UNION COUNTY, IL HISTORY AND LOOKUP

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Table of Contents

• In-Print County History Books
• Free Public Domain County History Books
• Related Books
• Concise County History
• Comments & Suggestion

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Union County, Illinois: A Genealogical Overview

Located in the heart of Southern Illinois, a region often called “Little Egypt,” Union County is a land of rolling hills, rich farmland, and vast forests. It is defined by the Shawnee National Forest, which covers a significant portion of its landscape, and the Mississippi River, which forms its western border. Its history is deeply rooted in the early migration of settlers from the Upland South, the pivotal Lincoln-Douglas debates, and the complexities of the Civil War era in a border state.

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I. County Formation and Evolution

Understanding Union County’s formation from older parent counties and its role as a “mother county” itself is essential for tracing ancestral records in this historic part of Illinois.

• 1818: County Formed: Union County was established on January 2, 1818, by an act of the Illinois Territorial Legislature, nearly a full year before Illinois achieved statehood.
• Parent County: It was created from the southern part of Johnson County and the eastern part of Jackson County. Researchers seeking records prior to 1818 for this area must consult the records of these parent counties.
• Subsequent County Formations: Union County’s original boundaries were much larger. In 1819, its southern portion was partitioned to create Alexander County. This makes Union a “mother county,” and researchers with early families in what is now Alexander or Pulaski counties may need to begin their search in Union County records.
• Name Origin: The name “Union” is traditionally attributed to a joint open-air revival meeting held around 1803 by two different denominations, Baptists and Dunkards, who set aside their differences to worship together. The name commemorates this early act of unity.
• County Seat History: The county seat was established at Jonesboro in 1818 and has remained there throughout the county’s history. Its neighbor, Anna, is the larger commercial center, but Jonesboro remains the center of county government.

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II. Settlement and Early History

• Early Inhabitants: The region was long inhabited by Native Americans, including the Mississippian culture, who left behind earthworks and mounds. Later, tribes such as the Kaskaskia and Shawnee lived and hunted in the area before European settlement.
• Pioneer Settlement and Economy: The first significant non-native settlement began in the early 1800s, largely by pioneers migrating from southern states like Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, and the Carolinas. This southern heritage strongly influenced the county’s culture and its divided loyalties during the Civil War. Jonesboro was famously the site of the third Lincoln-Douglas debate on September 15, 1858. The economy was, and largely remains, based on agriculture (corn, soybeans, and especially fruit orchards), timber from the Shawnee National Forest, and quarrying.

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III. Genealogical Records and Resources

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

• Courthouse:Union County Courthouse: Located at 309 W. Market Street, Jonesboro, IL 62952. The Union County Clerk is the primary repository for vital records (birth, marriage, death), while the Clerk of the Circuit Court holds probate (wills and estates), civil, and criminal court cases. Land records (deeds) are also held at the courthouse.
• Vital Records:
  • Birth and Death Records: Official county registration began in 1877, though compliance was inconsistent in the early years. Statewide registration began on January 1, 1916. Records from 1877 are held by the Union County Clerk. For records after 1916, copies can be obtained from either the County Clerk or the Illinois Department of Public Health.
  • Marriage Records: Marriage records from 1818 to the present are held by the Union County Clerk. These are often the most complete vital records for the early 19th century.
• Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
  • Union County Historical and Genealogy Society: Located at 101 E. Spring Street, Jonesboro, IL 62952. This is the most crucial local resource, operating a museum and research center focused exclusively on the county’s families and history.
  • Stinson Memorial Library: Located at 409 S. Main Street, Anna, IL 62906. As the area’s largest public library, it has a dedicated local history and genealogy collection.
  • Illinois Regional Archives Depository (IRAD): The IRAD depository at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale holds many microfilmed original county records for Union County, including court, land, and probate records.
• Bordering Jurisdictions:
  • Jackson County, IL
  • Williamson County, IL
  • Johnson County, IL
  • Pulaski County, IL
  • Alexander County, IL
  • Cape Girardeau County, MO
  • Perry County, MO