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Warren 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
Warren County Ohio Map
Warren Co., Ohio Township Map

Warren County was created on March 24, 1803 and was formed from Hamilton County. The County was named for General Joseph Warren, a hero of the American Revolutionary War who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The County Seat is Lebanon.

In Lebanon, the county seat, is Ohio's oldest hotel, the Golden Lamb, operating since 1803, although the present building dates from 1815. Charles Dickens stayed here in 1842. The Western Star, one of the state's oldest weekly newspapers was printed in Lebanon since 1807. Probate Judge has birth & death records from 1867, marriage & probate records from 1803; Clerk of Courts has divorce & civil court records; County Recorder has land records.

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Records at the Warren County Courthouse

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

All Departments below are in the Warren County Courthouse 550 Justice Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036; Phone: +1-513-933-1346, unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.co.warren.oh.us/. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time. Warren County Records Center & Archives, County Administration Building, 406 Justice Drive, Lebanon, Ohio, has most older records availible. Contact them first for genealogy research before contacting the below offices.

Warren County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1803, Birth / Death Records from 1867-1908 and Probate Records from 1803 and is located at 570 Justice Drive, Lebanon, Ohio 45036; 513-695-1180, 513-695-2945

   Warren County Recorder has Land Records from 1795 and is located at 406 Justice Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036; Phone: 513-695-1140 or 513-695-1382; Fax: 513-695-2949; Email: deckea@co.warren.oh.us

Warren County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas has Court Records from 1803 and is located at 500 Justice Drive, P.O. Box 238, Lebanon, OH 45036; Phone: 513-695-1120, Fax: 513-695-2965

Courthouse History

In the fall of 1802 Ichabod Corwin, Ephrain Hathaway and Silas Hurin laid out the plan for the city of Lebanon. The surveyor for this project was, "Ichabod Halsey, lately of New Jersey".

Warren County was established in 1803 and Lebanon was selected as the county seat by an act of the Ohio legislature on February 11, 1805. On May 1, 1803 Associate Judges William James, Jacob D. Lowe and Ignatius Brown were appointed. The first Court of Common Pleas was held at the house of Ephiram Hathaway on the 3rd Tuesday of August, 1803, Judge Francis Dunlavy presiding. This Court session included indictments for assault, battery and "one or two for affray". Joshua Collett was the only attorney residing in Lebanon at this time.

The first Courthouse was built by Samuel Cray. On April 27, 1805, Mr. Cray was given the contract to build a "36 ft. square, two story" Courthouse for the Grand Sum of $1,450.00. This structure served as the County Courthouse for 30 years. In November of 1805 the Ohio Supreme Court held session in Lebanon. In those days, the Ohio Supreme Court traveled to various locations within the state to hear cases.

During this particular session a case was heard where the defendant stole "one Spanish milled dollar" and "one-eighth part of a Spanish milled dollar". (Some metal coins were milled so that they could be broken into pieces rather than milling separate coins of different values.) The defendant was found guilty and sentenced to "be whipped on his naked back, three stripes".

The next County Courthouse was built in 1834 for $25,000 and refurbished in 1880 for an additional $13,000. The current combined County Court Courthouse and Sheriff's Office at 550 Justice Drive was dedicated in 1975.County Court has grown over the years and 1996 was the first year when more than 10,000 new cases were processed.

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

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

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Warren County Census Records

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

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

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Warren County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Ohio

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

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Warren County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Ohio Genealogical Addresses

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

  • Submit a website for Warren Co. Genealogical Addresses
  • Warren County Chapter, OGS, 406 Justice Drive, Lebanon, OH 45036; Warren County Chapter, OGS meets at Phillippi Hall, Otterbein Home on the third Wednesday of each month., E-mail: wcgs@co.warren.oh.us
  • Warren County Historical Society, 105 S. Broadway, P. O. Box 223, Lebanon, Ohio 4503; (513) 932-1817
  • Waynesville Historical Society, Waynesville, Ohio 45068
  • Cardinal Research, 9500 Creekside Drive, Loveland, Ohio 45140-1911
  • Warren County Health Dept, 416 S East St, Lebanon, OH 45036; 513-933-1228
  • 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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Warren County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

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

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

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