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Polk County, Florida
Genealogy, Facts and Records Resources

County Court, Probate, Land & Tax Records  •  County Census Records
County Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records and Death Records
County Cemeteries & Graveyards  •  County Church & Bible Records


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Polk County was created in 8 Feb 1861 and was formed from Brevard and Hillsborough Counties. The County was named after James Knox Polk, the eleventh president of the United States. The County Seat is Bartow.

Counties adjacent to Polk County are Lake County (north), Orange County (northeast), Osceola County (east), Okeechobee County (southeast), Highlands County (southeast), Hardee County (south), Manatee County (southwest), Hillsborough County (west), Sumter County (northwest), Pasco County (northwest).

Polk County Cities and Towns include Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Eagle Lake, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lakeland, Lake Wales, Mulberry, Polk City, Winter Haven Dundee, Hillcrest Heights, Lake Hamilton. Villages Include Highland Park. CDPs Include Babson Park, Combee Settlement, Crooked Lake Park, Crystal Lake, Cypress Gardens, Fussels Corner, Gibsonia, Highland City, Inwood, Jan Phyl Village, Kathleen, Lakeland Highlands, Loughman, Medulla, Poinciana, Wahneta, Waverly, Willow Oak, Winston. Communities Include Brewster

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Records at the Polk County Court, Probate and Tax Records

See Also Florida Court, Land, Tax & Probate Records and Marriage Records

The Official County website is located at http://www.polk-county.net/. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. See also Courthouse History

Polk County Clerk of the Circuit Court / County Clerk has Marriage Records from 1862, Land Records from 1862, Probate Records from 1861 and Court Records from 1867 and is located at Drawer CC-1, P.O. Box 9000, Bartow, Florida 33831-9000; 863-534-4540, Fax: 863-534-4584
The Clerk of the Circuit Court is also the County Clerk. His office is located in the County Courthouse. The office of the Clerk is created in Article V and Article VIII of the Florida Constitution. The Clerk is an officer of the court of justice whose responsibilities are mandated by the Constitution as well as state and local laws. Under a 1973 reorganization of the judicial system, the clerk of courts in each county was made, and remains, custodian of all records of all predecessor courts, whether justice of the peace, city, county, probate, civil, or criminal.

You may also search the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) which covers Florida and surrounding states. Many pioneers and settelers bought land from the government instead of individuals.

Below is a list of online resources for Polk County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Polk County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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Polk County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Research In Vital Records or Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records in Florida

Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.

Office of Vital Statistics, Dept of Health, P.O. Box 210, 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042; (904) 359-6900 Ext. 1029, Fax: (904) 359-6993.

  • Birth Certificates: has custody of birth records filed from January 1917 to date. Scattered birth records from 1865 through 1916 are also held by the bureau, and some city health departments have some additional scattered records (e.g., Jacksonville, 1893-1913; Pensacola, 1897-1916).
    • Cost: $9.00 for computer certification & $14.00 per photocopy certification (1930 to present), payment is payable to the Office of Vital Statistics. Additional copies of the same record are $4.00 each. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $9.00/$14.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Death Certificates: From 1917 - present. Death records begin about 1877, but the first state law mandating registration of deaths was passed in 1899, and records before 1917 are spotty. It is always well to check with city health departments.
    • Cost: $5.00 per certificate. Additional copies of the same record are $4.00 each. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $5.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: has custody of marriage, divorce, and annulment records filed after 6 June 1927. For records prior to that date, and there are thousands of them, query the clerk of courts in the county where the license or decree was issued. Numerous divorces and resulting name-changes are to be found in Names and Abstracts from the Acts of the Legislative Council of the Territory of Florida, 1822-1845 (Pass-A-Grille Beach, Fla.: William A. and Janet B. Wolfe, 1985). Copies of marriage license applications are available only from the clerk of courts in the county courthouse. Standard request forms for copies of state-held records are necessary and available as indicated above.
    • Cost: $5.00 per certificate. Additional copies of the same record are $4.00 each. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $5.00 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
  • Ordering Vital Records - You can also order Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail.
  • Processing Time: Allow 3 to 6 weeks for the search by mail for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Records. MAIL or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY.
  • Order In Person: To order your copy through your local County Health Department Vital Statistics office click here for a list of the 67 County Health Departments. WALK-IN SERVICE is available at 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, Florida, between 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. Orders prepaid by Noonmay be picked up after 3:30 p.m. Orders prepaid after Noon may be picked up after 10:00 a.m. the next workday. Each requestmust be accompanied by picture identification Certifications for photocopies rush service requires an additional fee of $10.
  • Order By Mail:  Turn around is estimated at 3 to 6 weeks from the day the request is received. Mail to the following address: Office of Vital Statistics, Dept of Health, P.O. Box 210, 1217 Pearl Street, Jacksonville, FL 32231-0042. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

Below is a list of online resources for Polk County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Polk County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Polk County Census Records

See Also Research In Census Records & Statewide Census Links for Florida

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 Polk County, Florida are1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Polk County, Florida are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 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 Polk County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Polk County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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Polk County Maps & Atlases

See Also Statewide Maps that exist for Florida

Below is a list of online resources for Polk County Maps. Email us with websites containing Polk County Maps by clicking the link below:

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Polk County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Florida

Below is a list of online resources for Polk County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Polk County Military Records by clicking the link below:

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Polk County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Florida Genealogical Addresses

Below is a list of online resources for Polk County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Polk County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:

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Polk County Cemeteries & Graveyards

See Also Research In Cemetery Records or Statewide Cemetery Links for Florida

There are many churches and cemeteries in Polk County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Polk County Tombstone Transcription Project.

Below is a list of online resources for Polk County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Polk County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:

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County Church & Bible Records

See Also Research In Church Records or Statewide Church & Bible Links for Florida

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

Below is a list of online resources for Polk County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information. Email us with websites containing Polk County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:

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