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Hamilton County, Ohio

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
Hamilton County Ohio Map
Hamilton Co., Ohio Township Map

Hamilton County was created on January 2, 1790 and was formed as an Original County. The County was named for United States Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. The County Seat is Cincinnati .

The first Courthouse was a 30x40 log cabin built in 1795, which was located in Public Square across from the present location of the U. S. Post Off ice and Federal Courthouse at 5th Street between Main and Walnut Streets. This original Courthouse was burned by Indians and replaced by a brick building in 1802. During the War of 1812, it was used as military barracks, and was set on fire in 1813 by the soldiers. Virtually all of the records were destroyed during this fire.

In 1819, the Courthouse was rebuilt and was again destroyed by fire in 1849. The Courthouse was rebuilt in 1851, but it too was consumed by fire during the riot of 1884. Occupancy of the present Courthouse commenced in 1886, and the final addition was completed in 1918.

After each fire, a notice was published in the newspaper for the benefit of any persons wishing to have their documents, such as marriage records and wills, restored and re-entered as public records. As the result of the four separate fires, the records prior to 1884 have been reconstructed but they are not all intact. Some of the records have been restored; some of the records have been reconstructed by affidavit; some records have been copied from the original records; and some records have been salvaged, but have been partially damaged by fire, water or smoke.

In your search of older records, you may not find that which you seek. The four Courthouse fires probably account for their absence. The records which have survived represent the labor and dedication of many employees and volunteers from past generations who diligently worked to preserve Courthouse records f or their posterity. Judge Wayne F. Wilke. See also County History for more historical details.

The Health Department has Birth & Death Records from 1908-Present, see the Vital Records section for more details. For birth and death records prior to Dec. 20, 1908, contact the Probate Court of this county.

 

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Records at the Hamilton County Courthouse

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

All Departments below are in the Hamilton County Courthouse 1000 Main Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202; Phone: +1-513-632-6500, unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.hamilton-co.org/ .NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Hamilton County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1808, has Birth circa 1864 through 1908; Death 1882 through 1908, Naturalization 1864 through 1884 and Probate Records from 1797 and is located at 230 East Ninth Street, Cincinnati, Ohio 45202 . Probate: 513-946-3600,

Hamilton County Recorder has Land Records from 1787 and is located at 138 East Court Street, Cincinnati, OH 45202; Phone: (513) 946-4570

Hamilton County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas has Court Records from 1844 and is located in Room 410. Phone Number: (513)946-5800

Tax records for Ohio began as early as 1800. The archives section of the Ohio Historical Society has a collection of original Ohio tax lists from the state auditor's office. They include lists from the county's organization to 1838, usually arranged by county and township. They are not indexed. County courthouses hold various tax records that have not been inventoried. They are in the office of the county auditor or the county records manager. The FHL has microfilm copies of all known extant tax records 1800-38 for Ohio.

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

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Hamilton County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

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

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

Ohio did not make it a law to keep birth records until 1867. Ohio made it a law to record births in 1867. County probate courts kept birth records between 1867 and December 19, 1908. There is no statewide index to birth records from 1867 through December 19, 1908. Go to the list of county probate court birth records held at the Ohio Historical Society. If the Ohio Historical Society does not hold a county's birth records, please contact the county's probate court.

Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 225 Neilston Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; (614) 466-2531. Same-day service available to walk-in customers (for Ohio birth and death records only)., P.O. Box 570, Jefferson City, MO 65102, Please allow up to approximately 3 weeks to 6 months for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

  • Birth & Death Certificates: The state of Ohio began issuing certificates for births on December 20, 1908. The Ohio Department of Health holds birth certificates for the state of Ohio from December 20, 1908 to the present. The Vital Statistics Office maintains statewide Death Certificates from 1954 to the present. Individual health departments in the county or city where the death took place keep certificates for their local area (not statewide).
    • Cost: $16.50 per certificate, payment is payable to the Treasurer State of Ohio. The cost for each authentication is $5.00 payable to the Secretary of State of Ohio. If no record is found or no copy is made, state law requires that we keep $16.50 for a searching fee. Please do not send cash in the mail.
    • Click Here to Search the Social Security Death Index
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: The State of Ohio Vital Statistics Office maintains the abstracts of marriages and divorces that occurred in Ohio from January 1, 1954, to present.  Abstracts are brief forms that list limited information extracted from the original marriage licenses or divorce decrees.  This limited information is used for index purposes and the filing of the marriage or divorce within the State of Ohio. We do not have marriage licenses or divorce decrees on file, only abstracts. An abstract is not a marriage license or divorce decree. Please contact the following agencies: Marriage License - County Probate Court; Divorce – County Clerk of Court. To request a certified copy of a marriage license contact the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the license was obtained.To request a certified copy of a divorce decree contact the Circuit Clerk in the county where the decree was granted.
    • Cost: Include a fee of $3.00 per 10 year search per last name with request.  Allow 4 to 6 months for the search. Please do not send cash in the mail.

Order On-Line - You can also order Order Electronically Online and get the certificates within 2-5 days with a credit or debit card. Order Birth Records, Marriage Records, Divorce Records or Death Records.

Order By Mail - Turn around is estimated at 3 to 6 weeks from the day the request is received. However, people are urged to allow sufficient time for delivery for all birth/death records. Mail a check or money order of $16.50 for each certified certificate. Do not send cash. Mail to the following address: Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, P.O. Box 15098, Columbus, Ohio 43215-0098. Please include return address on envelope and application form.

Order In Person - Same day service is available to walk-in customers. This is the fastest way to obtain a birth certificate. When you arrive, you will complete an application and pay the $16.50 required fee. Walk-in address is Ohio Department of Health, Vital Statistics, 225 Neilston Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215; Phone: (614) 466-2531. You can also obtain the birth/death record from the city or county health department office where the event occurred, provided there is no court or legal action. You may download the application and submit it in person or by mail to the nearest local health department.

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

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Hamilton County Census Records

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

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Hamilton County, Ohio are 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your Family Tree in Hamilton County, Ohio are Industry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 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 Hamilton County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Hamilton County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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Hamilton County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Ohio

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

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Hamilton County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Ohio Genealogical Addresses

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

  • Submit a website for Hamilton Co. Genealogical Addresses
  • Hamilton County Chapter, OGS, PO Box 15865, Cincinnati, OH 45215-0865; meets at various times and places in September through November and January through May. Special Interest Groups: African-American, Computer, German, and Irish., E-mail: kburck@cinergy.com
  • Ohio Historical Society, Archives-Library Division, 1982 Velma Avenue, Columbus, OH 43211; Telephone: 614-297-2300
    The Ohio Historical Society Archives/Library is, by law, the archives for the State of Ohio. As such, we collect, preserve, and make available to the public, documents pertaining to the operation of state and local governments.
  • Ohio Genealogical Society, 713 S. Main St, Mansfield, OH 44907-1644;(419) 756-7294, [EMAIL]
  • Columbus Metropolitan Library, Genealogy Division, 96 S. Grant Ave., Columbus, OH 43215. 614-645-2ASK (2275);The Genealogy Division holds microfilm; printed, typescript, and manuscript collections, including family and local histories; atlases; cemetery records; city directories; military records; censuses and census indexes; and transcribed records provided by the Ohio chapters of the DAR.
  • Ohio Newspapers & Periodicals Records - Newspapers and periodicals are the diaries of local communities. They are excellent sources of family history details - often recorded nowhere else. Look for obituaries, marriages, legal notices, and more found in our Historical Newspaper Archives.
  • Ohio Genealogical Society Books at Amazon.com
  • 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.
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Hamilton County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

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

Below is a list of online resources for Hamilton County Cemetery & Church Records. Email us with websites containing Hamilton 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 Ohio

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

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

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