SCOTT COUNTY, IL HISTORY AND LOOKUP
Table of Contents
- In-Print County History Books
- Free Public Domain County History Books
- Related Books
- Concise County History
- Comments & Suggestion
In-Print County History Books
These titles are currently in print and selected for their relevance to local and county history. Click anywhere on the book listing below, each listing links directly to the book’s purchase page.
Book Title TBD
This book is still being located or processed. Details will be added once available.
Free County History Books
This section features a curated collection of county history books sourced from public domain archives. Each book provides valuable insights into local history and heritage. Click anywhere on the book listing below, each listing links directly to the book’s public domain resource.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Morgan and Scott Countries, Illinois by Chapman Brothers, (1889) – 556 Pages
This volume combines regional history with extensive biographical sketches of prominent citizens, emphasizing the growth of Morgan and Scott Counties through personal narratives. It reflects late 19th-century community life, highlighting agriculture, settlement patterns, and civic leadership.
Portrait and Biographical Album of Morgan and Scott Counties by Chapman Brothers, (1889) – 628 Pages
This album presents portraits and biographies of notable residents from Morgan and Scott Counties. It highlights personal histories, achievements, and contributions to local communities. The book serves as both a historical and genealogical resource.
Related Books
This section highlights additional county and local history titles that complement the main collection. These books are selected for their relevance, historical value, and research usefulness. Click anywhere on the book listing below, and each listing links directly to the corresponding resource or purchase page.
Book Title TBD
This book is still being located or processed. Details will be added once available.
Scott County, Illinois: A Genealogical Overview
Located in west-central Illinois along the Illinois River, Scott County is a small, rural county with deep agricultural roots. Its landscape is characterized by rolling prairies and fertile river bottomland, dedicated primarily to farming corn and soybeans. The county’s history is a classic Midwestern story of pioneer settlement, the development of small towns to support an agricultural economy, and a strong, tight-knit community spirit.
I. County Formation and Evolution
Understanding Scott County’s formation from its parent county is the first step for locating the correct records for early ancestors in the region.
- 1839: County Formed: Scott County was established on February 16, 1839, by an act of the Illinois State Legislature.
- Parent County: It was created entirely from the southern portion of Morgan County. Any records for ancestors living in this area prior to February 1839 will be located in Morgan County records.
- Subsequent County Formations: The boundaries of Scott County have remained unchanged since its formation in 1839. It has not been partitioned to create other counties.
- Name Origin: The county was named in honor of Scott County, Kentucky, which was the former home of many of the area’s earliest pioneer settlers.
- County Seat History: Winchester was designated as the county seat upon the county’s formation in 1839 and has remained the seat of government ever since.
II. Settlement and Early History
- Early Inhabitants: Before European-American settlement, the land was the traditional territory of Native American groups, most notably peoples of the Illinois Confederacy (Illiniwek).
- Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant non-native settlement began in the 1820s, with pioneers migrating primarily from southern states like Kentucky and Tennessee. They traveled up the Illinois River to find rich farmland. The economy was, and remains, overwhelmingly based on agriculture (corn, soybeans, and livestock). The towns of Winchester, Bluffs, and others grew as service centers for the surrounding farm communities.
III. Genealogical Records and Resources
This section provides practical information for locating ancestral records specific to Scott County.
- Courthouse:
- Scott County Courthouse: Located at 35 E Market St, Winchester, IL 62694.
- The Scott County Clerk & Recorder holds birth, marriage, and death records, as well as land records (deeds).
- The Scott County Circuit Clerk holds probate (wills and estates), civil, and criminal court case records.
- Vital Records:
- Birth and Death Records: County-level registration in Illinois began officially in 1877, though compliance varied. Statewide registration began in 1916. For records prior to 1916, contact the Scott County Clerk. For records after 1916, you can contact either the County Clerk or the Illinois Department of Public Health. Many early records are available on microfilm through the Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD) system.
- Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1839 to the present are held by the Scott County Clerk.
- Libraries and Societies:
- Scott County Historical and Genealogical Society: Located in Winchester, this is a crucial resource for local family history, maintaining a museum and research materials.
- Winchester Public Library: Located at 215 N. Main St., Winchester, IL 62694. It has local history and genealogical resources.
- Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD): The IRAD repository at the University of Illinois at Springfield (UIS) holds microfilm copies of many of Scott County’s earliest government records, which can be consulted on-site or through interlibrary loan.
- Bordering Jurisdictions:
- Morgan County, IL
- Greene County, IL
- Pike County, IL