Records that survive
These are the record series from McHenry 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 Northern Illinois University in DeKalb.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1837–1923
- Marriage Record Index1837–1923
- Birth Certificates, Delayed1849–1900
- Birth Record Index1849–1916
- Birth Record1877–1902
- Death Record1877–1909
- Death Record Index1877–1924
Deeds and land
- Deed Record1840–1945
- Deed Index1841–1945
- Road Papers (Hartland Twp.)1842–1920
Naturalization
- Naturalization Papers, Circuit Court1830–1915
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, Circuit Court1851–1954
- Naturalization Record, Final, Circuit Court1851–1888
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, County Court1858–1906
- Naturalization Record of Soldiers and Minors, Circuit Court1869–1899
- Naturalization Dockets, Circuit Court1883–1888
- Naturalization Record, County Court1899–1906
- Naturalization Petition Record, Circuit Court1906–1955
- Naturalization Order Books, Circuit Court1929–1947
Tax records
- Collector's Books1964–1967
- Assessor's Books1968–1969
Court records
- Circuit Court Case Files1838–1869
- Justice's Transcript Record1858–1895
- Sheriff's Process Dockets1875–1966
- Sheriff's Execution Dockets1925–1975
Schools
- School District Annual Audit Reports1962–1975
- School District Annual Audit and Financial Reports1968–1972
Town and city records
- Road Papers (Marengo Twp.)1837–1878
- Village Treasurer's Reports (Fox River Grove)1974–1975
County government
- Village Annual Audit Reports (Fox River Grove)1965–1974
Other records
- Road Papers1837–1935
- County Yearbooks1943–1986
- Livestock Test Card Files1957–1969
- Animal Complaint Files1961–1976
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
- McHenry 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, McHenry" 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: Cook County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Cook County
Later formed partly from McHenry County: Lake County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1836, 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.