Records that survive
These are the record series from Peoria 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 Western Illinois University in Macomb.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Record1825–1915
- Birth Certificates (Kickapoo Twp.)1872–1942
- Death Record1877–1915
- Birth Record1878–1915
- Poor Farm Cemetery Record1899–1956
- Burial and Removal Permits (Kickapoo Twp.)1922–1934
- Death Certificates (Kickapoo Twp.)1933–1941
Deeds and land
- Deed Record1817–1862
- School Trustees' Minutes1838–1954
- School Trustees' and Treasurer's Annual Reports1860–1961
Wills and estates
- Probate Case Files1825–1887
Military and pensions
- Military Discharge Record1863–1928
Tax records
- Tax Sale Abstracts1823–1865
- Tax Sale Record1834–1846
- Road Tax Books1841–1845
- Collector's Accounts1849–1867
- Tax Judgment Record1850–1874
- Assessor's Books (Peoria)1858–1859
- Railroad Tax Books1859–1863
- Tax Lists, Delinquent1872–1876
- Collector's Books1902–1949
- Assessor's Books1932–1969
- Tax Levy Certificates (Timber Twp.)1943–1948
- Road Tax Levy Petitions (Timber Twp.)1945
Court records
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1825–1996
- Circuit Court Case Files1825–1879
- Circuit Court Index1825–1986
- County Order Record1837–1849
- Justice of the Peace Dockets1858–1881
- County Order Registers1873–1880
- Jury Order Registers1878–1880
- Circuit Court Master's Sale Reports1885–1895
- Sheriff's Fee Books1894–1902
Schools
- School District Record1859–1888
- School Treasurer's Cash Books (Princeville Twp.)1889–1906
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1896–1943
- School Teachers' Term Registers1902–1908
- School Teachers' Annual Reports1922–1924
- School Election Papers1935–1979
- School District Annual Financial Reports1962–1969
Elections and voters
- Election Papers1826–1972
- Voter Registers (Kickapoo Twp.)1904–1940
- Election Papers (Timber Twp.)1938–1959
- Township Officials' Nomination Certificates (Timber Twp.)1941–1949
- Township Officials' Nomination Petitions (Timber Twp.)1947
Town and city records
- City Treasurer's Account Books (Peoria)1849–1870
- Estray Record (Kickapoo Twp.)1856–1907
- City Treasurer's Account Journals (Peoria)1861–1876
- Township Record (Kickapoo Twp.)1864–1990
- Township Auditors' Record (Kickapoo Twp.)1879–1968
- Township Auditors' Record (Medina Twp.)1882–1957
- Township Record (Medina Twp.)1882–1978
- Township Supervisor's Account Books (Kickapoo Twp.)1884–1990
- Road Record (Medina Twp.)1891–1963
- Road and Bridge Account Books (Kickapoo Twp.)1914–1987
- Township Treasurer's Account Record (Princeville Twp.)1936–1957
- Poor Relief Fund Record (Kickapoo Twp.)1937–1945
- Township Clerk's Bond Account Books (Kickapoo Twp.)1937–1962
- Poor Relief Accounts (Timber Twp.)1942–1943
- and 6 more series in the full listing
County government
- County Officials' Registers1825–1832
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Medina Twp.)1880–1945
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Kickapoo Twp.)1918–1934
- Highway Commissioners' Annual Reports (Timber Twp.)1944–1948
- Poor Relief Overseer's Bond Record (Timber Twp.)1947
Other records
- Almshouse Registers1848–1936
- Treasurer's Ledgers1855–1865
- Patent Record, Invention1869–1872
- State's Attorney's Miscellanous Files1956–1975
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
- Peoria 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, Peoria" 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: Fulton County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Fulton County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1825, 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.