About Cook County

History of Cook County
Cook County was created on January 15, 1831 by an act of the Illinois State Legislature as the 54th county established in Illinois. The unincorporated Fort Dearborn settlement at the mouth of the Chicago River became the new county's seat. On May 7, 1831, Cook County elected its first officials.
Historical Listing of County Board Presidents (1876-present)

Daniel Pope Cook
Cook County is named after Daniel Pope Cook, one of the earliest and youngest statesmen in Illinois history who served as a member of Congress and the first Attorney General of the State of Illinois. He worked diligently for the statehood of Illinois and was present on April 18, 1818, when it was granted.
Biography of Daniel Pope Cook

County Building
There have been several county building locations. Construction on the current building began in 1906 and was completed in 1907. It occupies the entire east half of the block at 118 N. Clark Street, bounded by Clark, Randolph, La Salle and Washington streets; Chicago's City Hall, at 121 N. LaSalle Street, occupies the west half. The entire block of land, however, is the property of Cook County. Under a contract entered into in 1872, the city of Chicago is given the use of the west half so long as it is occupied by a city hall, with the provision that the county building and city hall shall be uniform in general exterior design and appearance.

Symbols of Cook County

County Seal

• The outline in the center of the Seal is a map of Cook County.
• The scroll bearing the legend January 1831 represents the time the County was created by the State Legislature.
• The ship sailing on Lake Michigan is symbolic of the County's geographical location as a shipping port and a center for all  transportation.
• The group of diversified buildings are symbolic of the Government, schools, churches, fine arts, dwellings, business and industry which comprise the   County.
• The entire design is encircled by a border with the printed words "Seal of Cook County."

Cook County Flag
The central design, mounted on a white field, shall consist of a cobalt blue, circular band, edged in golden yellow. Mounted on the blue band and arranged in a circle shall be 38 small stars, representing the 30 townships within Cook County outside of the City of Chicago, and the eight townships within Chicago. A 39th star, larger than the others, shall represent Chicago, the county's seat of government, and likewise shall appear on and at the apex of the circular band. All stars shall be five-pointed.

On the white field within the blue band shall appear an outline of the county map, upon which are shown township lines. This map shall be a golden yellow, with border lines and township lines traced in madder carmine.

Across the face of the map and extending on each of its sides, but still within the blue band, shall appear a white scroll, delineated in cobalt blue. The scroll shall bear the inscription "JANUARY 1831," designating the month and year in which Cook County was created by the Illinois legislature.

On the white field above the central design shall appear in bold letters the work "COOK," and beneath the design, the word "COUNTY." All lettering on the flag shall be in capitals, colored madder carmine.

That the flag be displayed, when possible, in such manner that, when unfurled its wording will appear on a horizontal line, or at an angle of not more than 45 degrees.

That the flag of Cook County shall be treated with respect at all times.

County Flower
Echinacea, commonly known as Purple Coneflower, was named the official Cook County flower by vote of the County Board of Commissioners on March 9, 2000.

Cook County is home to more than 67,000 acres of uniquely diverse open space consisting of prairies, savannas, wetlands and forests - unparalleled by any other urban setting. Illinois is known as the Prairie State, and prior to settlement, much of Cook County was prairie and savanna.

As the beauty of our natural landscape is often overshadowed by an urban setting, the planting of Purple Coneflower in Cook County provides a beautiful and prominent example of our native prairie ecosystem.

Cook County Government

Cook County is an urban county in the upper northeastern section  of the State of Illinois that contains more than 800 local governmental units within its boundaries. With a population of approximately 5.4 million people, it is the second most populous county in the nation and the 19th largest government in the United States (2000 census statistics). 

It is a home rule county pursuant to Article VII, Section 6 of the Illinois State Constitution and is governed by a 17-member Board of Commissioners who are elected from single-member districts. The Commissioners and a County Board President are elected to four-year terms by the citizens of the County.
About the County Board


Cook County contains 133 municipalities in its region, the most well known being the City of Chicago - which is the County seat where the central offices of Cook County are located. The City of Chicago and the suburban municipalities account for approximately 85% of the County's 946 square miles, while unincorporated areas make up the remaining 15%. The unincorporated areas of the County are under the jurisdiction of the Cook County Board of Commissioners.

As mandated by State law, County government has principal responsibility for the protection of persons and property, the provision for public health services and the maintenance of County highways.

The obligation to protect persons and property, commonly called public safety, is fulfilled by the provision of County judicial and law enforcement services. The Circuit Court of Cook County, which is one of the largest unified court system in the world, the Cook County Department of Corrections, which is the largest single-site jail in the nation located at 26th and California Streets, and the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center, the first juvenile center in the nation and one of the largest in the nation, are solely the responsibility of Cook County government.

The obligation to provide public health services is fulfilled by the provision of comprehensive medical services to the citizens of the County, regardless of their ability to pay.  The Bureau of Health Services, under the President, administers the county's public health services and is the second largest public health system in the nation.

Forest Preserve District of Cook County
In 1913, State legislation was passed to establish the Cook County Forest Preserve District as a special district pursuant to (70 ILCS 810.), which was later organized in 1915. Its charter gave the District power to "acquire lands containing forests and land connecting such forests and to maintain, preserve, restore and restock such lands together with their flora, fauna and scenic beauties in their natural condition as nearly as may be for the education, recreation and enjoyment of the people."

The Forest Preserve District is a separate, independent taxing body, but the Cook County Board of Commissioners also acts as the Forest Preserve District Board of Commissioners. The District is a belt of 68,000 acres of forest reservations surrounding the City of Chicago. The Brookfield Zoo (managed by the Chicago Zoological Society) and the Chicago Botanic Garden (managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society) are located in the forest preserves.

Link to the Forest Preserve Districts's website at fpdcc.com.