Durham County, North Carolina
Genealogy, Facts and Records Resources
Durham was formed in 1881 from Orange and Wake Counties . It was named for the city of Durham which was named in honor of Dr. Bartlett Snipes Durham who donated the land on which the railroad station was located. The building of the railroad station was the beginning of the town of Durham. The present land area is 290.32 square miles and the population in 2000 was 223,314. Durham, incorporated in 1866 as the Town of Durham in Orange County, is the county seat.
County is bordered by Person County (north), Granville County (northeast), Wake County (southeast), Chatham County (southwest), Orange County (west) . The county is divided into six townships: Carr, Durham, Lebanon, Mangum, Oak Grove, and Triangle. Cities, Towns and Communities include Durham, Gorman, Rougemont.
The Official County Government Website is located at http://www.co.durham.nc.us.
- Submit a Website or Report Incorrect Information
- Historical Newspapers from North Carolina (1719 - 1977) - Quickly find names and keywords in over 450 million articles, obituaries, marriage notices, birth announcements and other items published in over 2,800 historical U.S. newspapers. New content added monthly!
- North Carolina Genealogy Network - Facebook.com
- Family History Library
- North Carolina Newspaper Archives
- the largest historical newspaper database online, contains nearly 100 million newspaper pages from 1759 to present. Every newspaper in the archive is fully searchable by keyword and date. It Features billions of articles from historical newspapers around the U.S. and the world, it makes exploring history and genealogy easy. Discover fascinating news in archived newspapers hundreds of years old - including obituaries, birth announcements, sports articles, comics, and more – to fill in the life stories you are interested in. All of thier historical newspapers are full-page and fully searchable
- On-Site County Court Records Search! Many court records are not digitized yet, which means the only way to obtain these records is by going to the actual courthouses. Someone from our network of court-runners will go retrieve the records and then send you the results. Average response time is 38 hours.
- North Carolina Historical Records - Databases include North Carolina Court, Land, Wills & Financial Records; North Carolina Birth, Marriage & Death Records; North Carolina Voter Lists & Census Records; North Carolina Immigration & Emigration Records; North Carolina Obituary Records; North Carolina Military Records; North Carolina Family Tree Records; North Carolina Pictures; North Carolina Stories, Memories & Histories; North Carolina Directories & Member Lists and much more....
- County History
- Durham County, North Carolina History Books at Amazon.com
Durham County Court, Probate and Tax Records
What follows is an outline of beginning dates of extant records of each county. The beginning dates do not imply that all records are extant since some of North Carolina's county records have been lost due to fire and other causes. Find out about the Durham Courthouse Hours and Location
Durham County Clerk of Superior Court has Court Records from 1875 and Probate Records from 1881 and is located at Courthouse,
201 East Main St ,
Durham, NC 27701;
(919) 564-7070.
The Clerk of the Superior Court holds probate records and court records if they have not been transferred to the state archives in Raleigh. Probate records include not only wills, but also loose estates records, most of which have not been microfilmed. Court records may include apprentice bonds, bastardy bonds, and officials' or constables' bonds in addition to dockets, fee and account books, and court minutes and orders. They also have Divorce Records.
Durham County Register of Deeds has Land Records from 1881 and Marriage Records from 1881 and is located at PO
Box 1107, 200 E. Main Str, Ground Floor, Durham
NC 27702; 919-560-0480, Fax: 919-560-0497, [EMAIL].
The register of deeds at the county seat holds land and vital records if they have not been transferred to the state archives in Raleigh. Land records may include deeds, grants, plats, and other miscellaneous items. Vital records include Birth and Marriage records.
North Carolina tax lists have survived better than those for many states. The lists date from the first decade of the eighteenth century to the present. Microfilmed copies are available at the North Carolina State Archives and FHL, the Many transcriptions are found in the pages of North Carolina's periodicals.
Below is a list of online resources for Durham County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Durham County Court Records by clicking the link below:
Durham County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records
Birth, marriage, and death records are connected with central life events. They are prime sources for genealogical information.
Do not contact North Carolina Vital Records or the North Carolina State Archives, as there are no birth records prior to 1913 in a state public office. For death certificates prior to 1930, contact the North Carolina State Archives. A few delayed death records may exist back to 1909. Prior to this, there are no death records of any sort other than wills and estate settlements in the North Carolina State Archives.
COUNTY: Birth and Marriage Recordes and avalible from the Durham County Register of Deeds Office. Divorce Records are available from the Durham County Clerk of Superior Court Office. Click Here To see a list of North Carolina County Health Departments
STATE:North Carolina Vital Records is located at 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1903;
(919) 733-3526 (This office does not accept FAX or e-mail orders). All Fees are listed below under "Cost".
They have the following records:
- Birth Certificates: Birth records are available from 1913 to the present.
For birth records prior to the dates listed above, contact the local Register of Deeds office in the county where the birth occurred. In order to process a request, Vital Records needs to know: Full Name on Certificate, Date of Birth, Mother's Full Maiden Name, Father's Full Name, Place (City or County) of Birth.
You can download an application online for Birth Certificates.
- Death Certificates: Certified copies of death records are available from 1930 to the present. For death certificates prior to 1930, contact the North Carolina State Archives. A few delayed death records may exist back to 1909. Prior to this, there are no death records of any sort other than wills and estate settlements in the North Carolina State Archives. Vital Records needs to know: Full Name of Deceased, Date of Death, Place (City or County) of Death, Date of Birth
Fees are listed below. You can download an application online for Death Certificates.
- Marriage Certificates: Certified copies of Marriage records are available from 1962 to the present.
Vital Records needs to know: Full Name of Groom, Full Name of Bride, Date of Marriage, Place (City or County) Where License Was Issued. You can download an application online for Marriage Certificates.
Marriages prior to 1962 should be available from the County Register of Deeds office where the marriage was performed. Fees vary.
- Divorce Certificates: Certified copies of Divorce records are available from 1958 to the present.
Vital Records needs to know: Full Name of Husband, Full Name of Wife, Date of Divorce, Place (City or County) of Divorce. You can download an application online for Divorce Certificates.
If the records are not available at the North Carolina Vital Records office, they should be available from the Clerk of Superior Court in the county where the divorce was granted. Fees vary.
- Order Online: You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering below
Cost: A fee of $15 is charged for each name searched in a five-year period, regardless of the search results as per G.S. 130A-93.1. If the record is located, one certified or uncertified copy of the record will be provided at no additional cost. Additional copies of the same record, when requested at the same time, are $5 each.
These fees are for a search, regardless of the results. Search fees are not refundable. Any additional request to search in 5-year increments for records outside of the original 5-year period will cost an additional $15 fee
How to Order: Make certified checks and money orders should be made payable to "North Carolina Vital Records". Credit Cards may be uses by using VitalChek services Please do not send cash or checks. Fees are non refundable. Additional fees are required for expedited service. Mail all Applications to: North Carolina Vital Records, 1903 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1903. You can also order Order Electronically and get the certificates within 2-5 days by ordering HERE.
In - Person Requests:
Individuals may visit the office on the first floor of the Cooper Memorial Health Building at 225 N. McDowell Street, Raleigh, N.C. between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday – Friday, except on state government holidays. Parking is available on the north (Lane Street) side of the Cooper Building. Customers should bring a valid photo ID and non-refundable $15 search fee for each request. Copies of the same certificate are $5 if requested at the same time. You will be asked to fill out an application upon arrival or you may bring a completed one with you (see above for required forms). Walk-in requests for same day service are subject to an additional $15 expedited services fee and will usually be fulfilled in about one hour. Customers are encouraged to leave completed requests forms with us for a mailed response to avoid the extra fee for same day services.
Below is a list of online resources for Durham County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Durham County Vital Records by clicking the link below:
Durham County Census Records
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 Durham County, North Carolina are 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930.
Below is a list of online resources for Durham County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Durham County Census Records by clicking the link below:
Durham County Military Records
There are a few online military record databases which include: North Carolina Volunteers, Spanish American War, North Carolina Revolutionary War Soldiers.
Below is a list of online resources for Durham County Military Records. Email us with websites containing Durham County Military Records by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Durham Co. Military Records
- Revolutionary War Rolls, 1775-1783 from the State of North Carolina
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M246 include muster rolls, payrolls, strength returns, and other miscellaneous personnel, pay, and supply records of American Army units, 1775-83.
- Compiled Service Records of Soldiers Who Served in the American Army During the Revolutionary War from the State of North Carolina
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents in NARA publication M881. Compiled service records of soldiers who served in the American Army during the Revolutionary War, 1775-1783.
- Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files from the State of North Carolina
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, from NARA publication M804.
- Southern Claims - Barred and Disallowed from the State of North Carolina (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Documents In the 1870s, southerners claimed compensation from the U.S. government for items used by the Union Army, ranging from corn and horses, to trees and church buildings.
- Organization Index to Pension Files of Veterans Who Served Between 1861 and 1900 from the State of North Carolina (The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Original Pension applications for service in the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1917, grouped according to the units in which the veterans served.
- Compiled Service Records of Confederate Soldiers Who Served in Organizations from the State of North Carolina
(The National Archives): View, Print Copy & Save Compiled service records of Confederate soldiers from North Carolina units, labeled with each soldier's name, rank, and unit, with links to revealing documents about each soldier.
- Case Files of Applications from Former Confederates for Presidential Pardons ("Amnesty Papers"), 1865-67 from the State of North Carolina (The National Archives): NARA M1003. View, Print Copy & Save Original Applications for pardon submitted to President Andrew Johnson, 1865-67, by former Confederates excluded from earlier amnesty proclamations.
- Durham County, North Carolina Military Books at Amazon.com
- North Carolina Society, Daughters of the American Revolution
Durham County Genealogical Addresses
Below is a list of online resources for Durham County Genealogical Addresses. Email us with websites containing Durham County Genealogical Addresses by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Durham Co. Genealogical Addresses
- Durham - Orange Genealogical
Society of NC, P.O. Box
4703, Chapel Hill, NC 27515-4703, [EMAIL]
- Durham County
Health Department,
414 East Main Street,
Durham, NC 27701;
(919) 560-7650
- North Carolina Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 22, Greenville, NC 27835.
- North Carolina State Archives, Office of Archives and HistoryState Library Building
Public Services Branch, Mail Service Center 4614, Raleigh, N.C. 27699-4614
Phone: (919) 807-7310, Fax: (919) 733-1354, [EMAIL]
- State Library of North Carolina, 109 East Jones Street, Raleigh, NC 27601-2807; (919) 733-7222, (919) 733-3270
- Newspapers & Periodicals - The Newspapers & Periodicals Collection lets you discover a wealth of information about your ancestors from many historical newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals. These types of sources can often supplement public records and provide information that is not recorded anywhere else. Here, you can learn more about your ancestor's possible daily activities by placing them in the context of their time.
- North Carolina Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
Durham County Cemeteries & Graveyards
There are many churches and cemeteries in Durham County. Some transcriptions are online. A great site is the Durham County Tombstone Transcription Project.
The North Carolina Department of Transportation has county maps the show the locations of churches and cemeteries free for viewing or download here.
Below is a list of online resources for Durham County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Durham County Cemetery & Church Records by clicking the link below:
County Church & Bible Records
Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits
Below is a list of online resources for Durham County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information . Email us with websites containing Durham County Family Trees, web forums and other family type information by clicking the link below:
- Submit a website for Durham Co. Family History
- Sites on USGenweb: [ Durham County ] [ North Carolina ] [ Main Page ]
- [GenForum Message Boards] [Rootsweb Message Boards
]
- Nichols and Related Families of Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Virgina.
- The North Carolina Family Group Sheet Project
- Durham County, North Carolina Family Books at Amazon.com