Pulaski County Genealogy Lookup

Pulaski County genealogy records are managed by the county clerk in Mound City, a small town at the very bottom of Illinois where the Ohio and Mississippi rivers meet. The clerk holds birth, death, marriage, and land records for the county. Pulaski County has about 5,000 residents, making it one of the smallest counties in the state. You can search Pulaski County genealogy files at the courthouse, by calling (618) 748-9360, or through a mailed request. The IRAD depository at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale preserves older Pulaski County government documents that have been moved out of the Mound City courthouse for long-term storage.

Pulaski County Clerk Records

The Pulaski County Clerk is at 500 Illinois Ave, Mound City, IL 62963. Call (618) 748-9360 for record questions or to start a request. This office holds vital records, marriage licenses, and land documents for Pulaski County. Birth and death records begin around 1877, matching the statewide pattern. Marriage records may go back to 1843 when the county was organized. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) gives the county clerk legal custody of these records.

Mound City is a very small town, and the clerk's office sees a low volume of requests. That means you are unlikely to face long waits when you visit in person. Staff know the local records well. Bring the full name and any dates you have. Walk-in visits get the fastest results, but mail requests are common given how remote this part of the state is for most researchers.

To request records by mail, send a letter to the clerk with the name, dates, record type, a check for the search fee, and a photo ID copy. Make checks payable to the Pulaski County Clerk. Include your phone number and return address.

Pulaski County Land Records

Land records are important for Pulaski County genealogy, especially for the decades before vital records started around 1877. The county sits at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and that location shaped who settled here and when. Mound City was a significant river port during the Civil War, with a naval hospital and shipyard. Families who lived in the area during that period may appear in federal military records as well as county land files.

Deeds, mortgages, and property transfers are held by the recorder's office in Mound City. You can search them during business hours. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) requires preservation of county records with lasting value. The Illinois State Archives maintains public domain land sale records from original federal purchases that are free to search online.

Note: Civil War-era military records for the Mound City naval station are held at the federal level, not by the county clerk.

Pulaski County Genealogy at IRAD

The IRAD depository for Pulaski County is at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Call (618) 453-3040 to ask about Pulaski County files. IRAD stores older government records that have been transferred from the Mound City courthouse. This includes court case files, probate records, naturalization papers, and other historical documents. Research is free and you can photograph documents at no charge. Staff handle mail and phone requests but limit each to two names.

Use the IRAD holdings database to search what Pulaski County records are at SIU before making the trip. Carbondale is about 45 miles north of Mound City. If you are traveling to southern Illinois for genealogy research, you can visit the Mound City courthouse and the Carbondale IRAD in the same day with some planning.

Searching Pulaski County Records

Begin at the Pulaski County Clerk in Mound City for local files. For statewide birth and death records from 1916 forward, the Illinois Department of Public Health processes requests by mail. It takes about 12 weeks. The cost is $10 per genealogy copy. Birth records are available 75 years after the birth date. Death records open after 20 years. These rules are set by the Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535).

The Illinois State Archives has free databases online that cover Pulaski County. The marriage index spans 1763 to 1900. Death indexes cover pre-1916 and 1916 to 1950. These tools let you start research from home before contacting the clerk or visiting IRAD. The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) governs public records generally, but vital records follow stricter rules under the Vital Records Act.

• IDPH genealogy birth copy: $10 by mail, about 12 weeks
• IDPH death research copy: $10 by mail
• IRAD at SIU Carbondale: free, about 45 miles from Mound City
• State Archives databases: free online
• Contact Pulaski County Clerk for local fees

Pulaski County Record Access

Pulaski County does not run an online genealogy search tool. All requests go through the Mound City clerk by phone, mail, or in person. For state-level access, the IDPH genealogy page below shows how to order birth and death certificates for genealogy from the state.

The IDPH site covers fees, forms, and mailing information. Genealogy copies from the state cost $10 each. For Pulaski County records before 1916, the Mound City clerk or IRAD at Southern Illinois University are the only options. Those early files were kept at the county level and never forwarded to the state.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Pulaski County at the southern tip of Illinois. With such a small county, families often had connections across county lines. Search these neighbors if a Pulaski County lookup comes up empty.