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Wayne County, Ohio

Wayne County was created in 1796 (Organized in 1812) and was formed from Columbiana and Stark Counties. The County was named for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. The County Seat is Wooster.

Wayne County was originally very large. It included parts of what are now Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin. It was the third county formed from the Old Northwest Territory and named in honor of General Anthony Wayne of the Revolutionary War.

The county seat of Wooster was laid out in 1808. A German settler, August Imgard, was said to have put up the first Christmas tree in Ohio and possibly first in the nation in 1847. Probate Court has birth & death records from 1867 to 1908, marriage records from 1813, probate records from 1812; Clerk of Common Pleas Courts has divorce & civil court records from 1812; County Recorder has land records from 1812. Some records from 1808-1812 may be located in Columbiana and Stark Counties.

Records at the Wayne County Courthouse

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

All Departments below are in the Wayne County Courthouse 107 W. Liberty Street, PO Box 113, Wooster, OH 44691; Phone: +1-216-287-5460, unless otherwise noted below. The Official County website is located at http://www.wayneohio.org/. Some records from 1808-1812 may be located in Columbiana and Stark Counties. NOTE: The record dates below are from the earliest date to present time.

Wayne County Clerk of Probate Court has Marriage Records from 1813, Birth / Death Records from 1867-1908 and Probate Records from 1817 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: 330-287-5575

Wayne County Recorder has Land Records from 1813 and is located at 428 W Liberty Street, Wooster, OH 44691; Phone: 330-287-5460, Fax: 330-287-5685; Email: jane.carmichael@co.wayne.oh.us

Wayne County Clerk of Court of Common Pleas has Court Records from 1812 and is located at the courthouse. Phone Number: (330) 287-5590

MICROFILMED RECORDS & OFFICE SERVICES DEPARTMENT, 428 West Liberty Street, Wooster, OH 44691; 330-287-5418
Responsible for microfilming county records and for office printing and supplies services.

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

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

Wayne County Census Records

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

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

Wayne County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Ohio

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

Wayne County Genealogical Addresses

See Also Other Ohio Genealogical Addresses

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

  • Submit a website for Wayne Co. Genealogical Addresses
  • Wayne County Chapter, OGS, PO Box 856, Wooster, OH 44691; Wayne County Chapter, OGS meets at the Wayne County Library, 304 N. Market St., Wooster, OH on the first Saturday of each month at 2:00pm, except July.
  • Wayne County Public Library, 304 N Market St, Wooster, OH 44691, 330-262-0916
    Gene. Staff 330-262-0916 ext. 225
  • 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.

Wayne County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

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

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

County Church & Bible Records

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

 

Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

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

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