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Coles 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
Coles County, Illinois Facts
When was Coles County, IL Created?
Coles County was established on December 25, 1830.
What is the County Seat of Coles County, IL?
The County Seat is located in Charleston also, the county government website is www.co.coles.il.us/ .
What counties are adjacent to Coles County, IL?
Bordering Counties are Douglas County, Edgar County, Clark County, Cumberland County, Shelby County, Moultrie County
Coles County, IL Vital Records
Where can find Coles County Birth, marriage, Divorce and Death Records?
Coles 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 Coles 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
Coles County, IL Census Records
What Coles County, IL census records are available?
There are many types of census records for Coles 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.
Coles Co. Mortality Schedules can be found for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Coles Co. Industry and Agriculture can be obtained for 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Coles 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
Coles County, IL Courthouse and Government Records

What genealogical records can I find in the Coles County Courthouse?
Researchers frequently overlook the great importance of Coles 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 Coles 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.
- Coles County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 651 Jackson Ave., Charleston, IL 61920
- Coles County Clerk & Recorder of Deeds
- Phone: 217-348-0501
- Marriage Records: 1831
- Birth & Death Records: 1877
- Land Records: 1830
- Coles County Clerk of the Circuit Court,
- Phone: 217-348-0516
- Probate Records: 1830
- Court Records: 1831
- The county archives of the state of Illinois
- BLM Land Records
Coles County, IL Societies and Family History Resources
What genealogical and historical societies, archives, museums, associations and libraries are available for Coles County, IL?
A list of Coles County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Libraries, Archives. See also list of Statewide Illinois Archives, Historical & Genealogical Societies.
- Coles County Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 592, Charleston 61920
- 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 Coles County, IL Researchers through message boards and forums?
- Illinois Genealogy Community (plus.google.com)
- Illinois State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Coles County, Illinois Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Coles County
- Coles County, Illinois Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com)
What other genealogical resources are available in Coles County, IL?
The following are web links to Genealogy, Records and Resources pertaining to Coles 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.
Coles Co. IL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
- See Also Map of Illinois Links and Information
- Coles Co. D.O.T. Map
- Map of Coles County and its civil and congressional townships
- Coles Federal Township Plats of Illinois (1804-1891) (landplats.ilsos.net)
- 1892 Coles Co., IL Railroad Map (usgwarchives.net)
- 1895 Coles County Map (livgenmi.com)
Coles 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!
- Coles County, Illinois Books (amazon.com)
- Search Illinois Obituaries (1985 to current) (genealogybank.com)
Coles Co. IL Cemeteries & Church Records
- Coles Co., Illinois Graves (findagrave.com)
- Coles County Tombstone Transcription Project (usgwtombstones.org)
- Coles Co., Illinois Cemeteries (Internment.net)
- Coles Co., Illinois Cemetery Books (amazon.com)
- Coles County, Illinois Church Books (amazon.com)
Coles 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)
Coles Co. IL General and History Websites
- See Also State History for Illinois
- Coles County, Illinois Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Coles County Fact Sheet (cyberdriveillinois.com)
- The History of Coles County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c., a directory of its tax-paye (search.ancestry.com)
- Historical encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Coles County (search.ancestry.com)
- Coles County, Illinois Biographical Dictionary (search.ancestry.com)
- Coles County, Illinois Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Coles Co. IL Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Coles County, Illinois (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi’s List – United States – Illinois – Counties – Coles (cyndislist.com)
- Coles County Illinois (genealogytrails.com)
- Coles Co. ILGenweb (theusgenweb.org)
- Coles County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Coles Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Coles 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 Coles County genealogists, researchers, historians plus much more.