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

EFFINGHAM, a county in Illinois, situated towards the S. E. part of the state, contains about 500 square miles. It is drained by the Little Wabash river. The surface is nearly level, and is divided almost equally between prairies and woodlands. The soil is fertile. Grain and wool are the staples. In 1850 it yielded 227,025 bushels of corn; 5169 of wheat; 36,028 of oats; 7105 pounds of wool; 341 tons of hay, and 41,671 pounds of butter. It contained 5 churches, and 526 pupils attending public schools. Mines of copper, iron and lead have recently been discovered here. The railroad between St. Louis and Terre Haute, when finished, will pass through the county; also the Central railroad leading to Chicago. The Little Wabash river affords water-power. Capital, Ewington. Population, 3799.