Peoria Genealogy Records
Peoria genealogy records stretch back to the 1820s through Peoria County offices and the Peoria Public Library system. With a population near 113,000, Peoria is the county seat and the largest city along the Illinois River in central Illinois. The Peoria County Clerk has birth records from 1872 and marriage records from 1825. The Peoria Public Library also runs a Local History and Genealogy department with newspapers on microfilm from 1837 and City Cemetery records from 1842. If you need to find vital records, obituary data, or old burial information for Peoria families, this page covers every source worth checking.
Peoria Genealogy Quick Facts
Peoria Vital Records for Genealogy
Peoria vital records are handled through two offices. The Peoria County Clerk at 324 Main Street, Room 101, Peoria, IL 61602 is the main office. Call (309) 672-6059. The county holds birth records from 1872 and marriage records from 1825. Those marriage records go back more than 200 years, which is rare for an Illinois county and makes Peoria genealogy research possible for very early settlers.
The Peoria City/County Health Department also issues some vital records. They have birth records from 1982 and death records from 2008. These are more recent records and not typically useful for genealogy. For older birth and death records, the county clerk is the right office. The clerk's website has genealogy indexes you can browse online before making a formal request.
Under the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535), genealogy copies of birth records open after 75 years, death records after 20 years, and marriage records after 50 years. These are uncertified copies stamped for genealogy use. For Peoria, the combination of the county clerk's early marriage records and the health department's newer files covers a wide span of time.
Note: Peoria County Clerk fees are increasing as of February 1, 2026, so check the current schedule before ordering.
Peoria Library Local History Collection
The Peoria Public Library runs a Local History and Genealogy department at 107 NE Monroe St., Lower Level 1, Peoria, IL 61602. Call (309) 497-2000. This department is one of the deeper genealogy collections in downstate Illinois. The library has newspapers on microfilm from 1837 to 2018. That gives you over 180 years of local news to search through for Peoria ancestors.
The library also holds obituary indexes, mortuary records, and City Cemetery records from 1842 to 1886. City Cemetery records are a standout resource. They cover the early years of Peoria when the city was still growing along the river. If your ancestor was buried in Peoria in the mid-1800s, these records may have their name, date of burial, and sometimes cause of death. Mortuary records add another layer, often listing the funeral home, next of kin, and place of death.
Obituary indexes pull together death notices from local newspapers. An obituary can name surviving family members, list a birth date, mention a church, and identify a burial site. For Peoria genealogy, a single obituary entry can tie together facts that would otherwise take hours to track down across different record sets. The library staff can help you search these indexes if you visit in person.
Peoria Court Records for Genealogy
The Peoria County court portal is free to use and lets you search court case records online. The circuit court handles probate, divorce, and civil cases for Peoria and all of Peoria County. Probate records are among the most useful for genealogy. A probate file can list every heir of a deceased person, describe their property, and show how assets were divided. For Peoria families, probate files going back to the 1800s are available through the court system.
Divorce records sit in the circuit court as well. Under Illinois law, the circuit court clerk maintains dissolution of marriage records. If you know an ancestor in Peoria went through a divorce, the court file may include details about children, property, and addresses that you cannot get from vital records. Court records add context that straight vital records do not provide.
Regional Archives for Peoria Genealogy
The IRAD depository for Peoria County is at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Call (309) 298-2716. IRAD holds historical local government records from Peoria County, including older vital records, naturalization papers, probate files, and court documents. Research is free. You can submit up to two names by mail or phone if you cannot visit Macomb in person.
Records at IRAD are preserved under the Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205). For Peoria genealogy, IRAD is the place to check when the county clerk's records come up short. Early naturalization papers can reveal where an immigrant ancestor came from and when they arrived. Probate files often list heirs and describe property in detail. If you have hit a dead end with the county clerk, IRAD at Western Illinois is the next step.
State Records for Peoria Research
The Illinois Department of Public Health holds statewide birth and death records from 1916 on. Genealogy copies cost $10 each and must go by mail. There is no online option. Processing takes about 12 weeks. The Illinois State Archives runs free databases including the Statewide Marriage Index (1763 to 1900) and death indexes from pre-1916 through 1972.
For Peoria genealogy, the marriage index is a strong tool. Since Peoria County has marriage records from 1825, some of those early marriages may also appear in the state archives index. Cross-referencing the two sources can help you confirm dates and names. The state archives also has a public domain land sale database with about 550,000 entries. Early Peoria settlers who bought land from the federal government may show up in that index.
Peoria County Genealogy Records
Peoria is the county seat of Peoria County. All vital records, land records, and court files go through Peoria County offices. The county handles records for the city of Peoria and the surrounding communities along the Illinois River. For full details on Peoria County genealogy resources, fees, and genealogy indexes, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
Bloomington and Normal are east of Peoria in McLean County. Both cities have their own genealogy resources through the McLean County Clerk.