Records that survive
These are the record series from Champaign County held by the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system, with the earliest and latest years. A span can include gaps. They include county, township and city records. This county's are held at Illinois State University in Normal.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Licenses1833–1915
- Marriage Record1833–1932
- Marriage Record Index1864–1932
- Birth Record1878–1901
- Death Record1878–1901
- Death Record Index1878–1949
- Marriage License Applications1878–1973
- Burial Permit Record (Ogden)1902–1903
- Death Certificates1902–1915
- Death Record (Champaign)1909–1913
- Cemetery Record, Civil War Veterans1916–1931
- Birth Certificates, Adoptees1940–1946
Deeds and land
- Deed Index1833–1927
- Deed Record1833–1902
- Chattel Mortgage Record1862–1877
- Probate Sale Record, Real Estate1868–1907
- Village Trustees' Minutes (Ogden)1892–1999
- School Trustees' and Treasurer's Annual Reports1895–1961
- School Trustees' Minutes1903–1952
- School Trustees' Annual Reports1935
- Chattel Mortgages1959–1965
Wills and estates
- Probate Case Files1833–1891
- Probate Will Record1833–1953
- Probate Record Index1835–1976
- Probate Record1838–1851
- Probate Inventory Record1859–1952
- Probate Appraisement Record1864–1943
- Probate Appraisement Review Record1950–1955
Naturalization
- Naturalization Record, Circuit Court1858–1906
- Naturalization Record, County Court1860–1902
- Naturalization Record of Minors, Circuit Court1866–1906
- Naturalization Record of Minors, County Court1866–1896
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers, Circuit Court1866–1892
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers, County Court1866–1889
- Naturalization Record, Final, Circuit Court1872–1906
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, County Court1896–1906
Tax records
- Tax Sale Record1857–1872
- Collector's Books1876–1877
- Collector's Accounts1906–1964
- Drainage District Collector's Books, Kankakee District1908–1957
- Drainage District Collector's Books, Special District1911–1955
- Drainage District Collector's Books1928–1951
- Tax Assessment Abstracts1935–1945
- Drainage District Assessment Record, Delinquent1937–1963
- Motor Fuel Tax Allotment Record1946–1958
- Tax Ledgers1947–1965
- Collector's and Treasurer's Accounts1950–1966
Court records
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1833–1942
- Sheriff's Execution Dockets1858–1872
- Sheriff's Process Dockets1867–1893
- Circuit Court Recognizance Record1869–1877
- State's Attorney's Dockets1872–1876
- Police Magistrate Dockets (Ogden)1884–1909
- Justice of the Peace Dockets (Ogden)1885–1936
- Sheriff's Process Dockets, Criminal1886–1917
- County Court Dockets1890–1898
- Insanity Record1893–1952
- Road Bond Issue Committee Minutes1923–1939
- Board of Review Minutes1932–1952
- Jail Account Book1942–1946
- Jail Registers1956–1971
Schools
- School Superintendent's Annual Reports1856–1961
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1890–1961
- School Superintendent's Visitation Record1913
- School District Annual Audit Reports1937–1965
- School Building Construction Files1963–1966
Town and city records
- Village Treasurer's Account Books (Rantoul)1890–1967
- Water and Electric Department Account Books (Rantoul)1950–1956
- Village Treasurer's Cash Books (Rantoul)1955–1958
County government
- County Annual Audit Reports1931–1964
- County Officials' Bonds and Oaths of Office1956–1964
- Village Cash Disbursement Journal (Rantoul)1957–1959
Other records
- Patent Record, Invention1869–1872
- Notary Public Registers1872–1966
- Professional Registers1877–1965
- Architect Registers1897–1915
- Civil Service Rules1905–1954
- Drainage District Ledgers1914–1931
- Optometrist Registers1916–1922
- County Clerk's Miscellaneous Files1940–1970
- Drainage District Bank Books1942–1947
- Treasurer's Ledgers1948–1965
- Drainage District Accounts1950–1962
Search the IRAD database for this county
Source: Illinois State Archives, Local Government Records Database (choose the county to see every series and its accession number). Contact the depository before you visit. Illinois began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1916.
Where to find the records
- Champaign County official website
Hours, addresses and phone numbers for the county clerk, the recorder of deeds and the clerk of the circuit court, and any online record search the county offers.
- The county clerk
Births, deaths and marriages registered in the county.
- The recorder of deeds
Deeds, mortgages and other land records (in some counties the county clerk is also the recorder).
- The clerk of the circuit court
Probate (wills and estates), divorces and civil and criminal cases.
- The Illinois State Archives
In Springfield, with older county records at its regional depositories (IRAD) on university campuses.
- Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) systemfree
The State Archives' regional depositories, which hold older county, township and city records; search its Local Government Records Database by county.
- FamilySearch Catalogfree
Search by place for "Illinois, Champaign" to find filmed and digitized records, many viewable free online with a FamilySearch account.
Offices change their hours and access rules; call before you visit.
Boundaries and parent counties
Formed from: Vermilion County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Vermilion County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1833, search the parent county. The Atlas of Historical County Boundaries shows each boundary change.
Research tip
Illinois began statewide registration of births and deaths in 1916; counties kept registers earlier, often from 1877 or 1878. The Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, from the State Archives, covers many marriages from 1763 to 1900.