IL RESOURCES
STATE QUICKLINKS
OTHER GENEALOGY RESOURCES
Clay 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
Clay County, Illinois Facts
When was Clay County, IL Created?
Clay County was established on December 23, 1824.
What is the County Seat of Clay County, IL?
The County Seat is located in Louisville (prior county seats was Maysville from 1825-1841) also, the county government website is claycountyillinois.org/ .
What counties are adjacent to Clay County, IL?
Bordering Counties are Jasper County, Richland County, Wayne County, Marion County, Fayette County, Effingham County
Clay County, IL Vital Records
Where can find Clay County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Clay 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 Clay 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
Clay County, IL Census Records
What Clay County, IL census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Clay 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.
Clay Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Clay Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Clay 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
Clay County, IL Courthouse and Government Records
Clay County CourthouseWhat genealogical records can I find in the Clay County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Clay 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 Clay 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.
- Clay County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 111 E. Chestnut / PO Box 160, Louisville, IL 62858
- Clay County Clerk & Recorder of Deeds
- Phone: (618) 665-3626
- Marriage Records: 1825
- Birth & Death Records: 1877
- Land Records: 1825
- Clay County Clerk of the Circuit Court,
- Phone: 618-665-3523
- Probate Records: 1827
- Court Records: 1825
- The county archives of the state of Illinois
- BLM Land Records
Clay County, IL Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Clay County, IL?
A list of Clay County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Illinois Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Clay County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 94, Louisville 62858
- Eastern Illinois University, Booth Library, 600 Lincoln Ave, Charleston, IL 61920; (217) 581-6093
- 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 Clay County, IL Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Illinois Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- Illinois State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Clay County, Illinois Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Clay County
- Clay County, Illinois Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Clay County, IL?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Clay 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.
Clay Co. IL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Illinois Links and Information
- Clay Co. D.O.T. Map
- Map of Clay County and its civil and congressional townships
- Clay Federal Township Plats of Illinois (1804-1891) (landplats.ilsos.net)
- 1892 Clay Co., IL Railroad Map (usgwarchives.net)
- 1895 Clay County Map (livgenmi.com)
Clay 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!
- Clay County, Illinois Books (amazon.com)
- Search Illinois Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Clay Co. IL Cemeteries & Church Records
- Clay Co., Illinois Graves (findagrave.com)
- Clay County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Clay Co., Illinois Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Clay Co., Illinois Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Clay County, Illinois Church Books (amazon.com)
Clay 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)
Clay Co. IL General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Illinois
- Clay County, Illinois Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Clay County Fact Sheet (cyberdriveillinois.com)
- Clay County, Illinois Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Clay Co. IL Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Clay County, Illinois (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Illinois – Counties – Clay (cyndislist.com)
- Clay County Illinois (genealogytrails.com)
- Clay Co. ILGenweb (ilgenweb.net)
- Clay County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Clay Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Clay 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 Clay County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.
