The county seat is Monticello, not Canton

Here is something that can surprise newcomers to Lewis County. The best-known town, Canton, sits on the Mississippi River. But Canton is not the county seat. The seat is Monticello, a small inland community to the west. That is where the county business happens. The official county site lists the Lewis County Courthouse at 100 East Lafayette Street in Monticello.

So if you need to handle things like assessment, recording a deed, paying taxes, or court business, you may have to drive to Monticello. That can be true even when your property or activity is in Canton, La Grange, or Ewing.

Monticello is a small place, so people sometimes assume county business runs out of a bigger town. Before you drive over, it is smart to confirm where a given office or court function is handled, and check its hours.