EFFINGHAM

city, county seat of Effingham, east central Illinois, U.S. Settled in 1854 with the arrival of the Illinois Central Railroad and originally called Broughton, it was renamed in 1859 for Thomas Howard, 3rd earl of Effingham, who had opposed British colonial policy. The community grew as pioneers moved westward along the Cumberland (National) Road, which had been extended through the area in 1831. The economy is based on agriculture, dairying, manufacturing (chiefly home appliances), and printing. Lake Sara, a recreational area, is nearby to the west. Inc. village, 1854; city, 1861. Pop. (1990) 11,927; (1998 est.) 12,820.