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Lorain 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
Lorain County Ohio Map
Lorain Co., Ohio Township Map

Lorain County was created on December 26, 1822 (Organized in 1824) and was formed from Cuyahoga, Huron and Medina Counties. The County was named for the province of Lorraine in France. Elyria is the county seat of Lorain County. The town’s first resident was Heman Ely, who arrived in 1817. Residents named the town in honor of Ely, who donated much of the land for the community. 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.

Lorain County was named after the providence of Lorraine France. The name was requested by Herman Ely, an early settler after which the county seat of Elyria was named. Elyria is an industrial city and the home of Lorain County Community College and an extension of Kent State University. Lorain, the largest city in the county is an important Lake Erie port and shipping center.
Principle industries include: transportation equipment, machinery, metals, chemicals, gray iron castings, iron and stell tubing, plastics, boats, communication equipment, automobiles, dairy products, vegetables and sandstone.

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Records at the Lorain County Courthouse

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

All Departments below are in the Lorain County Courthouse 308 2nd Street, Elyria, OH 44035; Phone: +1-216-329-5148, unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.loraincounty.com/government/ . NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Lorain County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1824, Birth / Death Records from 1867-1908 and Probate Records from 1840 and is located at the 225 Court Street, 6th Floor, Elyria, OH 44035; (440) 329-5175, (440) 244-6261, Fax (440) 328-2157

Lorain County Recorder has Land Records from 1822 and is located at the Administration Building, 226 Middle Ave, Elyria OH 44035; 440-329-5176

Lorain County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas has Court Records from 1824 and is located at the Administration Building, 226 Middle Ave, Elyria OH 44035; 440-329-5176

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 Lorain County Court Records. Email us with websites containing Lorain County Court Records by clicking the link below:

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Lorain 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 Lorain County Vital Records. Email us with websites containing Lorain County Vital Records by clicking the link below:

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Lorain County Census Records

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

Countywide Records: Federal Population Schedules that exist for Lorain County, Ohio are 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 Lorain 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 Lorain County Census Records. Email us with websites containing Lorain County Census Records by clicking the link below:

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Lorain County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Ohio

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

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Lorain County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Ohio Genealogical Addresses

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

  • Submit a website for Lorain Co. Genealogical Addresses
  • Lorain County Chapter, OGS, PO Box 865, Elyria, OH 44036-0865; Lorain County Chapter, OGS has regular meetings at North Ridgeville Public Library, 7pm on the second Monday unless otherwise stated. Special meetings will be announced in The Researcher.
  • The Wellington Genealogical Group, PO Box 265, Wellington OH, 44090
  • Lorain County Historical Society, Hicks Memorial Library, 509 Washington Avenue, Elyria OH 44035; 440-322-3341
  • Black River Genealogists, Meet at the Lorain Public Library, 351 6th St, Lorain OH 44052
  • Elyria City Health Department, 202 Chestnut St, Elyria OH 44035; 440-323-7595
  • Lorain County Health Department, 9880 South Murray Ridge Rd, Elyria OH 44035; 440-322-6367
  • 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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Lorain County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

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

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

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