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Lake 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
Lake County, Illinois Facts
When was Lake County, IL Created?
Lake County was established on March 1, 1839.
What is the County Seat of Lake County, IL?
The County Seat is located in Waukegan was originally named Little Fort until 1849 (prior county seats was Burlington from 1839–1841) also, the county government website is www.lakecountyil.gov/ .
What counties are adjacent to Lake County, IL?
Bordering Counties are Kenosha County, WI, Allegan County, Michigan, Van Buren County, Michigan, Berrien County, Michigan, Cook County, McHenry County
Lake County, IL Vital Records
Where can find Lake County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Lake 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 Lake 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
Lake County, IL Census Records
What Lake County, IL census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Lake County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Lake Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Lake Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Lake 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
Lake County, IL Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Lake County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Lake 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 Lake 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.
- Lake County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 18 N. County St., Waukegan, IL 60085
- Lake County Clerk
- Phone: 847-377-2400
- Marriage Records: 1839
- Birth & Death Records: 1877
- Lake County Recorder of Deeds
- Phone: 847-377-2575
- Land Records:1839
- Lake County Clerk of the Circuit Court,
- Phone: 847-377-3380
- Probate Records: 1839
- Court Records: 1840
- The county archives of the state of Illinois
- BLM Land Records
Lake County, IL Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Lake County, IL?
A list of Lake County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Illinois Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Lake County History Archives, 27277 N Forest Preserve Rd, Wauconda, IL 60084; 847-968-3381 (phone)
- Barrington Area Historical Society, 212 West Main Street, Barrington, Illinois 60010-3011; 847.381.1730
- Lake County Genealogical Society, PO Box 998, Mundelein, IL 60060-4534
- Lakes Region Historical Society and Museum, 817 N. Main, PO Box 240, Antioch, IL 60003
- Warren Township Historical Society, P.O. Box 84, Gurnee, IL 60031-0084; (847) 263-9540
- Waukegan Historical Society, Bowen Park, 1917 N. Sheridan Rd., Waukegan, IL 60087 (847) 336-1859
- Zion Genealogical Society, 2400 Gabriel Ave, Zion, IL 60099
- Northern Illinois University (NIU), Illinois Regional Archives Depository, c/o Regional History Center, Founders Memorial Library, Rm. 400, Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, IL 60115; 815-753-1807
- 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 Lake County, IL Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Illinois Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- Illinois State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Lake County, Illinois Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Lake County
- Lake County, Illinois Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Lake County, IL?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Lake 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.
Lake Co. IL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Illinois Links and Information
- Lake Co. D.O.T. Map
- Map of Lake County and its civil and congressional townships
- Lake Federal Township Plats of Illinois (1804-1891) (landplats.ilsos.net)
- 1892 Lake Co., IL Railroad Map (usgwarchives.net)
- 1895 Lake County Map (livgenmi.com)
Lake 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)
- Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois) (search.ancestry.com)
- Cook County Herald (Arlington Heights, Illinois) (search.ancestry.com)
- Lake County, Illinois Books (amazon.com)
- Search Illinois Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Lake Co. IL Cemeteries & Church Records
- Lake Co., Illinois Graves (findagrave.com)
- Lake County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Lake Co., Illinois Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Lake Co., Illinois Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Lake County, Illinois Church Books (amazon.com)
Lake 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)
Lake Co. IL General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Illinois
- Lake County, Illinois Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Lake County Fact Sheet (cyberdriveillinois.com)
- Historical and statistical sketches of Lake County, state of Illinois (search.ancestry.com)
- Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Lake County (search.ancestry.com)
- Lake County, Illinois Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Lake Co. IL Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Lake County, Illinois (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Illinois – Counties – Lake (cyndislist.com)
- Lake County Illinois (genealogytrails.com)
- Lake Co. ILGenweb (ilgenweb.net)
- Lake County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Lake Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Lake Co. IL Military Records
- Illinois Military Records Research Guide
- 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 Lake County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.