Vital Records

Illinois Department of Public Health - Vital Records Administrative Code

Cook County Genealogy - BMD Database

Illinois Vital Records (Ordering Information)

Illinois Secretary of State Archives Databases

Earliest Records in County Courthouses

Illinois Records and Depository System

Illinois Vital Records - VitalChek

Land Records/Maps

Illinois Public Land Sales Database - Illinois State Archives

Public Domain Land Sale - Illinois State Museum

Illinois County Boundaries 1970 - Present

USGenWeb Archives - Illinois Maps

Historical Maps of the United States

Illinois Migrations Project - Internation Migrations Database - access Illinois entries

Illinois Cemeteries

Illinois Tombstone Project

Graveyards of Chicago - also has other Illinois cemeteries

Census

US Census Bureau - Illinois Quickfacts

Illinois Census Information

U. S. Gazetteer - Developed by the US Census Bureau. Enter city and state for 1990 population, location, zip codes, and map availability.

The first Federal Census for the state of Illinois was taken in 1820. The census records for 1810-1840 list only the head of household by name. Starting with the 1850 census, members of each household were enumerated. The type of information recorded on each individual varies from year to year. The 1890 census was destroyed by a fire in the Washington, D.C. repository where it was being stored. If your ancestors were in Illinois in 1807, check the Indiana Territory census for that year.

State Census - The state of Illinois conducted its own census enumeration in 1820, 1825, 1830, 1835, 1840, 1845, 1855, and 1865. Each of these enumerated only the head of household. The only census years for which nearly all the records still exist are 1820, 1855, and 1865. The other years are missing some or all of the records. For a more complete description of extant records, check the Genealogical Research Series Pamphlet No. 5: State Census Records from the Illinois State Archives.

Military Census - During the Civil War, state law mandated that township assessors enumerate every male between the ages of 18 and 45 who were fit for military service. These military census lists were compiled from 1861 to 1863, and record each person's name, age, birthplace, and occupation. This series of records is organized by county and township, but has not been indexed. This record series is held at the Illinois State Archives. In addition, it is available through the Family History Library and Heritage Quest.

History

The ILGenWeb History Project

Abraham Lincoln Online

A Chronology of Illinois History

At Home in the Heartland

Military

Illinois in the Civil War

Illinois Civil War Links

ILGenWeb County Projects

1929 Illinois Roll of Honor

Obituaries

Contact the local library/libraries in the county you are researching.

Contact the local genealogy/historical society.

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library

Newspaper Abstracts

USGenWeb Archives - Illinois

Adoptions

Cyndi's List of Adoption