DUPAGE COUNTY, IL HISTORY AND LOOKUP

County History Books

A History of the County of Du Page, Illinois by C.W. Richmond & H.F. Vallette, (1857) – 224 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2023.12.06.1213.CD.AR

History of Du Page County, Illinois by Rufus Blanchard, (1882) – 540 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2023.12.07.0110.CD.AR

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Du Page Volume 1 by Bateman, Newton; Selby, Paul (1913) – 934 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.08.26.2038.AR

Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Du Page Volume 2 by Bateman, Newton; Selby, Paul (1913) – 722 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.08.26.1828.AR

Du Page County, a Descriptive and Historical Guide by Writers’ Program Of The Work Projects Administration In The State of Illinois; Knoblauch, Marion, 1909- [From Old Catalog] Ed (1951) – 296 Pages
Source: Internet Archive
Book ID: CH.2025.09.01.2119.CD.AR

DuPage County, Illinois: A Genealogical Overview

Located immediately west of Chicago, DuPage County is a cornerstone of the Illinois suburban landscape. Once a vast prairie dotted with small farming communities, it has transformed into one of the state’s most populous and prosperous counties, characterized by its extensive corporate corridors, renowned educational institutions, and vibrant suburban towns. Its history is a classic American story of Native American displacement, pioneer settlement, the transformative power of the railroad, and the explosive growth of suburbia.

I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding DuPage County’s formation from Cook County is the first step for any researcher, as it determines the location of the earliest government records for the area’s settlers.

  • 1839: County Formed: DuPage County was established on November 9, 1839, by an act of the Illinois State Legislature.
  • Parent County: It was created from the western portion of Cook County. All government records for settlers in this region prior to November 1839 (land, probate, court) are located in Cook County records.
  • Subsequent County Formations: The boundaries of DuPage County have remained largely stable since its creation. It has not been partitioned to form any other counties.
  • Name Origin: The county is named for the DuPage River, which flows through its southern and western portions. The river is believed to have been named after a French fur trader who had a station on its banks in the 18th century.
  • County Seat History: The first county seat was established in Naperville. After a contentious period known as the “County Seat Wars,” the seat was moved to Wheaton in 1867, following a famous midnight raid where Wheaton supporters physically removed the county records from the Naperville courthouse. Wheaton has remained the county seat ever since.

II. Settlement and Early History

  • Early Inhabitants: Prior to European settlement, the region was the homeland of the Potawatomi people, along with other related Central Algonquin tribes. The 1833 Treaty of Chicago resulted in their forced removal west of the Mississippi River, opening the land to American settlers.
  • Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant non-native settlement began in the early 1830s, largely by pioneers from New England and New York. They established agricultural communities like Naperville, Wheaton, and Downers Grove. The economy was almost entirely based on farming until the arrival of railroads in the 1850s and 1860s. The rails connected the small towns directly to Chicago, spurring their growth as some of America’s first railroad suburbs and beginning the shift from an agricultural to a residential and commercial economy.

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to DuPage County.

  • Courthouse: DuPage County Judicial Center, 505 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187. The DuPage County Circuit Court Clerk at this location is the main repository for county records including probate (wills and estates), civil, and criminal court cases from 1839 to the present. Land records (deeds) are held by the DuPage County Recorder at the same government campus.
  • Vital Records:
    • Birth and Death Records: Official county-level registration in Illinois began in 1877, with statewide registration beginning in 1916. Records from 1877 to the present can be obtained from the DuPage County Clerk’s Office (421 N. County Farm Road, Wheaton, IL 60187). For records prior to 1877, researchers must consult church records, newspapers, and cemetery inscriptions.
    • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1839 to the present are held by the DuPage County Clerk.
  • Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
    • DuPage County Historical Museum: Located at 102 E. Wesley Street, Wheaton, IL 60187. This is a critical resource for local history, archives, and family research.
    • Wheaton Public Library & Naperville Public Library: These and other large municipal libraries in the county maintain excellent local history and genealogy collections.
    • DuPage County Genealogical Society: This active society is an invaluable resource for researchers, publishing materials and hosting educational events.
    • Newberry Library: (Located in Chicago) This world-class private research library has extensive collections covering DuPage County and the entire Chicago metropolitan area.
  • Bordering Jurisdictions:
    • Cook County, IL
    • Kane County, IL
    • Will County, IL
    • Kendall County, IL

Please share any resources you have and will do lookups or links to resources you are aware of. Thanks