Winnebago County, Illinois Genealogy
Winnebago County, Illinois genealogy and family history research page. Uncover links to record collections, history, and genealogy sources to aid you find your Winnebago Co., ancestors. Start now by building a Free Family Tree.
Winnebago County Quick Facts
- Government Website: www.co.winnebago.il.us/
- Created Date / Origin: January 16, 1836 from unorganized land and JoDaviess County
- County Seat: Rockford (prior county seats was Winnebago from1836–1839)
- Named After: Winnebago Native Americans
- Bordering Counties: Rock County, WI (north), Boone County (east), DeKalb County (southeast), Ogle County (south), Stephenson County (west), Green County, WI (northwest)
- Cities, Towns & Villages: Argyle, Cherry Valley, Durand, Harrison, Lake Summerset, Loves Park, Machesney Park, New Millford, Pecatonica, Rockford, Rockton, Roscoe, Seward, Shirland, South Beloit, Winnebago
- Townships: Laona, Harlem, Harrison, Burritt, Cherry Valley, Durand, Pecatonica, Owen, Seward, Shirland, Rockford, Rockton, Roscoe, Winnebago
Winnebago County Genealogical & Historical Societies and Family History Resources
A list of Winnebago County Historical and Genealogical Societies, Forums, Message Boards, Libraries, Archives. See Also Illinois Archives, Genealogical and Historical Societies for statewide Addresses and links.
- Illinois State Genealogy Network (facebook.com)
- Kishwaukee Genealogists, P.O. Box 5503, Rockford, IL 61125
- Winnebago & Boone Counties Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 10166, Rockford, Illinois 61131-0166
- 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
- Winnebago County, Illinois Message Boards (boards.ancestry.com) read and post messages about your ancestors in Winnebago County
- Winnebago County, Illinois Genealogy Forum (genforum.genealogy.com) read and post messages with other genealogy researchers for Winnebago County
- USGenWeb Archives for Winnebago County
Winnebago County Courthouse and Government Records
Genealogist frequently fail to notice the significance of Winnebago County court, probate, and land records data as a resource of family history and genealogy details. Buried away in Illinois courthouses and archives everywhere are the dreams and worries of the many Illinois people.
The chances are very good that your forefathers have left a detailed record of at least quite a few facets of their lives in the Winnebago County court records. Even if your forefathers is not referred to in a Court case, take into account all of the other procedures which may have lead to her or him showing up in court records.
Remember to contact the clerk's office to determine hours, mailing address, fees and other specifics in advance of visiting or asking for information because of in some cases changing contact info. The Department Offices DO NOT DO RESEARCH. The records and documents are readily available to interested parties, barring private issues. Most staff will help people in finding the materials, but it's up to the person to perform the researching.
The below information and facts denotes whatever death, marriage, birth, land, wills, and legal records will be in Winnebago County. The dates stated listed below tend to be the first noted documents for this particular county.
- Winnebago County Courthouse (all departments listed below are located here, unless otherwise noted)
- Address: 400 W. State St., Rockford, IL 61101
- Winnebago County Clerk maintains records and issues certificates of vital statistics (birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage certificates) for the entire County.
- Address: 404 Elm St., Rockford, IL 61101
- Phone: 815-987-3050
- Marriage Records: 1836
- Birth & Death Records: 1877
- Winnebago County Recorder of Deeds serves the people of County by receiving, filing and maintaining all records related to real property in our county. These documents range from all types of conveyance deeds, mortgages, releases and assignments, property liens, as well as, assorted federal, state and local liens. The Recorder’s office is responsible for the recordation and storage of plats of subdivision, land surveys and monument records. Many other types of miscellaneous documents are recorded, such as; foreign birth certificates, foreign marriage licenses, and military discharge paperwork to name a few.
- Address: 404 Elm St., Rockford, IL 61101
- Phone: 815-987-3100
- Land Records: 1836
- Winnebago County Clerk of the Circuit Court, commonly known as the Circuit Clerk, is the keeper of the files and records of the Circuit Court. The Circuit Clerk's Office retains documents some of which include criminal law, chancery, support, probate, adoption, ect....
- Phone: 815-987-2510
- Probate Records: 1837
- Court Records: 1836
- Winnebago County Treasurer's Office is responsible for the statutory duties required as County Treasurer and as Ex-Officio County Collector of Real Estate Property Taxes and Drainage District Taxes for the entire county.
- Illinois Office of Vital Records has copies of birth and death records reported from January 1, 1916 and Marriage & Divorces since January 1 1962. 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.
Illinois Historical Records - Databases include Illinois Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; Illinois Birth, Marriage & Death Records; Illinois Voter Lists & Census Records; Illinois Immigration & Emigration Records; Illinois Obituary Records; Illinois Military Records; Illinois Family Tree Records; Illinois Pictures; Illinois Stories, Memories & Histories; Illinois Directories & Member Lists and much more....
Winnebago County Genealogy Links
The following are web links to Family history and genealogy, Records and Resources associated to Winnebago 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. Feel free to provide your own preferred Winnebago County genealogy or family history affiliated sites.
Winnebago Co. IL Maps, Atlases & Gazetteers
Winnebago Co. IL Books, Newspapers & Publications
Winnebago Co. IL Birth, Marriage & Death Records
Winnebago Co. IL Court, Probate Land and Tax Records
Winnebago Co. IL Census Records
Winnebago Co. IL Cemeteries & Graveyards
Winnebago Co. IL Church & Bible Records
Winnebago Co. IL Family Websites, Pictures & Histories
Winnebago Co. IL General and History Websites
- Winnebago County, Illinois Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
- Winnebago County Fact Sheet (cyberdriveillinois.com)
- Past and present of the city of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois (search.ancestry.com)
- The History of Winnebago County, Ill. : its past and present : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, etc., a b (search.ancestry.com)
- History of Rockford and Winnebago County, Illinois (search.ancestry.com)
- Winnebago County, Illinois Wiki (familysearch.org)
- Winnebago Co. IL Genealogy (kindredtrails.com)
- Family History Library (familysearch.org)
- Winnebago County, Illinois (linkpendium.com)
- Cyndi's List - United States - Illinois - Counties - Winnebago (cyndislist.com)
- Winnebago County Illinois (genealogytrails.com)
- Winnebago Co. ILGenweb (ilgenweb.net)
- Winnebago County Genealogy Queries (cousinconnect.com)
- Winnebago Co. Data Collections (search.ancestry.com)
Winnebago Co. IL Military Records
Winnebago Co. IL Schools & Directories