MACOMB

city, seat (1826) of McDonough county, western Illinois, U.S., on the east fork of the La Moine River. Settled by New Englanders in 1829 and originally called Washington, it was laid out (1830) and renamed after General Alexander Macomb, an officer in the War of 1812. The city is the site of Western Illinois University (founded there as a normal school in 1899). The economy is based on light manufacturing (pottery, porcelain products, and roller bearings) and on agriculture. Argyle Lake State Park is to the west. Inc. town, 1841; city, 1857. Pop. (1991 est.) 20,148.