Records that survive
These are the record series from Johnson 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
- Marriage Record1834–1926
- Marriage Record Index1835–1926
- Birth Record1878–1925
- Death Record1878–1933
- Death Record Index1878–1933
- Birth Record Index1887–1974
Deeds and land
- Deed Index1809–1907
- Deed Record1809–1892
- School Trustees' Minutes1863–1977
Wills and estates
- Probate Minutes1822–1873
- Probate Case Files Index1860–1973
- Probate Will Record1870–1904
Court records
- Territorial County Court Minutes, Wpa Transcription1813–1817
- Circuit Court Record1829–1835
Schools
- School District Record1860–1956
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1888–1969
- School Teachers' Certificate Examination Record1894–1914
- School Teachers' Permanent Record1907–1923
- School Student Permanent Record1918–1946
- School Pupil Examination Record1936–1977
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 Johnson 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, Johnson" 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: Randolph County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Randolph County
Later formed partly from Johnson County: Franklin County, Jackson County, Massac County, Pope County, Union County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1812, 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.