Stark County, Illinois Genealogy Records

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

Formed
1839
County seat
Toulon
Bureau CountyFulton CountyHenry CountyKnox CountyLaSalle CountyLee CountyMarshall CountyMcDonough CountyMcLean CountyMercer CountyPeoria CountyRock Island CountyTazewell CountyWarren CountyWhiteside CountyWoodford CountyPutnam CountyStark CountyBureauHenryKnoxMarshallMercerPeoriaRock IslandWarrenWoodfordPutnamStark
Stark CountyParent county (search here for earlier records)Today's boundaries · U.S. Census Bureau

Records that survive

These are the record series from Stark 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 Record1839–1931
  • Marriage Record Index1839–1982
  • Birth Certificates1877–1904
  • Death Record1877–1901

Deeds and land

  • Deed Record1882–1891
  • School Trustees' and Treasurer's Annual Reports1948–1958

Tax records

  • Collector's Books1849–1934

Schools

  • School Treasurer's Account Books1923–1958
  • School Warrants1946–1951
  • School Treasurer's Semi-annual Reports1948–1950
  • School Officers' Directories1949
  • School Board Directors' Annual Reports1951
  • School Election Papers1951
  • School Treasurer's Cash Books1954–1968
  • School District Annual Audit Reports1961–1971

Town and city records

  • Township Treasurer's Publication Certificates1948–1950

Other records

  • Almshouse Registers1868–1941

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

  • Stark 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, Stark" 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: Putnam County

Check the parent county for earlier records: Putnam County

PeoriaFultonTazewellKnoxHenryWhitesideLivingstonLA SalleLeeMcLEANMarshallBureauPutnamStarkStarkPutnamPeoriaKnoxHenryMarshallBureau
Stark as created in 1839Where 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 1839, 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.