Records that survive
These are the record series from Edgar 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 Eastern Illinois University in Charleston.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1823–1904
- Marriage Record, Licenses Issued1823–1903
- Marriage Licenses1855
- Birth Certificates, Delayed1857–1899
- Birth Record1877–1908
- Birth Record Index1877–1908
- Death Record1877–1901
- Death Record Index1877–1915
- Marriage Record Index1878–1903
Deeds and land
- Deed Index1823–1919
- Deed Record1823–1894
- Taxable Lands Lists1823–1838
Tax records
- Tax Levy Files (Brouilletts Creek Twp.)1962
Court records
- Recorder's Miscellaneous Record1886–1899
Schools
- School District Organization Files, High Schools1913–1937
- School District Organization Files1915–1955
- School Classification Reports, Preliminary1935–1957
- School District Organization Record1947–1952
Town and city records
- Township Record (Elbridge Twp.)1857–1987
- Road Record (Elbridge Twp.)1859–1919
- Township Supervisor's Account Books (Elbridge Twp.)1880–1934
- Township Fund Publication Statements (Brouilletts Creek Twp.)1899–1973
- City Council Minutes (Chrisman)1902–1983
- Highway Commission Publication Statements (Brouilletts Creek Twp.)1905–1922
- City Ordinance Record (Chrisman)1906–1944
- Township Treasurer's Annual Reports (Brouilletts Creek Twp.)1911–1972
- Road and Bridge Fund Reports (Brouilletts Creek Twp.)1914
- Township Supervisor's Fiscal Reports (Brouilletts Creek Twp.)1922–1973
- Road Petition Public Hearing Notices (Brouilletts Creek Twp.)1924
- Road and Bridge Fund Record (Brouilletts Creek Twp.)1925–1948
- Road and Bridge Fund Record (Elbridge Twp.)1939–1953
- Township Supervisor's Bond Accounts (Brouilletts Creek Twp.)1952–1960
- and 3 more series in the full listing
County government
- Board of Supervisors' Proceedings Files1858–1920
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Elbridge Twp.)1867–1928
- Highway Commissioners' Annual Reports (Brouilletts Creek Twp.)1962–1972
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
- Find Edgar County's official website
We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the county clerk, the recorder of deeds and the clerk of the circuit court.
- 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, Edgar" 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: Clark County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Clark County
Later formed partly from Edgar County: Coles County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1823, 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.