Piatt County, Illinois Genealogy
Guide to Piatt 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
Piatt County was named for James A. Piatt, a local resident instrumental in formation of the county. The county was organized in 1841 and its seat is Monticello.[1] Piatt County is located in the central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Piatt County Courthouse
101 W Washington St
Monticello, IL 61856
Phone: 217-762-9487
Piatt County Courthouse
County records are most often kept at the County Courthouse or another local repository. For further information about where the records for Piatt County are kept, see the Piatt County Courthouse page.
Piatt 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 |
| 1877 | 1841 | 1877 | 1841 | 1852 | 1841 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
- Parent County(s): Created from DeWitt and Macon Counties on January 27, 1841.
- County Seat: Monticello
- Illinois Individual County Chronologies - Newberry Library list of all boundary changes by county
- Illinois Historical Borders - Map at Newberry Library Atlas of Historical County Boundaries; Also at: mapofus.org - animated maps illustrating Illinois county boundary changes
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 | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
| Historic communities | ||
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History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois has a Piatt County edition. This includes a state history section along with a county history and biographies of Piatt County residents. See the wiki article for links to available copies and indexes.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Dewitt and Piatt Counties, Illinois 1891 (Internet Archive)
Piatt County Biographies Bibliography (WorldCat)
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1860 | 6,127 | — |
| 1870 | 10,953 | 78.8% |
| 1880 | 15,583 | 42.3% |
| 1890 | 17,062 | 9.5% |
| 1900 | 17,706 | 3.8% |
| 1910 | 16,376 | −7.5% |
| 1920 | 15,714 | −4.0% |
| 1930 | 15,588 | −0.8% |
| 1940 | 14,659 | −6.0% |
| 1950 | 13,970 | −4.7% |
| 1960 | 14,960 | 7.1% |
| 1970 | 15,509 | 3.7% |
| 1980 | 16,581 | 6.9% |
| 1990 | 15,548 | −6.2% |
| 2000 | 16,365 | 5.3% |
| 2010 | 16,729 | 2.2% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1850-1880 Illinois Mortality Schedules, 1850-1880 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
Church Records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court 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.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Illinois State University (ISU) - search for Piatt County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the ISU IRAD Wiki page.
Online Court Indexes and Records
- 1841-1954 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
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
- 1859-1915 Probate Guardian's Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
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
- 1835-1854 Book of Taxable Lands and Patentees. Illinois Auditor's Office. FS Catalog Collection Item 3
- 1840-1931 Deed and Mortgage Records and Index at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1841-1954 Deeds, Piatt County (Illinois) Recorder. FS Library film 987233 first film of 46 microfilm. indexes included.
- 1868-1912 Sheriff's Certificate Sale record and Sheriff's deed record, 1868-1912. FS Library film 988092
- 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
- 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
- 1861-1861 Militia Roll Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1862-1965 Illinois, Military Discharge Records, ca.1862 - ca.1965 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1864-1888 Naturalization Records of Soldiers and Minors at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
War of 1812
Military Land Grants in Piatt County Illinois for Soldiers of the War of 1812 - USGenWeg
Civil War
- 1860-1864 Enlisted Men in the Civil War. Piatt County Clerk. FS Library film 988102 Items 2-8
- 1861 Soldiers' Enlistment. Piatt County Recorder FS Library 988102 Item 1
Civil War Discharges, Piatt County Historical and Genealogical Society. FS Catalog book 977.3673 M2ci Civil War Veterans, Piatt County: an Information guide. By Dorothy Dowdle.FS Catalog book 977.3673 M2c
- 1865-1920 Soldiers' Discharges. Piatt County Recorder. Includes index. FS Library film 988102 Item 9
- 1883 List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883 (Internet Archive)
Regiments. Civil War service men from Piatt 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 Piatt County.
- - 2nd Regiment, Illinois Cavalry,Company F
- - 21st Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C
- - 73rd Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D
- - 107th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company C, Company E,
- - 116th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company A
- - 144th Regiment, Illinois Infantry, Company D
World War I
World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918Piatt County(Ancestry)
World War II
Army Casualties (U.S. National Archives and Record Administration)
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.
The following copies of original records may be accessed through the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Illinois State University (ISU) - search for Piatt County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the ISU IRAD Wiki page.
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 ($)
- 1858-1906 Naturalization Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1858-1884 Naturalization Records. Circuit Court. FS Library film 988112
- 1862-1906 Naturalization Records, Circuit Court. FS Library film 988112 Items 2-4 and Item 6
Newspapers
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry ($) - index
- 1800s-Current Illinois, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and EventsIndex, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Newspapers Published in Piatt County (Illinois Newspaper Project)
- Chronicling America (Library of Congress)
- Piatt County Republican and Piatt Independent. FS Library film 225799 First film of 24.
Obituaries
- 1831-Onward Illinois Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
Other Records
Almshouse Records
Almshouse Register FS Library film 1598490, item 11(*); and FS Library book: 977.3673 P3w
Criminal and Punishments
- 1868-1899 Court Criminal Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Public Records
- 1839-2002 Public Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Periodicals
Probate Records
Original estates and wills are held in the office of the Circuit Court Clerk. See Illinois Probate Records for more information about using probate records.
The following abstracts and copies of original records may be accessed through the FamilySearch Library or the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) located at the Illinois State University (ISU) - search for Piatt County records. For information on how to use IRAD see the ISU IRAD Wiki page.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1772-1999 Illinois Wills and Probate Records 1772-1999 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
- 1819-1988 Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1988 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Images only
- 1843-1887 Probate Record. Piatt County Court FS Library film 988103 first film of 7
- 1843-1961 Probate Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1850-1918 Will Record. Piatt County Court. FS Library films 988110 and 988111
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- 1976-1978 School Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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
Online Tax Indexes and Records
- 1835-1912 Tax Records at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Vital Records
Order Birth and Death Certificates Online
Birth
- 1863-1974 Birth Records and Index at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- 1877-1931 Birth Records. Piatt County Clerk. FS Library 988094-988095 Includes index. Book: 977.3673 V22i
Marriage
- 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
- 1841-1874 Piatt County Marriage Records. FS Library fiche 6088847 FS Library Book 977.3 A1 no. 236
- 1841-1971 Marriage Register. Piatt County Clerk. FS Library 988101
- 1878-1938 Marriage Records. Piatt County Clerk. FS Library film 988100
- 1878-1971 Marriage Records and Index at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
Death
- 1749-1999 Illinois Deaths and Burials, 1749-1999 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index and images
- 1841-1853 Piatt County, Illinois Marriage and Cemetery Records, 1841-1853. at Ancestry
- 1877-1915 Death Records, Piatt County County Clerk. FS Library film 988098 and 988099 Includes index.
- 1877-1974 Death Records and Index at IRAD-ISU - images; physical holdings not online, copies can be requested, List of records available
- Pre-1916 Illinois Statewide Death Index, Pre-1916 at Illinois State Archives - index; also at: MyHeritage($)
- 1916–1950 Illinois Deaths, 1916-1950 at MyHeritage - index ($)
- 1916-1972 Database of Illinois Death Certificates, 1916-1972 - index
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Piatt 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 Piatt County.
Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD)
Illinois State Universtiy (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
- Champaign Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Decatur Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Mattoon Illinois FamilySearch Center
- Champaign County Historical Archives - an affiliate library
- Danville Public Library (Illinois) - an affiliate library
- Vespasian Warner Public Library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Piatt County. For state-wide library facilities, see Illinois Archives and Libraries.
Public Libraries of Piatt County
Website
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Piatt County. For state-wide genealogical and historical societies, see Illinois Societies.
Piatt County Genealogical and Historical Society
1115 N. State Street, Suite 119
PO Box 111
Monticello Illinois 61856
Phone 217-762-9997
Email:piatthistory@gmail.com
Website
Websites
- Piatt County ILGenWeb
- Piatt County IL Genealogy
- Name Index to Illinois Local Governments
- Piatt 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
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Piatt County, Illinois Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ill/piatt/ accessed 04/19/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Piatt County, Illinois" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piatt_County,_Illinois, accessed 04/19/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Piatt 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.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Piatt County, Illinois," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piatt_County%2C_Illinois, accessed 17 March 2020.