Records that survive
These are the record series from Livingston 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 Licenses1837–1900
- Marriage Record1837–1943
- Birth Certificates1856–1900
- Birth Record1856–1903
- Birth Record Index, Delayed1866–1950
- Death Record1877–1900
- Marriage Record Index1915–1975
Deeds and land
- School Land Sale Record1841–1868
- School Trustees' Minutes1853–1954
- Swamp Land Record1857–1865
- Chattel Mortgage Record1859–1946
- Chattel Mortgage Dockets1893–1933
- Chattel Mortgage Index1937–1959
- School Survey Committee Files1947
Wills and estates
- Probate Case Files1837–1958
- Probate Docket Index1917–1926
Military and pensions
- Military Discharge Record1862–1919
Tax records
- Assessor's Books1862–1970
- Tax Lists, Delinquent1872–1876
- Railroad Tax Books1876–1954
- Motor Fuel Tax Audit Reports1930–1966
Court records
- Justice of the Peace Dockets1872–1932
- Jail Registers1906–1955
- School Literary Society Minutes, High School1907–1910
Schools
- School Treasurer's Loan Books1855–1934
- School District Record1861–1957
- School Teachers' Certificate Registers1873–1964
- School Superintendent's Annual Reports1883–1980
- School Teachers' Institute Record1885–1930
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1889–1952
- School Employment Record1890–1961
- School Township Fund Record1894–1959
- Township School District Files1896–1951
- School District Miscellaneous Files1898–1951
- School Pupil Diploma Record1898–1995
- School Student Permanent Record, High School1898–1921
- School Superintendent's Awards Record1902–1930
- School Teachers' Permanent Record1919–1971
- and 7 more series in the full listing
Town and city records
- Township Treasurer's Account Books1859–1956
County government
- Board of Supervisors' Proceedings Files1856–1975
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
- Livingston 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, Livingston" 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: La Salle County (extinct), McLean County
Check the parent county for earlier records: McLean County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1837, 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.