Find Menard County Genealogy Records
Menard County genealogy records are held at the county clerk's office in Petersburg, a small town in central Illinois with deep ties to Abraham Lincoln's early years. The clerk keeps birth, death, marriage, and land records for the county. You can search Menard County genealogy files by visiting the courthouse, calling (217) 632-3201, or mailing a written request. Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site sits in Menard County, making this area a magnet for researchers tracing families from the 1830s and 1840s. The IRAD depository at the University of Illinois Springfield holds older Menard County government documents that have moved out of the courthouse.
Menard County Genealogy Quick Facts
Menard County Clerk Records
The Menard County Clerk is at 102 S. 7th St, Petersburg, IL 62675. Call (217) 632-3201 for record questions. This office holds the county's vital records, marriage files, and land documents. Birth and death records start around 1877, matching the statewide pattern for when Illinois counties began recording vital events. Marriage records may go back to 1839 when Menard County was carved from Sangamon County. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) gives the clerk legal custody of these files.
Walk-in visits are the fastest way to get results at the Petersburg courthouse. The staff can help you search index books and pull records while you wait. Bring the full name of the person and any dates you have. Even a rough year range helps narrow things down. For mail requests, send a letter to the clerk's office with the name, dates, record type, your payment, and a copy of your photo ID. Checks go to the Menard County Clerk.
Menard County is small enough that the clerk's office handles a lower volume of requests than urban counties. That can work in your favor. Wait times tend to be short and the staff are often familiar with the local record collections because they work with them on a regular basis.
| Office | Menard County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 102 S. 7th St Petersburg, IL 62675 |
| Phone | (217) 632-3201 |
Menard County Land and Early Records
Land records are a key genealogy tool in Menard County. Deeds, mortgages, and property transfers can prove that a family lived in the area during a specific time. This matters most for the decades before 1877 when no birth or death certificates existed at the county level. If your ancestors farmed near Petersburg or lived around the New Salem settlement in the 1830s and 1840s, the deed books may be the strongest evidence of their presence. Abraham Lincoln himself lived at New Salem from 1831 to 1837 before the village declined and Menard County was formed from Sangamon County in 1839.
The recorder's office in Petersburg keeps all property files. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) protects these documents from disposal. County records with long-term research value must be preserved, and land files clearly meet that standard. The Illinois State Archives also holds public domain land sale records from the original federal land patents. Those are free to search through the State Archives online databases.
Note: Menard County was part of Sangamon County before 1839, so earlier records may be filed in Springfield.
Menard County Records at IRAD
The IRAD depository for Menard County is at the University of Illinois Springfield. Call (217) 206-6520 to check what Menard County files they hold. IRAD stores older government records that have been transferred from the Petersburg courthouse. This can include court case files, probate records, naturalization papers, and historical vital records. Research at IRAD is free, and you can photograph documents at no charge.
IRAD staff take mail and phone requests but limit each to two names. If you need to search for more people, plan a visit to the Springfield campus. The IRAD holdings database on the State Archives site lets you look up what Menard County records are stored at UIS before you make the trip. Check the inventory online first. Springfield is close to Petersburg, so combining a courthouse visit with an IRAD stop is an easy day trip for researchers working on Menard County families.
Searching Menard County Genealogy
Start your search at the Menard County Clerk for local records. For state-level records from 1916 forward, the Illinois Department of Public Health keeps birth and death files. IDPH requests go by mail and take about 12 weeks to process. The state charges $10 per genealogy copy. Genealogy copies of birth records are available when the birth date is 75 or more years ago. Death records open after 20 years. These rules come from the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535).
The Illinois State Archives has free online databases that include Menard County entries. The statewide marriage index covers 1763 to 1900. Death indexes cover the pre-1916 period and 1916 to 1950. These tools are useful for doing some research from home before contacting the clerk or visiting IRAD.
The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) governs public records in Illinois. Vital records follow their own stricter rules under the Vital Records Act, though, so FOIA does not override those restrictions.
- IDPH genealogy birth copy: $10 by mail, about 12 weeks
- IDPH death research copy: $10 by mail
- IRAD at UIS: free research, close to Petersburg
- State Archives databases: free online
- Contact Menard County Clerk for local fee amounts
Menard County Vital Records Access
Menard County does not have its own online genealogy search portal. All record requests go through the clerk's office in Petersburg by phone, mail, or in person. For state-level access, the IDPH Division of Vital Records handles birth and death records from 1916 forward. The IDPH genealogy page below shows how to order copies from the state.
The IDPH site lists the fees, forms, and mailing address for each type of record request. Genealogy copies cost $10 and must be requested by mail. For Menard County records before 1916, the Petersburg clerk or IRAD at UIS are the only sources since those early files were never sent to the state.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Menard County in central Illinois. Families who lived near a county line may have records filed next door. Check these areas if a Menard County search comes up short.