The McHenry County Property Tax Inquiry website is an easy way to find your PIN/Parcel number if you don’t have it already. Once you have the information, you can use it to search Athena and the McHenry County Recorder’s Indexed Land Records. If the Legal Description is available, copy that information too.
From here, you may click on Parcel GIS Information (located on the right-side menu) which brings you Athena. Athena displays the exact location of the parcel in McHenry County.
Athena is the McHenry County Public Property Search Viewer, an interactive map that integrates the County’s geographic parcel data and tax assessment information. This interactive map provides residents and businesses easy access to property information. Athena is searchable by parcel number, subdividsion, address, property owner, or sale price/date.
For those doing property research, Athena displays the exact location and shape of the plot.
The McHenry County Recorder’s Office holds real property records including deeds, easements, mortgage documents, liens, and bills of sale. Tracing these documents back through time will reveal owners’ names and other information. You may search online for these records as well as excise tax information, registered land, and plat names.
Look for the Legal Description to find the Section, Township and Range.
Family Maps of McHenry County, Illinois contains newly created maps of original landowners (patent maps) gleaned from the indexes of the Illinois State Archives. The patent-maps are essentially plat maps but instead of depicting owners for a particular year, these maps show original landowners, no matter when the transfer from the federal government was completed. Search local public libraries for the book, Family Maps of McHenry County, Illinois or contact us at the McHenry County Historical Society.
Another option for locating original land owners, is to search the Illinois Public Domain Land Tract Sales available online from the Illinois State Archives. You will need the Legal Description (see #3).
Plat maps give a detailed snapshot of a rural community at a given time. They’re often labeled with landowners’ names. Other details might include the square footage for a plot, or number of dwellings constructed on a plot. To use a plat map, you need to know the property Section, Township and Range (see #3).
Plat maps can be found online, at local libraries, or you can contact us at the McHenry County Historical Society to assist with your research.
Sanborn maps give a detailed snapshot of a downtown community at a given time. They are labeled by block number and lot number. Other details might include a dwelling constructed on the lot. To use a Sanborn map, you need to know the property Block and Lot number.
Sanborn maps can be found online, at local libraries, or you can contact us at the McHenry County Historical Society to assist with your research.
If you’re unable to find the information you need, we encourage you to contact the McHenry County Historical Society Research Library. Our staff and knowledgeable volunteers are available most weekdays to assist with research requests. Please note that a modest research fee applies—details are available on our fee schedule.
