Records that survive
These are the record series from St. Clair 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 Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Marriages, births and deaths
- Marriage Licenses1807–1976
- Marriage Record1807–1946
- Birth Certificates1830–1923
- Birth and Death Record, Proof of1843–1856
- Poor Farm Death Record1854–1911
- Poor Farm Death and Discharge Record1854–1882
- Death Record, Proof of1870–1882
- Death Record1877–1943
- Death Record Index1877–1943
- Death Record, Stillbirths1877–2005
- Burial Permit Record (Belleville)1878–1888
- Death Record (Belleville)1888–1923
- Poor Farm Burial Record1891–1955
- Marriage License Applications1895–1896
- and 5 more series in the full listing
Deeds and land
- Deed Index1786–1927
- Deed Record1790–1875
- Land Claims Record1798
- Plat Index1817–1907
- Plat Index, Towns1818–1873
- Mortgage Index1840–1849
- Entry Books1848–1880
- Chattel Mortgage Record1865–1877
- Deeds Mailed Record1865–1876
- Mortgage Record1865–1883
- Chattel Mortgage Index1901–1904
- Cahokia Memorial Survey Files, Wpa1938–1940
- Probate Bonds for Sale of Real Estate1938–1963
Wills and estates
- Probate Case Files1817–1906
- Probate Guardian's Letters1829–1859
- Probate Administrator's and Executor's Bonds1831–1861
- Probate Administrator's and Executor's Letters1833–1860
- Probate Administrator's Accounts1848–1964
- Probate Dockets1849–1964
- Probate Fee Books1849–1965
- Probate Guardian's Ledgers1853–1862
- Probate Administrator's and Guardian's Bonds and Letters1859–1861
- Probate Administrator's Fee Books1861–1873
- Probate Administrator's Record1861–1964
- Probate Guardian's Fee Books1861–1941
- Probate Guardian's Record1861–1956
- Probate Administrator's Sale Record1867–1872
- and 11 more series in the full listing
Naturalization
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent Index, Circuit Court1835–1904
- Naturalization Papers Index, Circuit Court1838–1903
- Naturalization Papers, Circuit Court1855–1861
- Naturalization Dockets, Circuit Court1868–1903
- Naturalization Record, Circuit Court1868–1903
- Naturalization Dockets, City Court (East St. Louis)1874–1906
- Naturalization Papers Index, City Court (East St. Louis)1874–1903
- Naturalization Record, City Court (East St. Louis)1874–1906
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent Index, City Court (East St. Louis)1875–1906
- Naturalization Papers, City Court (East St. Louis)1876–1906
- Naturalization Petition Record, City Court (East St. Louis)1903–1947
- Naturalization Record of Minors, City Court (East St. Louis)1903–1906
- Naturalization Declarations of Intent, City Court (East St. Louis)1904–1950
- Naturalization Papers of Minors, City Court (East St. Louis)1905–1906
- and 5 more series in the full listing
Tax records
- Assessor's Books1826–1861
- Collector's Books1842–1884
- Delinquent Tax Lists1845–1848
- Inheritance Tax Dockets1952–1963
- Inheritance Tax Record1957–1969
Court records
- Circuit Court Case Files1790–1870
- Circuit Court Index1790–1913
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes1798–1962
- Circuit Court Order Books1801–1881
- Circuit Court Case Files, Chancery1815–1870
- Circuit Court Record, Chancery1815–1866
- Board of Supervisors' Minutes, Wpa Transcription1817–1830
- Circuit Court Record1817–1841
- Circuit Court Dockets1819–1900
- Circuit Court Fee Books1823–1877
- Circuit Court Judgment Dockets1825–1874
- Justice of the Peace Dockets1839–1926
- Circuit Court Dockets, Chancery1841–1848
- Justice's Transcript Record1847–1873
- and 30 more series in the full listing
Town and city records
- City Council Minutes (Belleville)1846–1951
- City Council Minutes (Mascoutah)1856–1950
- City Ordinance Record (Belleville)1877–1927
- City Ordinance Record (East St. Louis)1881–1906
- City Council Minutes (East St. Louis)1882–1938
- City Council Police Committee Record (Belleville)1897–1934
- License Record (Belleville)1919–1936
- City Council Minutes (O'fallon)1930–1980
- City Council Minutes, Motor Fuel Tax (Belleville)1938–1979
- City Council Minutes, Sewers (Belleville)1938–1957
County government
- Board of Supervisors' Proceedings Files1819–1882
- Poor Farm Board Record1875–1879
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Engelmann Twp.)1884–2001
- Highway Commissioners' Record (Millstadt Twp.)1884–1954
Other records
- Poor Farm Inmate Registers1857–1955
- Adoption Record1858–1947
- Civil War Dependents Relief Record1862–1864
- Poor Farm Inmate Index1881–1955
- Poor Farm Quarterly Reports1881–1893
- Poor Farm Daily Reports1883–1952
- Poor Farm Ledgers1889–1919
- Poor Farm Account Books1898–1901
- County Hospital Admission and Release Record1939–1955
- Adoption Transfer Record1940–1947
- Dependent and Delinquent Children Record1956–1961
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
- St. Clair 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, St. Clair" 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: Land not yet in any county
Later formed partly from St. Clair County: Washington County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1790, 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.