Clinton County was created on March 1, 1830 and was formed from Adams New Purchase and Wabash New Purchase. The Adams New Purchase: Begun in 1827, Adams was the new name for the Delaware New Purchase. The Adams Purchase existed until 1844, when it became the counties of Adams, Clinton, Grant, Huntington, Jay, and Wells, and portions of the counties of Boone, Carroll, Tipton, and Wabash. The County was named for Governor of New York DeWitt Clinton.
The County Seat is Frankfort . The town of Jefferson, four miles west of what is now Frankfort, was chosen as the County Seat when Clinton County was organized, May 3, 1830. It was only a temporary site, however, as the site of Frankfort was selected by the State Commissioners as the County Seat and the county agent was ordered on May 19, 1830, to have the land surveyed and laid off in lots. The first term of court in Frankfort convened April, 1831, in a new log courthouse. In August of 1830 Colonel S. D. Maxwell built the first house in Frankfort, however the population did not increase much until 1832. In 1849 Frankfort had eight stores, five lawyers, five physicians and five churches, one each for the Old School Presbyterians, Episcopal and Protestant Methodists, Christians and Associate Reformed.
Counties adjacent to Clinton County are Carroll County (north), Howard County (northeast), Tipton County (east), Hamilton County, Boone County (south), Montgomery County (southwest), Tippecanoe County (west).
Clinton County is divided into 14 Civil Townships as follows: Center, Forest, Jackson, Johnson, Kirklin, Madison, Michigan, Owen, Perry, Ross, Sugar Creek, Union, Warren and Washington. Cities, Towns and Communities include Avery, Boyleston, Cambria, Colfax, Cyclone, Fickle, Forest, Frankfort, Hillisburg, Kirklin, Manson, Michigantown, Moran, Mulberry, Reagan, Rossville, Scircleville and Sedalia.

NOTE: The date listed for each category of record is the earliest record known to exist in that county. It does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and certainly does not indicate that all such events that year were actually registered. See also the Clinton County Courthouse History
Clinton County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1830 , Probate Records from 1830 and Court Records from 1830 and is located at 265 Courthouse Sq, Frankfort, IN 46041; (765) 659-6335.
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is a ministerial officer who is the custodian of the Clerk's record and seal, issues process, accepts filings of commencement of actions in litigation, enters judgments and orders of the court, receives money in his official capacity, makes certified copies of record, issues many miscellaneous licenses, and keeps a record of all wills and matters of trust in probate proceedings.
Clinton County Recorder has Land Records from 1829 and is located at 265 Courthouse Sq, Frankfort, IN 46041; (765) 659-6330.
The county recorder's function is to maintain permanent public records involving a wide variety of instruments. These documents detail transactions involving real estate, mining, personal property, mortgages, liens, leases, subdivision plats, military discharges, personal bonds, etc. Generally, all of these instruments are recorded either for giving legal public notice of their existence or for safekeeping and future reference. The recorder maintains and preserves all legal documents affecting title to real property.
Records of county taxes were kept as early at 1842, although most were discarded. Remaining ones would be at the county courthouse. National Archives-Great Lakes Region has records of the Internal Revenue Service for Indiana for 1867 to 1873. These are tax assessment records, arranged by district and then chronologically.
Clinton County Health Department has Birth / Death Records from 1882 and is located at 211 N. Jackson Street, Frankfort, IN 46041; (765) 659-6385.
Below is a list of online resources for Clinton County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Clinton County Court Records by clicking the link below:

Indiana State Department of Health Vital Records office is located at 6 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46204. The office is open for walk-in requests from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., E.S.T., Monday through Friday (excluding official State Holidays). They have the following records:
Below is a list of online resources for Clinton County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Clinton County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

Few, if any, records reveal as many details about individuals and families as do government census records. Substitute records can be used when the official census is unavailable
Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Clinton County, Indiana are 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Clinton County, Indiana are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms and U.K. Census Extraction Forms.
Below is a list of online resources for Clinton County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Clinton County Census Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Clinton County Maps. Email us with websites containing Clinton County Maps by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Clinton County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Clinton County Military Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Clinton County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Clinton County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
There are many churches and cemeteries in Clinton County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Clinton County Tombstone Transcription Project.
Below is a list of online resources for Clinton County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Clinton County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
Below is a list of online resources for Clinton County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Clinton County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below: