Ohio Genealogy

USA (1,379,301) > Ohio (59,116)

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Overview of Ohio records

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Overview of Ohio Genealogy Records

• History: Ohio was first settled in 1787. It became a territory in 1789 and became a state in 1803.
• Birth records: Birth records were kept by the government in Ohio starting in 1867 but are incomplete. More complete records were kept starting in 1908. Copies of recent birth certificates can be obtained from the probate court of the county where the birth occurred. Copies of birth certificates from 1908 and later can be ordered from the Ohio Department of Health.
• Marriages: Marriage records were generally kept from the date the county was created. Copies of recent marriage certificates can be obtained from the probate court of the county where the marriage occurred.
• Deaths: Death records were kept by the government in Ohio starting in 1867 but are incomplete. More complete records were kept starting in 1908. Copies of recent death certificates can be obtained from the probate court of the county where the death occurred or from the Ohio Department of Health.Copies of death certificates from 1908 and later can be ordered from the Ohio Department of Health.
• Divorces: Divorce records were kept by the state Supreme Court until 1852, and then by the Court of Common Pleas in each county.
• Census: The first federal census available for Ohio is 1800. There are federal censuses publicly available for 1800 (partial), 1810 (partial), 1820 (partial), 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930, 1940, and 1950.
• Land records: Early records of land grants and bounty land are at the Archives and Library of the Ohio History Connection.
• County records: Court, land, probate, tax, and naturalization records were kept at the county level.
• Other records: Many cities and towns had newspapers, records kept by churches, cemeteries, histories, school, city directories, and other records that can be located on the city pages on this site. Records specific to minority groups can be found in the Minority Records section.
• All records: Online indexes and images of many of the above records can be found by using the links on this site.