Washington County Genealogy
Washington County genealogy records are held at the county clerk's office in Nashville, a small city in southwestern Illinois. The clerk keeps birth, death, marriage, and land records for about 14,000 residents. Washington County was formed in 1818 at the same time Illinois became a state, which makes its records some of the oldest you will find anywhere in Illinois. The IRAD depository at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale preserves the older historical government files. Researchers working in southwestern Illinois genealogy will find Washington County's long record history especially useful for tracing early families.
Washington County Genealogy Quick Facts
Washington County Clerk Records
The Washington County Clerk is at 101 E. St. Louis St, Nashville, IL 62263. The phone number is (618) 327-4800. This office holds vital records, land files, and marriage licenses for all of Washington County. Birth and death records begin in the late 1870s. Marriage records and land deeds go back to 1818, the year of both statehood and county formation. The Counties Code (55 ILCS 5) designates the county clerk as custodian of these records.
Washington County has German heritage that runs deep. German immigrants settled the Nashville area in the mid-1800s and their presence shows up throughout the county records. Marriage books from that era often list birthplaces in Germany or German-speaking areas. Church records supplemented the civil records for these families, though the clerk's office holds the official government versions. If you are tracing German ancestry in Illinois, Washington County is a key place to search. The land deeds show the farms these families built, and the probate records show how they passed them down.
Visit the Nashville courthouse for the best results. Staff are used to genealogy requests and can help you navigate the old index books. Mail requests work too. Send the name, record type, date range, and payment. Include a photo ID copy for vital records. Call ahead to check fees.
| Office | Washington County Clerk |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 E. St. Louis St Nashville, IL 62263 |
| Phone | (618) 327-4800 |
Note: Washington County was formed in 1818, so its records are among the oldest in Illinois and cover two full centuries.
Washington County Vital Records
The Vital Records Act (410 ILCS 535) governs vital records access in Illinois. Birth records are restricted for 75 years. Death records open after 20 years. Marriage records become public after 50 years. Washington County genealogy researchers mostly work with records that predate these restrictions by a wide margin. The Nashville clerk can confirm what is and is not available for any specific request.
Washington County marriages from the 1820s through the 1880s tell the story of the county's settlement. The earliest records show families from the upper South. By the 1840s and 1850s, German immigrants start appearing in large numbers. Their marriage records often include birthplaces and parents' names. These details are especially valuable for genealogy because they provide the link between Illinois and the old country. Land records from the same period show the German farming communities taking shape around Nashville and the surrounding townships.
The Illinois Department of Public Health holds statewide birth and death records from 1916 forward. IDPH genealogy requests cost $10 and go by mail. Processing takes about 12 weeks. For Washington County records before 1916, the clerk in Nashville is your only option.
State-level records complement what the Washington County clerk holds. Between the county office in Nashville and statewide databases, most genealogy research needs can be met.
Washington County Records at IRAD
The IRAD depository for Washington County is at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. Call (618) 453-3040 to ask about Washington County holdings. IRAD preserves older government records that the Nashville courthouse no longer stores on site. For a county formed in 1818, these holdings can be extensive. Court files, probate records, naturalization papers, tax assessments, and other historical documents may all be there. Research is free, and you can photograph any records at no charge.
Staff take mail and phone requests but limit each to two names. For a full Washington County genealogy project, visiting Carbondale is best. The IRAD holdings database shows what Washington County files are stored at SIU. Check it before you travel. The Local Records Act (50 ILCS 205) is the law that protects these records from being destroyed and requires their preservation through the IRAD system.
State Resources for Washington County
The Illinois State Archives has free online databases covering Washington County. The marriage index spans 1763 to 1900. Death indexes cover the pre-1916 era and 1916 to 1950. These databases are useful starting points for finding Washington County names and dates before you request full records from the Nashville clerk.
- Washington County Clerk in Nashville: vital records and land files from 1818
- IRAD at SIU Carbondale: historical government records, free research
- Illinois State Archives: free marriage and death indexes online
- IDPH: statewide birth and death from 1916, $10 per copy
- German heritage records: check church records in the Nashville area for supplements
The Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140) gives you the right to request public records from any Illinois government office. Vital records have separate rules, but FOIA applies to other Washington County files. For a county with over 200 years of records, there are many government documents beyond vital records that can help with genealogy.
Nearby Counties
Washington County is in southwestern Illinois. Families moved between these counties often, especially the German farming communities. Check the neighbors for more leads.