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Franklin County, Illinois
Genealogy, History & Facts
County Vital Records ∣ County Census Records ∣ County Courthouse and Government Records ∣
County Societies, Family History Resources and County Genealogy Links
Franklin County, Illinois Facts
When was Franklin County, IL Created?
Franklin County was established on January 2, 1818.
What is the County Seat of Franklin County, IL?
The County Seat is located in Benton (prior county seats was Shawneetown–Kaskaskia Road, at Moses Garrett’s tavern from 1818–1821 , Frankfort from 1821–1841) also, the county government website is www.franklincountyil.org/ .
What counties are adjacent to Franklin County, IL?
Bordering Counties are Jefferson County, Hamilton County, Saline County, Williamson County, Jackson County, Perry County
Franklin County, IL Vital Records
Where can find Franklin County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Franklin County vital records can be found at the Illinois Department of Public Health has copies of birth, marriage, divorce and death records. There is a fee for each copy requested. Please refer to the information to the Statewide Vital Records in Illinois for current fees and application process.
You can search online for Franklin County Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. You can also Order Electronically Online or can download an application for Illinois Birth Certificate, Marriage Certificate, Divorce Certificate, Death Certificate Applications to mail.
- U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007
- Social Security Death Index
- Order Hard Copies of Vital Records
- USGenweb Archives Illinois Marriage Project
- Cook County Birth Certificates, 1878-1922
- Cook County Birth Registers, 1871-1915
- Illinois Marriage Records, 1860 – 1905
- Illinois County Marriages, 1810-1934
- Cook County, Illinois, Marriage and Death Indexes, 1833-1889
- Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1920
- Illinois Marriages, 1851-1900
- Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900
- Illinois Marriages, 1790-1860
- Illinois Marriages to 1850
- Cook County Deaths, 1878-1922
- Illinois Death Certificates, 1916–1950
- Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947
- Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947
Franklin County, IL Census Records
What Franklin County, IL census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Franklin County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Franklin Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Franklin Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Franklin Co. Union Veterans Schedules is available for 1890. One can find free online and printable census forms to help you with your research. See Also Illinois Census Records Research Guide
Franklin County, IL Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Franklin County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Franklin County court, probate, and land records data as a useful resource of ancestry and genealogy information. Buried away in Illinois courthouses and archives everywhere are the ambitions and frustrations of countless Illinois residents.
The possibilities are excellent that your forefathers have left a comprehensive document of at least a number of facets of their lives in the Franklin County court records. Even if your forebears is not referred to in a Court case, contemplate all of the other procedures that could have lead to him or her to appear in court records. See Also Illinois Corthouse Records Research Guide.
- Franklin County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: Public Courthouse Square, P.O. Box 607, Benton, IL 62812
- Franklin County Clerk & Recorder of Deeds
- Phone: 618-438-3221
- Marriage Records: 1836
- Birth & Death Records: 1877
- Land Records: 1835
- Franklin County Clerk of the Circuit Court,
- Phone: 618-439-2011
- Probate Records: 1837
- Court Records: 1836
- The county archives of the state of Illinois
- BLM Land Records
Franklin County, IL Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Franklin County, IL?
A list of Franklin County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Illinois Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Frankfort Area Genealogical Society, PO Box 427, West Frankfort, IL 62896-0427
- Franklin County Genealogical Society, PO Box 524, West Frankfort, IL 62896
- Southern Illinois University (SIU), Illinois Regional Archives Depository, c/o Special Collections, Morris Library – 6632, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901-6632; 618-453-3040
- Illinois State Archives, Norton Building, Capitol Complex, Springfield, IL 62756; (217) 782-4682
- National Archives – Great Lakes Region (Chicago), 7358 South Pulaski Road, Chicago, Illinois 60629-5898; 773-948-9001
- Illinois State Historical Society 210 1/2 S. Sixth, Springfield, IL 62701-1503; Phone: (217)525-2781
- Illinois State Library, 300 South 2nd Street, Springfield, IL 62701-1796; Phone: (217) 785-5600
- Illinois State Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 10195, Springfield, IL 62791; Phone: (217) 789-1968
Where can I connect with other Franklin County, IL Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Illinois Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- Illinois State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Franklin County, Illinois Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Franklin County
- Franklin County, Illinois Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Franklin County, IL?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Franklin County. These genealogy links fall into 3 categories: Commercial Sites, Private Sites or Organization Sites. Some have free access some require a cost. This is simply a collection that has been gathered or submitted. I do not recommend or promote one genealogy site over another.
Franklin Co. IL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Illinois Links and Information
- Franklin Co. D.O.T. Map
- Map of Franklin County and its civil and congressional townships
- Franklin Federal Township Plats of Illinois (1804-1891) (landplats.ilsos.net)
- 1892 Franklin Co., IL Railroad Map (usgwarchives.net)
- 1895 Franklin County Map (livgenmi.com)
Franklin Co. IL Books, Newspapers & Publications
- Illinois Newspapers Books & Publications Research Guide
- Illinois historical newspaper archives online (newspapers.com)
- Historical Newspapers from Illinois (1808 – 1922) (genealogybank.com) Quickly identify names and keywords and phrases in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and also other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. Unique articles and other content added each and every month!
- Franklin County, Illinois Books (amazon.com)
- Search Illinois Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Franklin Co. IL Cemeteries & Church Records
- Franklin Co., Illinois Graves (findagrave.com)
- Franklin County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Franklin Co., Illinois Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Franklin Co., Illinois Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Franklin County, Illinois Church Books (amazon.com)
Franklin Co. IL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Index to names in twenty-six volumes of Illinois records (search.ancestry.com)
- The Illinois Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Franklin Co. IL General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Illinois
- Franklin County, Illinois Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Franklin County Fact Sheet (cyberdriveillinois.com)
- Franklin County, Illinois Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Franklin Co. IL Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Franklin County, Illinois (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Illinois – Counties – Franklin (cyndislist.com)
- Franklin County Illinois (genealogytrails.com)
- Franklin Co. ILGenweb (ilgenweb.net)
- Franklin County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Franklin Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Franklin Co. IL Military Records
- Illinois Military Records Research Guide
- Index of Franklin County Illinois war history, (originally published, 1920.) (search.ancestry.com)
- Franklin County, Illinois, war history, 1832-1919 : containing a brief review of the World War, complete history of Franklin Co (search.ancestry.com)
- Illinois Military Records (fold3.com) gives easy access to military records, stories, photos, and personal documents belonging to the Illinois both males and females that served. Suitable for Franklin County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.