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Knox 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
Knox County, Illinois Facts
When was Knox County, IL Created?
Knox County was established on January 13, 1825.
What is the County Seat of Knox County, IL?
The County Seat is located in Galesburg (prior county seats was Home of John B. Gum in Henderson from 1830–1831, Henderson—New location, name changed to Knoxville from 1831–1873) also, the county government website is www.knoxcountyil.com/ .
What counties are adjacent to Knox County, IL?
Bordering Counties are Henry County, Stark County, Peoria County, Fulton County, Warren County, Mercer County
Knox County, IL Vital Records
Where can find Knox County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Knox 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 Knox 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
Knox County, IL Census Records
What Knox County, IL census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Knox County guide you in researching your family tree. Federal Population Schedules are available for 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880 (free index), 1890 (fragment), 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940.
Knox Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Knox Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Knox 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
Knox County, IL Courthouse and Government Records
What genealogical records can I find in the Knox County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Knox 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 Knox 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.
- Knox County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 200 S. Cherry St., Galesburg, IL 61401
- Knox County Clerk
- Phone: (309) 345-3815
- Marriage Records: 1830
- Birth & Death Records: 1877
- Knox County Recorder of Deeds
- Phone: 309-345-3818
- Land Records:1818
- Knox County Clerk of the Circuit Court,
- Phone: 309-345-3859
- Probate Records: 1830
- Court Records: 1836
- The county archives of the state of Illinois
- BLM Land Records
Knox County, IL Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Knox County, IL?
A list of Knox County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Illinois Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Knox County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 13, Galesburg, IL 61402
- Western Illinois University Region (WIU), Illinois Regional Archives Depository, University Library, Western Illinois University, 1 University Circle, Macomb, IL 61455; 309-298-2716
- 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 Knox County, IL Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Illinois Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- Illinois State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Knox County, Illinois Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Knox County
- Knox County, Illinois Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Knox County, IL?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Knox 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.
Knox Co. IL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Illinois Links and Information
- Knox Co. D.O.T. Map
- Map of Knox County and its civil and congressional townships
- Knox Federal Township Plats of Illinois (1804-1891) (landplats.ilsos.net)
- 1892 Knox Co., IL Railroad Map (usgwarchives.net)
- 1895 Knox County Map (livgenmi.com)
Knox 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!
- Knox County, Illinois Books (amazon.com)
- Search Illinois Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Knox Co. IL Cemeteries & Church Records
- Knox Co., Illinois Graves (findagrave.com)
- Knox County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Knox Co., Illinois Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Knox Co., Illinois Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Knox County, Illinois Church Books (amazon.com)
Knox Co. IL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
- Create a Free Family Tree (ancestry.com)
- Knox County, Illinois, the honor roll, 1917-1918-1919 : being a record of what was done in Knox County in those three eventful (search.ancestry.com)
- Index to names in twenty-six volumes of Illinois records (search.ancestry.com)
- The Illinois Family Group Sheet Project (fgs-project.com)
Knox Co. IL General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Illinois
- Knox County, Illinois Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Knox County Fact Sheet (cyberdriveillinois.com)
- History of Knox County, Illinois : its cities, towns and people (search.ancestry.com)
- Voices of the prairie land (search.ancestry.com)Annals of Knox County (search.ancestry.com)
- History of bringing the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway to Galesburg (search.ancestry.com)
- Galesburg’s mighty horse market : Leroy Marsh Sales Barn, 1877-1920 (search.ancestry.com)
- Knox County, Illinois Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Knox Co. IL Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Knox County, Illinois (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Illinois – Counties – Knox (cyndislist.com)
- Knox County Illinois (genealogytrails.com)
- Knox Co. ILGenweb (ilgenweb.net)
- Knox County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Knox Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Knox 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 Knox County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
Knox Co. IL Schools & Directories
- Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and Knox County (search.ancestry.com)