Virden, city, Macoupin county, west-central Illinois, U.S. Virden lies about 20 miles (30 km) south of Springfield. Laid out in 1852 along the Chicago and Mississippi Railroad, it was named for John Virden, a local innkeeper.

When was Virden Illinois founded?

Established in 1852, the town was named for John Virden, who kept a popular stage stand about two miles south of where Virden would be built. He reportedly opened the stage stand about 1838 at the intersection of the Springfield and St. Louis stage line and the Springfield and Vandalia stage line.

How many people died in the Battle of Virden?

A total of 13 men — eight miners, four mine guards and a railroad security officer — died as a result of the Battle of Virden. Two of the dead, Edward Welch and Frank Bilyeu, were from Springfield. Welch is buried in Calvary Cemetery.