neighboring parcels near Bonnie can carry different rates.
Jefferson County, IL: common questions
What do township and range mean on a deed near Nason?
They locate land near Nason on the federal survey grid; each survey township holds 36 sections of about 640 acres.
How big is a quarter section near Belle Rive?
A standard section is about 640 acres, so a quarter section near Belle Rive is about 160, though corrections make some smaller.
Which township is my house near Nason in?
Click the parcel on the Sidwell Portico - Jefferson County Assessor; the Jefferson County record generally names the township.
Does the Jefferson County GIS map display township lines?
Many county viewers include a township or municipal boundary layer; check the layer list on the Jefferson County map.
Open the official Jefferson County, IL parcel map Jefferson County in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.