Fulton County Genealogy
Fulton County genealogy records are held at the county clerk's office in Lewistown, a small town in west-central Illinois between Peoria and Macomb. The county has about 34,000 residents and a solid collection of vital records, land files, and court documents. If you are tracing family through the Lewistown area or the many small towns spread across Fulton County, the clerk is where your search begins. Older government records are preserved at the IRAD depository at Western Illinois University in Macomb. The clerk and IRAD together cover a wide span of Fulton County genealogy records that go back well into the 1800s.
Fulton County Genealogy Quick Facts
Fulton County Clerk Records Office
The Fulton County Clerk is at 100 N. Main, Rm 105, Lewistown, IL 61542. Call (309) 547-3041 ext. 117 for genealogy questions. This is the main office for birth, death, marriage, and land records in Fulton County. The clerk staff can search the indexes by name and date range and pull the record you need. Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get results.
Fulton County was created in 1823. The clerk holds vital records that reflect over two centuries of settlement in the area. Birth and death records follow the standard Illinois start dates in the late 1870s. Marriage records and land files go back further. For mail requests, send the full name of the person, the dates you think the event took place, the record type, a check for the fee, and a copy of your photo ID. Make the check payable to the Fulton County Clerk. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) names the clerk as the legal custodian of all county vital records.
The Fulton County Clerk website has information on services, fees, and how to submit requests.
The clerk's site shows the office details and gives you a starting point for planning your Fulton County research. Check it before you call or visit so you know what to expect.
| Office | Fulton County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 N. Main, Rm 105 Lewistown, IL 61542 |
| Phone | (309) 547-3041 ext. 117 |
Fulton County Records at IRAD
The IRAD depository for Fulton County is at Western Illinois University in Macomb. Call (309) 298-2716 to reach the archives staff. IRAD holds historical Fulton County government records that were moved from the Lewistown courthouse. These include older vital records, court files, probate cases, naturalization papers, and other local government documents. The collection covers records that have lasting value for genealogy research.
Research at IRAD is free. Walk-in visits let you browse the records and take photos at no charge. Staff also handle mail and phone requests, but each one is limited to two names. For bigger research projects, a trip to the Macomb campus is the best way to work through the Fulton County files. The IRAD holdings database on the State Archives site lets you check what Fulton County records are at WIU before you visit.
Probate records at IRAD are particularly useful. A will from the 1800s might name every child of the deceased. An estate file can include debts, property lists, and the names of all heirs. These details rarely show up in vital records alone. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) created the IRAD system and requires counties to preserve records with long-term value instead of discarding them.
Note: Call IRAD at (309) 298-2716 before visiting to confirm hours and check if the specific Fulton County records you need are on site.
Searching Fulton County Genealogy
Start with the Fulton County Clerk for local records. The clerk in Lewistown can search by name and date range. For records from 1916 forward, the Illinois Department of Public Health holds statewide birth and death files. IDPH requests go by mail and take about 12 weeks. For Fulton County records before 1916, the clerk or IRAD at Western Illinois University are the places to look.
The Illinois State Archives has free online databases that include Fulton County data. The statewide marriage index covers 1763 to 1900. Death indexes span pre-1916 records and a second set runs from 1916 to 1950. These tools let you search for Fulton County ancestors from home at no cost. Find a match, note the reference number, and then order the actual record from the clerk or IRAD.
The IDPH vital records page is the state-level starting point for birth and death records from 1916 onward. Fulton County records older than 1916 are only available through the local clerk or the IRAD depository in Macomb.
- Fulton County Clerk: vital records from the late 1870s forward
- IRAD at WIU: historical county records in Macomb
- Illinois State Archives: free marriage and death indexes
- IDPH: birth and death from 1916 forward by mail
Fulton County Record Access Rules
The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) sets the rules for when vital records open for genealogy use in Fulton County and across Illinois. Birth records become available 75 years after the date of birth. Death records open after 20 years. Marriage records are available after 50 years. Genealogy copies get stamped as uncertified. They cannot be used for legal purposes like a passport or driver's license.
The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) governs general public records access. But vital records follow their own rules under the Vital Records Act. Recent birth and death files are limited to people with a direct legal interest. Only records that have passed the genealogy time thresholds can be pulled by anyone for family research purposes.
Fulton County's long record history gives researchers a wide time span to work with. Combined with the IRAD holdings at WIU and the free state archives indexes, there are multiple paths into Fulton County genealogy data.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Fulton County in west-central Illinois. Families moved across county lines often in this part of the state. If your Fulton County search turns up empty, check one of these neighbors.