Kankakee County, Illinois Genealogy
Guide to Kankakee County, Illinois ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Kankakee County was named for the Kankakee River. The county was organized on February 11, 1853 and its seat is Kankakee. Kankakee County is located in the northeastern area of the state.[1]
County Courthouse
Kankakee County Courthouse
450 E Court St
Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: 815-936-5700
Kankakee County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Kankakee County are kept, see the Kankakee County Courthouse page.
Kankakee County, Illinois Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1878 | 1853 | 1878 | 1853 | 1832 | 1853 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit HomeTown Locator. The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[4]
| Cities | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Townships | ||
History Timeline
Various Counties created from or to Kankakee Co.
- 1833-1853 Iroquois
- 1826-1835 Vermilion
- 1823-1825 Edgar
- 1823-1825 Fulton
- 1819-1823 Clark
- 1816-1819 Crawford
- 1815-1816 Edwards
- 1812-1815 Madison
- 1801-1812 St. Clair
- 1790-1801 Knox, Northwest Territory
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Kankakee County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Kankakee County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 15,412 | — |
| 1870 | 24,352 | 58.0% |
| 1880 | 25,047 | 2.9% |
| 1890 | 28,732 | 14.7% |
| 1900 | 37,154 | 29.3% |
| 1910 | 40,752 | 9.7% |
| 1920 | 44,940 | 10.3% |
| 1930 | 50,095 | 11.5% |
| 1940 | 60,877 | 21.5% |
| 1950 | 73,524 | 20.8% |
| 1960 | 92,063 | 25.2% |
| 1970 | 97,250 | 5.6% |
| 1980 | 102,926 | 5.8% |
| 1990 | 96,255 | −6.5% |
| 2000 | 103,833 | 7.9% |
| 2010 | 113,449 | 9.3% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- FamilySearch Places
- The Kankakee Valley Genealogical Society has published many church records some are available. WorldCat
Catholic
- 1800-1976 Illinois, U.S., Catholic Diocese of Joliet, Sacramental Records, 1800-1976 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- St George Catholic Church Records 1868-1957. by Bill KorstickWorldCat
Court Records
Online Court Indexes and Records
Original court records are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Court Records for more information about using court records.
- 1853-1949 Court Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African Americans
- African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records
- Illinois African-American Resource Guide by the Illinois State Archives describes what records are at the State Archives with an online method for ordering records.
- African-American Resources for Illinois
French
Bourbonnais; or the Early French Settlements in Kankakee County, Illinois at Archive.org
French Canadians
The French Canadian Interview Project (Kankakee Community College) Photos, oral histories, and family tree information for 16 French Canadian Kanakakee County citizens.
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Original land records are held in the office of the County Clerk . See Illinois Land and Property for more information about using land records.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1796-1907 U.S. General Land Office Records found at Ancestry ($)
- 1820-Onward Land Patent Search See Illinois Land and Property for more information about this database.
- 1851-1920 Assessor's Books at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- Illinois Federal Township Plats at Illinois Digital Archives - images; by County
- Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales at the Illinois State Archives - index; by purchaser's name and by legal description; Also at Ancestry ($).
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- 1788-1940 Maps of Illinois (1788-1940)
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
For information about using Military records see Illinois Military Records
Revolutionary War
Veteran Burials (Source: Genealogy Trails History Group)
Civil War
Regiments. Civil War service men from Kankakee County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies or regiments that were formed from men of Kankakee County.
Artillery
Cavalry
Infantry
- - 20th_Regiment,_Illinois_Infantry, Company G .
- - 42nd_Regiment,_Illinois_Infantry, Company D, andCompany H.
- - 53rd_Regiment,_Illinois_Infantry, Company E.
- - 76th_Regiment,_Illinois_Infantry, Company D,Company F,Company H, and Company I.
- - 88th_Regiment,_Illinois_Infantry, Company F.
- - 113th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company B, Company H, and Company K.
- - 138th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company G.
- - 147th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company K.
- - 156th_Regiment,_Illinois_Infantry, Company F.
- Grand Army of the Republic (GAR)
- A list of GAR post in Illinois, additional site for post list Library of Congress
- Civil War Veterans of Kankakee County, Illinois: Department of Illinois, Grand Army of the Republic. by Mary Ann Schatz.FS Library Film 982173 item 5 Book 977.363 M2
- 1883 Kankakee County Pensioner List - USGenWeb
Naturalization and Citizenship
Original naturalization records are held in the office of the County Clerk. See Illinois Naturalization Records for more information about using naturalization records.
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1800-1998 Illinois, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1998 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1856-1991 Illinois, U.S., Federal Naturalization Records, 1856-1991 at Ancestry - index & images ($)
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Illinois, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and EventsIndex, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
Chronicling America ( Library of Congress )
Obituaries
- 1880-Onward Illinois, Kankakee County Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
Other Records
Public Records
- 1898-1971 Public Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Periodicals
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1819-1988 Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1853-1900 Probate Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1853-1928 Kankakee County Illinois probate and will records on 21 films FS Library film 2259223
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- 1949-1949 School Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
- 1858-1919 Tax Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Vital Records
The website of the Kankakee County Clerk explains how to order original birth, marriage, and death records.
Birth
Original birth records at County Clerk. The following copies are available:
- 1863-1926 Birth Records and Index at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
1864-1910 Birth Certificates, Delayed. FS Library film 1839996 and 1839997 for years 1863-1915.
1877-1918 Birth Records. FS Library film 1839989, first of 7 films
Marriage
Original marriage records at County Clerk.
- 1587-1959 Illinois, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index ($)
- 1763-1900 Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1805-1985 Illinois, Church Marriages, 1805-1985 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index
- 1810-1940 Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1833-1889 Illinois, Civil Marriages, 1833-1889 at FamilySearch — index
- 1853-1967 Marriage Records and Index at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1853-1926 Marriage Record. FS Library film 1839991, first of 24
- 1899-1905 Marriage License Applications. FS Library, film 1839993
- Kankakee County Miscellaneous Marriages at GenealogyBuff
Death
Original death records at County Clerk.
- 1749-1999 Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1877-1916 Death Record Index. FS Library film 1839989, item 6; first film of 3
- 1877-1958 Death Records and Index at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1915-1951 Death Certificates IRAD-ISU Also available at the FS Library film 2260093
- Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1916-1950 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1950 at Illinois State Archives - index; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1916-1958 Death Certificate Index. FS Library film 2260092, first film of 23
- 1916–1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
- 1916-1972 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1972 - index
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Kankakee County. For state-wide facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
IRAD is a system of Illinois Regional Archives Depositories managed by the Illinois State Archives, housing the archival records of local Illinois counties, townships, municipalities and school districts. The seven Regional Depositories are housed on state university campuses scattered throughout Illinois. Illinois State University houses the records for Kankakee County.
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
Illinois State University (ISU)
2016 Warehouse Road Campus
Box 1520
Normal, Illinois 61802
Phone: 1-309-452-6027
Illinois Regional Archives Depository System - Local Governmental Records Listings Arranged by County
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Bourbonnais Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Chicago Heights Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Joliet Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Morris Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Jasper County Public Library - DeMotte - an affiliate library
- Jasper County Public Library - Wheatfield - an affiliate library
- LaSalle County Genealogy Guild - an affiliate library
- Wilmington Public Library District - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Kankakee County. For state-wide library facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Kankakee County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Illinois Societies.
Bourbonnais Grove Historical Society
PO Box 311
698 Stratford Drive East
Bourbonnais, IL 60914-0311
Phone: 815-933-6452
Email: bbgrovehs@yahoo.com
Website
Bradley Historical Society
147 S. Michigan Ave
Bradley, IL 60915
Phone: 815-936-5149 (village hall)
Email: bradleyhist@gmail.com
Website
Kankakee County Historical Society
801 South 8th Avenue
Kankakee, IL 60901
Phone: 815-932-5279
Email: kankakeecountymuseum@gmail.com
Website
Kankakee Valley Genealogical Society
PO Box 442
Bourbonnais, IL 60914
Website
Manteno Area Historical Society
192 West 3rd
Manteno, IL 60950-1104
Phone: 815-933-2031
Website
Websites
- Kankakee County IL Genealogy
- Local Governmental Records Database
- Kankakee ILGenWeb
- Kankakee County, IL Linkpendium
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Kankakee County, Illinois" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kankakee_County,_Illinois 04/17/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Kankakee County, Illinois. Page 192-199 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 194-197.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002).At various libraries (WorldCat); FSC Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Kankakee County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kankakee_County%2C_Illinois, accessed 19 March 2020.