There are several good reasons that Illinois has become one of the most populous states in the country. First, the state economy is very strong and varied. Second, the weather and the landscape are both beautiful. And third, there is enough diversity throughout the state to attract residents from all walks of life. Before you start looking for Illinois real estate, it would be wise to know a little background information on the three main regions throughout the sate: Northern, Central and Southern Illinois.

Northern Illinois
As home to almost seventy-five percent of the state population, Northern Illinois is definitely the most popular region. This is largely due to the business districts, research facilities and educational institutions in Chicago though. For example, about sixty-six percent of the people in northern Illinois live within the boundaries of Chicago land. Chalk full of employment, entertainment and beautiful beaches, parks and neighborhoods, it isn’t surprising that Chicago draws such a large crowd.

There are parts of Illinois that cater to country living over city lifestyles though. For example, northwest of Chicago, home buyers will find charming old villages like Galena and Long Grove. Nestled among rolling hills and tiny valleys, these areas are characterized by their historic buildings, small-town atmospheres, covered bridges and scenic landscapes. Some Chicagoans even buy second homes in here.

Central Illinois
The Central region, which is also known as “the Heart of Illinois,” is known for its small towns and mid-sized cities. The primary economic industries in this area include manufacturing, agriculture, and education. Wind farms are also starting to sprout up across central Illinois. If you are a fan of Abraham Lincoln, you might be interested to know that Springfield is also located in this area.

Southern Illinois
One of the most attractive characteristics of Southern Illinois is the warmer weather it enjoys. The topography is also more varied than the flat, long plains that cover most of the state’s geographical area. Small oil deposits and coal mining are the resources that drive economic production in the region.

For the purpose of preserving historical public marriage records of Illinois residents, the Illinois State Archives tied up with the Illinois State Genealogical Society in joint effort to compile records of marriages that took place in Illinois from 1763 to 1900. One of the main objectives is to avail them to the public in an easy and convenient way and there’s no better way than online. Online Illinois marriage records are not restricted to only pre-1901 marriages. They are available for marriages right up through the current index date. People now don’t have to travel to a particular government office for information as they can conduct a search on Illinois marriage records online. All that’s needed is a computer with internet access.

The main source of information is the offices of the respective County Clerks. It is derived from the original public marriage records which comprise of marriage registers, licenses, certificates and other documents and information. Information is also contributed by the county Genealogical societies and private citizens and can be uploaded directly by volunteers through the internet.

Illinois public marriage records include the names of the groom and the bride, the date and county where the marriage took place, name of the conducting official of the ceremony and marriage license details. If there had been multiple marriages by either of the party, or both, they will all show up as long as they occurred in the state of Illinois and are on its marriage index.

All public marriage records in Illinois are listed on the Illinois Statewide Marriage Index. Original marital records or microfilm copies for several of them are kept under the holding of the Illinois Regional Archives Depository System (IRAD). Uncertified copies of marriages of more than 70 of the 102 counties in Illinois are available at IRAD. Those which are not can be requested directly from the County Clerks. They are also the only officers authorized to provide certified copies of marriage records of their county.

Another increasingly popular option for marriage record search is the commercial record providers. These private enterprises operate record databases on a professional basis. On top of public sources such as the Illinois State Archives, universities and Genealogical societies, they also tap into private and proprietary networks. By and large, they are hassle-free and their coverage is nationwide. This is particularly handy when time is a factor and multiple states are concerned.