My students are doing research on particular properties in our local area, and we’ve turned up some helpful links. Some are specific to Ogle County or to Illinois, but some are national.
Maps and Aerial Photos
1937-1947 Illinois Historical Aerial Photography. It’s like a time-travel experience to look at these images from 80 years ago and try to orient oneself. Overview link here, link to Illinois counties here.
Ogle County GIS maps. Look for property/tax ID numbers and much more at this link.
Illinois early historical maps & discussion here.
More historical maps of Illinois and other states.
Illinois highway maps archive.
Property history
Illinois Public Domain Land Tracts — original purchasers from the federal gov’t.
General Land Office Records, U.S. BLM — click here to find original patent letters granting ownership of federal land to first buyers. These include info about the person awarded the military warrants.
History of General Land Offices in Illinois here.
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