Records that survive
These are the record series from McLean 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 Record1831–1912
- Birth Record Index1860–1900
- Birth Record1877–1902
- Death Record1877–1900
Deeds and land
- Field Notes Index1870
Wills and estates
- Probate Record1834–1934
- Probate Will Record1838–1940
- Probate Inventory Record1850–1928
- Probate Dockets1862–1939
- Probate Executor's Record1866–1944
Tax records
- Inheritance Tax Record1898–2001
- Utility Company Tax Books1945–1964
- Railroad Tax Books1952–1968
- Tax Levy and Apportionment Files1962–1972
Court records
- Recorder's Unclaimed Instruments1834–1934
- Coroner's Fee and Expense Record1872–1959
- Coroner's Process Dockets1872–1903
- Probate Guardian's and Conservator's Account Record1881–1965
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1888–1977
- Coroner's Inquest Record1889–1940
- Jail Registers1905–1996
- Zoning Board of Appeals Minutes (Normal)1939–1964
- School Board Minutes1947–1963
- Coroner's Inquest Files1953–1975
- Town Accounting Study Committee Minutes (Normal)1965
Schools
- School District Reapportionment Files1909–1943
- School Election Papers1944–1960
- School Building Construction Files1960–1975
Elections and voters
- Election Papers (Normal)1950–1968
Town and city records
- City Council Proceedings Files (Bloomington)1871–1965
- Town Claim Registers (Normal)1929–1937
- Town Auditor's Annual Reports (Normal)1931–1966
- Bus Lines Annual Reports (Normal)1956–1960
- Town Budget and Capital Improvement Plans (Normal)1967–1979
- City Finance Director's Annual Reports (Bloomington)1973
County government
- County Annual Audit Reports1961–1972
Other records
- Coal Mine Maps1909–1926
- Stallion Registration Record1910–1917
- Stallion Renewal Record1910–1918
- Animal Claim Record, Sheep1951–1987
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
- McLean 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, McLean" 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: Tazewell County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Tazewell County
Later formed partly from McLean County: DeWitt County, Livingston County, Woodford County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1830, 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.