Macoupin County, Illinois Genealogy Records

Which records survive from Macoupin County, the years each set covers, and where to find them.

Formed
1829
County seat
Carlinville
Bond CountyCalhoun CountyChristian CountyClinton CountyFayette CountyGreene CountyJersey CountyMacon CountyMarion CountyMonroe CountyMontgomery CountyMorgan CountyPike CountySangamon CountyScott CountyShelby CountySt. Clair CountyWashington CountyMadison CountyMacoupin CountyBondCalhounClintonFayetteGreeneJerseyMontgomeryPikeMadisonMacoupin
Macoupin CountyParent county (search here for earlier records)Today's boundaries · U.S. Census Bureau

Records that survive

These are the record series from Macoupin 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 the University of Illinois Springfield.

Marriages, births and deaths

  • Marriage Record1829–1900
  • Marriage Record Index1829–1900
  • Birth Record Index1857–1903
  • Birth Record, Delayed1857–1962
  • Marriage License Applications1876–1905
  • Death Record1877–1901
  • Death Record Index1877–1910
  • Birth Record1878–1901
  • Burial Permit Record (Virden)1902–1903
  • Death Record (Virden)1902–1903
  • Death Record, Coroner's1911–1918
  • Death Record (Staunton)1916–1951
  • Birth Record (Staunton)1920–1949
  • Cemetery Inventory Files, Wpa1939–1940

Deeds and land

  • Land Patent Record1819–1917
  • Deed Index1829–1888
  • Deed Record1829–1918
  • Plat Record, Roads1829–1870
  • Surveyor's Record1830–1873
  • School Land Sale Record1838–1859
  • Plats, Schools1866–1885
  • Mortgage Record1868–1921
  • Plats, Roads1873–1908
  • Plat Record1880
  • Tax Deed Affidavit Record1880–1914
  • Mine Entry Books1909–1960
  • Township Trustees' Resolutions (Virden Twp.)1936–1968

Wills and estates

  • Probate Dockets1882–1883

Naturalization

  • Naturalization Papers, Circuit Court1849–1887

Military and pensions

  • Militia Roll Record1861–1863

Tax records

  • Tax Sale Abstracts1839–1865
  • Tax Sale and Redemption Record1839–1880
  • Assessor's Books1842–1918
  • Collector's Books1847–1895
  • Tax Judgment, Sale, Redemption and Forfeiture Record1861–1919
  • Tax Judgment Record1864–1880
  • Assessor's Books (Virden)1869
  • Tax Sale Certificate Record1872–1916
  • Tax Collection and Distribution Record1873–1878
  • Tax Refund Record1873
  • Tax Judgment Dockets1876–1887
  • Tax Collection Memoranda1879–1899
  • Road Tax Lists (Bird Twp.)1896–1900
  • Tax Schedules, Townships1902–1909

Court records

  • Board of Supervisors' Minutes1829–1969
  • Circuit Court Case Files Index, Chancery and Common Law1829–1911
  • Circuit Court Record, Chancery1830–1975
  • Coroner's Inquest Files1835–1928
  • Sheriff's Levy Certificates1841–1951
  • Circuit Court Record Index, Chancery1847–1946
  • Justice of the Peace Dockets (Virden)1857–1957
  • Circuit Court Record Index1858–1900
  • Coroner's Inquest Record1868–1918
  • Jail Registers1870–1956
  • Police Magistrate Dockets (Virden)1870–1960
  • Recorder's Miscellaneous Record1874–1918
  • Board of Health Minutes (Carlinville)1881–1921
  • Circuit Court Fee Books, Chancery1899–1905
  • and 2 more series in the full listing

Schools

  • School District Record1872–1958
  • School Teachers' Term Registers1888–1905
  • School Teachers' Daily Registers1891–1948
  • School Census Reports (Virden)1897
  • School Teachers' Association Record1900–1904
  • School Student Permanent Record1903–1912
  • School District Annual Audit Reports1961–1972
  • School Election Papers1974–1976

Elections and voters

  • Election Papers1837–1859
  • Election Papers (South Palmyra Twp.)1951–1973
  • Election Petitions, Special (Virden Twp.)1952–1967

Town and city records

  • City Council Minutes (Carlinville)1836–1982
  • City Council Minutes (Virden)1861–1966
  • Estray Record (Bird Twp.)1871–1898
  • Township Record (Bird Twp.)1871–1975
  • City Ordinance Record (Carlinville)1884–1983
  • Animal Claim Record, Sheep (Bird Twp.)1899–1927
  • License Record (Carlinville)1899–1933
  • City Ordinance Record (Virden)1911–1936
  • Village Clerk's Account Records (Shipman)1926–1967
  • Poor Relief Fund Record (Bird Twp.)1935–1965
  • Township Resolutions (Cahokia Twp.)1937–1964
  • Township Treasurer's Account Record (Bird Twp.)1943–1983
  • Township Supervisor's Fiscal Reports (Virden Twp.)1948–1959
  • Poor Relief Fund Record (Virden Twp.)1949–1967
  • and 1 more series in the full listing

County government

  • Highway Commissioners' Record (Bird Twp.)1871–1965
  • Highway Commissioners' Record (Virden Twp.)1871–1896
  • Highway Commissioners' Annual Reports (Virden Twp.)1948–1961
  • Village Annual Audit Reports (Brighton)1952–1976
  • Village Annual Audit Reports (Shipman)1952–1966

Other records

  • Marks and Brands Record1829–1880
  • Road Papers1838–1871
  • Estray Record1862–1915
  • Patent Papers, Invention1866–1873
  • Coal Contract Record1873–1881
  • Physician Certificate Record1877–1935
  • Physician and Accoucheur Registers1877–1915
  • Agricultural Statistic Schedules1881–1910
  • Dentist Registers1888–1915
  • Stallion Registration Record1888–1928
  • Architect License Record1897–1921
  • Miners' Examination Record1908
  • Oil Lease Record1908–1913
  • Stallion Renewal Record1914–1918
  • and 4 more series in the full listing

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

  • Macoupin 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, Macoupin" 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: Madison County

Check the parent county for earlier records: Madison County

GreeneMorganClintonBondSangamonPikeCalhounST. ClairMontgomeryFayetteMadisonNon-County Area 2MacoupinMacoupinMadisonGreeneClintonBondCalhounMontgomery
Macoupin as created in 1829Where its land was the day beforeToday's boundaryBoundaries: Newberry Library, Atlas of Historical County Boundaries

Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1829, 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.