Nebraska Genealogy

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Overview of Nebraska records

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Overview of Nebraska Genealogy Records

• History: Nebraska was first settled in 1823, it was part of the territories of Indiana, Louisiana, and Missouri, it became Nebraska Territory, and became a state in 1867.
• Birth records: Statewide registration of births in Nebraska started in 1904 with complete records by 1920. A few birth records were recorded in a few counties before 1904. Birth records from 1904 to the present can be obtained from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
• Marriage records: Marriage records were kept in Nebraska by the individual counties from the time that the counties were organized. Marriage records since 1867 often list the names of the parents of the bride and groom. Statewide registration of marriages began 1909.  Marriage records from 1909 to the present can be obtained from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
• Death records: Statewide registration of deaths in Nebraska started in 1904 with complete records by 1920. A few death records were recorded in a few counties before 1904. Death records from 1904 to the present can be obtained from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
• Divorce records: Divorce records since the 1850s have been kept by the clerk of the district court for each county. Divorce records from 1909 to the present can be obtained from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services.
• Census records: The first federal census available for Nebraska is 1860. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1860 (included with Colorado), 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950. There were territorial censuses taken in 1854-1856 and a state census in 1885.
County records: Court, land, probate, naturalization, and tax records were kept by the individual counties.
• Other records: Many cities and towns kept newspapers, records kept by churches, cemeteries, histories, school, city directories, and other records that can be located by using the city pages on this site. Records specific to minority groups can be found in the Minority Records section.
• All records: Use the links on this site to locate online indexes and images of many of the above records.