Blog · October 17, 2026 · Illinois
Shelbyville Plat Map: finding the recorded plat
A recorded plat shows how land near Tower Hill was divided into lots.
Main page: Shelby County, IL GIS & Parcel Viewer (official map link, county facts and neighboring maps).
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When a deed near Herrick says lot and block, you'll need the Shelbyville plat map to make sense of it. Covered here for Shelbyville: where to request a copy, how a plat differs from a parcel map, and the details that matter to buyers.
Who keeps the Shelbyville plat map
For a subdivision near Cowden, the deed or parcel record often names the subdivision and plat reference; that makes the request quick.
Getting to the right map
Go first to the Shelby County parcel viewer; it maps every assessed parcel in the county, Herrick included. For land near Herrick, type a street address, an owner's name or a parcel number, then pick the result to center the map on it. For land near Herrick, write down the parcel ID while you have it open; each clerk in the county will want it.
Before you lean on the lines
The acreage figure is a tax-roll number; only a licensed surveyor can set the real corners on land around Tower Hill. Owner names and values update on a schedule, so a fresh transfer around Strasburg may not show yet.
Getting answers from the right desk
Anything recorded against property around Herrick sit in the index kept by the county Recorder of Deeds (in many counties the County Clerk and Recorder), sometimes only in person. Questions about what you can build around Cowden are for the local planning and health departments, town or county, depending on location.
Where Shelbyville fits in
Shelbyville sits in Shelby County, Illinois, so its parcels are on the county's map. As the county seat, Shelbyville hosts the courthouse, which puts the county Recorder of Deeds (in many counties the County Clerk and Recorder) close by. With a lot near Stewardson, the municipality handles things like zoning, permits and utilities within town limits, but the county runs assessment and recording. Acreage past the city limits toward Cowden usually answers to county rules, not municipal ones.
How a plat differs from the tax map
The Shelby County parcel viewer draws parcels for taxes, but the recorded plat is what the deed relies on.
Reading the plat sheet
For a parcel near Strasburg, the sheet usually includes lot and block numbers, dimensions and bearings, street rights-of-way and easements.
Backing up the map with records
The map is an index, not the title: recorded deeds, plats and easements for land near Herrick are kept by the county Recorder of Deeds (in many counties the County Clerk and Recorder). For land near Strasburg, have ready the document number shown in the record panel to skip a name search.
Metes and bounds instead
Acreage around Cowden outside a subdivision may have no plat at all; the deed and any recorded survey describe it instead.
Shelby County in a few facts
Shelbyville holds the county offices, home to the main records offices. You'll also find Findlay, Tower Hill, Strasburg, and Cowden. Around 20,568 people live in Shelby County (Census Bureau estimate, 2023) on roughly 759 square miles. Shelby County dates to 1827, so old deeds can run back a long way.
Ordering the Shelbyville plat map
Closer to Cowden, many recorder offices offer an online index, while others require a visit or a request; copy fees are usually small.
Sections, lots and bearings
Illinois follows the Public Land Survey System, which means a tract near Cowden is described by section, township and range. A standard section is about one square mile, roughly 640 acres, with 36 sections to a township, though real sections near Herrick vary in size. Write down the legal description for the tract near Cowden for any title or survey request.
When a plat changes
Lots near Cowden can be combined or reconfigured by a replat, search the index for replats of the same subdivision; vacated streets or alleys also get recorded.
When a parcel crosses a boundary
Shelby County meets Christian County, Coles County, Cumberland County, Effingham County, and Fayette County, and each of those keeps its own parcel map. Acreage along the edge near Findlay can show up across two assessors' files, so open the adjacent map as well. For land near Herrick, the Platbookmapper state page lists each bordering county map across Illinois.
Using it on a phone
Most viewers work in a phone browser, handy when you're parked on a road near Herrick, though signal can drop in rural spots. A saved image of the lot near Cowden and its lines is a good backup.
Frequently asked
How do I get a copy of a plat in Shelbyville?
Recorded plats near Cowden are filed with the county Recorder of Deeds (in many counties the County Clerk and Recorder).
Is a plat map a survey around Stewardson?
If the land is near Cowden, GIS parcels are tax drawings, and the recorded plat is the legal document; trust the plat when they differ.
How do I read lot and block in Shelbyville?
It depends, but it points to a spot on the plat for that subdivision near Findlay; the deed names the subdivision.
What do the dashed lines on a plat mean near Stewardson?
If the land is near Cowden, dashed lines often mark easements or building lines; read the plat notes.
Is the parcel map a survey around Strasburg?
No; boundary questions near Tower Hill need a licensed surveyor; a survey sets the real corners
Open the official Shelby County, IL parcel map See it in the Platbookmapper directory
Not a survey. County GIS and tax parcel maps are assessment and planning layers. They are not a substitute for a recorded plat, deed, or licensed survey, especially for fences, setbacks, or boundary disputes.