Historical Background

      "The sale of Illinois land began in the late 17th century, nearly one hundred years before the establishment of the United States. While under the control of three separate and distinct governmental authorities: France (1678–1763), England (1763–1778), and the state of Virginia (1778–1784), individuals residing in what was to become the state of Illinois received and conveyed title to lands there. 

      "Throughout these periods respective government agents registered land transactions. After the United States established its control over Illinois in 1784, the federal government eventually began a review process to determine the legitimacy of preexisting land claims. When examinations were completed in 1814, federal authorities had confirmed title to less than half of the claims presented to them."

      "The United States government started selling off the vast amount of public land remaining in Illinois beginning in 1814. Ten U.S. General Land Offices located across the state conducted 538,750 sales up to 1876 when the last remaining Illinois federal land office was closed. The large bulk of sales had taken place by the mid–1850’s. 

      "State and county governments as well as the Illinois Central Railroad conducted a portion of the sales as a result of federal grants made to them. The state sold school, saline, seminary, canal, and internal improvement lands. After 1850 some counties sold undesirable swamp and overflowed lands. The Illinois Central financed its construction by selling those railroad lands allotted to it by the U.S. government. Federal authorities turned over Illinois U.S. Land Office records of original sales to the state in 1879."

      "The Illinois General Assembly established the office of county recorder in 1819. The original legislation required recorders to record and file all real estate deeds submitted to them. Although each county maintained records of real estate transactions, state legislation periodically shifted this responsibility between the circuit clerk, county clerk and recorder. Currently, the office of recorder exists in all counties with populations of 60,000 or more. The county clerk serves as ex officio recorder for counties with lesser populations."

~ Illinois State Archives Genealogical Research Series 
 

Land Sale Records ~ Illinois State Archives Public Domain Land Tract Sales Database  Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records  Land Sales in Illinois

 

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This Page Updated:

Wednesday, 12-Mar-2008 14:02:40 EDT