Records that survive
These are the record series from Hardin 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 Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Birth Record1884–1918
- Birth Record Index1884–1915
- Death Record1884–1919
- Death Record Index1884–1946
- Marriage Record1884–1920
- Marriage Record Index1884–1969
Deeds and land
- Entry Books1814–1885
- School Trustees' Minutes1857–1953
- Deed Index1863–1904
- Deed Record1863–1942
Wills and estates
- Probate Minutes1884–1888
- Probate Will Record1888–1926
Tax records
- Collector's Books1878–1890
Court records
- Police Magistrate Dockets1892–1955
- Justice of the Peace Dockets1915–1963
- Regional Planning Commission Minutes1971–2004
Schools
- School Superintendent's Record1882–1905
- School District Record1888–1960
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1890–1962
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
- Find Hardin 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, Hardin" 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: Pope County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Pope County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1839, 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.