The 1854 Gazetteer of the United States by Thomas Baldwin shows:

COLES, a county in the S. E. central part of Illinois, has an area of 880 square miles. It is intersected by the Kaskaskia and Embarras rivers, which flow nearly southward. The surface is rolling, and mostly destitute of forests; a part of Grand Prairie is included in the county; the soil is very fertile. Indian corn, wheat, oats, hay, pork, and butter are the staples. In 1850 the county produced 1,012,735 bushels of corn; 21,338 of wheat; 136,450 of oats, and 159,133 pounds of butter. It contained 16 churches, 2 newspaper offices; 1299 pupils attending public schools, and 50 attending an academy. The county is intersected by the Chicago branch of the Central railroad. Named in honor of Edward Coles, second governor of the state of Illinois. Capital, Charleston. Population, 9335.