Records that survive
These are the record series from Vermilion 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 Licenses1826–1858
- Marriage Record1826–1900
- Marriage Record Index1826–1903
- Marriage Licenses, Minors1833–1852
- Birth Record1877–1915
- Birth Record Index1877–1901
- Death Record1877–1903
- Death Record Index1877–1907
- Death Record, Stillbirths1878–1917
- Birth Record (Indianola)1906–1907
Deeds and land
- School Land Sale Record1843–1949
- Village Trustees' Minutes (Westville)1899–1957
- School Trustees' and Treasurer's Annual Reports1910–1961
Wills and estates
- Probate Case Files1826–1860
Court records
- Police Magistrate Dockets (Westville)1902–1956
- Local Improvements Board Minutes (Hoopeston)1904–1914
- Coroner's Inquest Files1908–1956
- Circuit Court Case Files1920–1931
- Local Improvements Board Minutes (Westville)1923–1927
- Justice of the Peace Dockets1924–1963
- Police Magistrate Dockets1959–1963
Schools
- School Superintendent's Annual Reports1857–1960
- School District Record1861–1959
- School Teachers' Daily Registers1886–1963
- School Student Permanent Record, High School1912–1938
- School Revenue Files, State and Federal1938–1968
- School District Annual Reports1939–1974
- School Election Papers1954–1978
- School District Annual Audit Reports1961–1969
Elections and voters
- Election Papers1936–1960
- Election Papers (Danville Twp.)1955–1977
- Election Papers (Newell Twp.)1973
Town and city records
- City Council Minutes and Ordinance Record (Hoopeston)1874–1885
- Village Ordinance Record (Westville)1896–1903
- City Council Minutes (Hoopeston)1897–1963
- Police Arrest Record (Westville)1901–1915
- Poor Relief Applications (Danville Twp.)1936–1945
- Township Annual Audit Reports (Danville Twp.)1947–1968
County government
- Airport Authority Annual Audit Reports1955–1979
Other records
- Physician Certificate Record1877–1935
- Physician and Accoucheur Registers1877–1909
- Architect License Record1898–1915
- Veterinarian Registers1899–1932
- Miners' Examination Record1908–1913
- Blind Relief Application Record1915–1942
- Criminal Investigation and Parole Files1929–1940
- Treasurer's Statements1961–1969
- License Record1964–1999
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
- Find Vermilion County's official website
We haven't checked this county's website yet, so this opens a web search. Look for an address ending in .gov, then find the county clerk, the recorder of deeds and the clerk of the circuit court.
- 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, Vermilion" 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: Clark County
Check the parent county for earlier records: Clark County
Later formed partly from Vermilion County: Champaign County
Records stay with the county that created them. If your ancestor lived here before 1826, 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.