Portals and Homepages
- City of Chicago Data Portal »
- Other City, County and State Agencies »
Includes links to the homepages of many metropolitan governments.
USA.gov »
The gateway to federal government information.
- FedStats »
Federal statistics.
Businesses and Corporations
City of Chicago Business License Lookup »
Many businesses registered with the State of Illinois do not require separate city licenses.
Cook County Clerk Assumed Business Name Registration
Unincorporated businesses operating under an alias are required to register with the Cook County Clerk. These names are also known as DBA (Doing Business As) or assumed names. For information on these registrations, call the Cook County Clerk’s Office at (312) 603-7790 and navigate to the Assumed Name Unit.
Illinois Corporate Name/LLC Database »
Illinois corporations and their officers.
Crime and Criminals
Chicago Crime Maps »
Search by address or ward, or near schools or parks. Data is updated daily.
Chicago Crime Statistics »
Reports on crime by type and community area.
Cook County Jail Inmate Search »
Details about incarcerated persons.
Illinois Department of Corrections Inmate Search »
Sentencing and personal information for Illinois prisoners and parolees.
Illinois State Police Child Murderer and Violent Offender Against Youth Registry »
Illinois State Police Sex Offender Information »
Search these two registries by location and name.
Elected Officials
Chicago Board of Election Commissioners »
Find your polling place plus the names, addresses and webpages of all your elected officials, from aldermen to state and federal officials.
Illinois General Assembly »
A guide to the many webpages of the Illinois Senate and House of Representatives.
U.S. House of Representatives »
Election Results
Chicago Election Results »
(Chicago Board of Election Commissioners)
Illinois Election Results »
(Illinois State Board of Elections)
Electronic Documents Repositories
Electronic Documents of Illinois »
Provides permanent public access to official publications of the State of Illinois that have been deposited in electronic form.
FDsys »
Provides free online access to official federal government publications.
Geography
Chicago Maps and Plats »
Several obscurely useful maps showing building outlines, official addresses, property boundaries and subdivision history.
National Atlas »
The official map of the United States includes much useful subject detail. Customize maps using the Map Maker.
Government Contracts
Chicago Vendor, Contract and Payment Search »
Information about vendors serving the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, Chicago Housing Authority and Chicago Transit Authority.
Open Book: Illinois State Contracts and Campaign Contributions »
Government Organization
Illinois Blue Book »
Describes the government of the State of Illinois and its operation.
Illinois Handbook of Government »
Contains the most frequently requested information from the Blue Book.
U.S. Government Manual »
Comprehensive information about all the agencies making up the federal government.
Health
Illinois Public Health Statistics »
Detailed health information for Chicago Community Areas and other Illinois places.
Income Taxes
The Chicago Public Library’s Popular Topics: Income Taxes has information to help during tax season.
Laws
Chicago Legislative Information Center »
City Council legislative documents via the Chicago City Clerk, including the historical Journal of the Proceedings of the City Council.
Chicago Municipal Code »
The ordinances of the City of Chicago arranged by subject.
Illinois Administrative Code »
The state’s rules and regulations arranged by subject.
Illinois Compiled Statutes »
Statutory laws, the laws passed by the legislature, arranged by subject.
United States Legislative Information »
From the Library of Congress Thomas Service.
ProQuest Congressional »
Find congressional publications (hearings, reports, documents, prints, etc.) from 2004 to the present.
Code of Federal Regulations »
Federal rules and regulations arranged by subject.
U.S. Code »
Federal statutes arranged by subject.
Lobbyists
Chicago Lists of Registered Lobbyists »
Cook County Clerk’s Lobbyists Online »
Illinois Secretary of State’s Electronic Lobby Information System »
People
Cook County Circuit Court Case Information Online »
Civil cases filed in the world’s largest court.
Illinois Professional License Lookup »
Check the database for over a million active and inactive licenses.
Licensed Attorneys »
(Illinois Attorney Registration & Disciplinary Commission)
Even includes Abraham Lincoln.
Real Estate and Property
Cook County Assessor’s Office Property Search »
Images, descriptions and assessments for each parcel in Cook County.
Cook County Property Tax Information »
Find tax bills and the taxpayer of record. Searchable only by PIN (Property Index Number). Find PINs by first searching either the Cook County Assessor’s Office Property Search or Cook County Recorder of Deeds.
Cook County Recorder of Deeds »
Search by location or name. The various documents filed against properties usually indicate ownership.
Statistical Compilations
MetroPulse »
The comprehensive web resource for Chicago metropolitan area statistics. Tools on the site allow you to make maps and graphs.
Statistical Abstract »
One-stop shopping for the most requested national statistics.
Teachers
Educator Certification System »
(Illinois State Board of Education)
Database of educators and schools in Illinois.
Transportation
Chicago Department of Transportation Interactive Map »
Showing traffic counts, pedestrian counts, traffic signals and red light cameras.
Chicago Transit Authority Bus Tracker »
Chicago Transit Authority Train Tracker »
RTA Trip Planner »
Tells you how to get there by public transportation.
Additional Information
The Chicago Public Library’s Popular Topics: Government & Social Services has information to help you connect with government agencies and services. For additional assistance, visit the Government Publications Department.