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York County, Pennsylvania

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
York County Pennsylvania Map
VEIW FULL SIZED D.O.T. COUNTY MAP

Created on August 19, 1749, from part of Lancaster County and named either for the Duke of York, an early patron of the Penn family, or for the city and shire of York in England. The name may have been suggested by the proximity to Lancaster County, as the names are used together often in English history. York, the county seat, was laid out in 1741 and incorporated as a borough on September 24, 1787. It was chartered as a city on January 11, 1887.

Pennsylvania’s 1736 purchase from the Iroquois encompassed this area. The town of York was termed “Yorktown” in the colonial period. Cresap’s War showed Maryland’s desire to have the area, but it was yielded in 1760, and the matter finalized by the Mason-Dixon Line. York was the capital of the U.S. from September 1777 to June 1778, where the Articles of Confederation were adopted. Agriculturally abundant from the start, York was very productive in corn, wheat, hemp, and whiskey. There was a canal from York to the Susquehanna in 1833. Five railroads served the county, and in the 1920s the Lincoln Highway boosted truck transportation. Products could be sold in both the Philadelphia and Baltimore markets and, later on, Pittsburgh as well. Early iron manufacturing did not lead to steel making but spawned metal products specialties such as farm implements that are still productive. Cigar making was a leading business until the 1930s. Wagonmaking led to truck, auto, and railroad car manufacture. Building water wheels led to making turbines. Papermaking began early, followed by a printing industry. Ice cutting spawned refrigeration and air conditioners. Confections, safe vaults, barbells, quarried slate, chains, organs and pianos, rope, and silk were produced. Inventors and innovators gravitated toward York. High-speed steel, metal building panels and the Jeep were conceived here. The “York Plan” was a World War II system for cooperation to mobilize small industry to win the war; it was replayed for the Korean War. Deindustrialization has been less severe than other Pennsylvania industrial counties, although local ownership dropped. York is the sixth Pennsylvania county in value added to the economy from manufactures. Farms cover 48 percent of the land. Long the second most productive farm county (behind Lancaster), it is now seventh. About half the county is farmed; York is second only to Lancaster in number of farms. It is the leader in wheat and soybeans, and strong in corn, hogs, cattle, fruit and sheep.

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County Court, Probate and Tax Records

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

York County Register of Wills/ Orphan's Court Clerk has Marriage Records from 1749 and Probate Records from 1749 and is located at York County Judicial Center, Second Floor, 45 North George Street, York, PA 17401; 717-771-9607.

 

York County Recorder of Deeds has Land Records from 1749 and is located at Administrative Center, 28 East Market St., York, PA 17401-1590; 717-771-9644.

York County Prothonotary / Clerk of Courts has Court Records from 1749 and is located at 45 North George Street, York, PA 17401; 717-771-9611 .

Late eighteenth-century tax records for various counties, 1765–1791, were published in Pennsylvania Archives, 3d series, vols. 11–32.

Among the few surviving 1798 U.S. Direct Tax lists are those for Pennsylvania. They were microfilmed by the National Archives and are available at the Mid-Atlantic Region in Philadelphia and at the Pennsylvania State Archives. Indexes have been published for Washington and Lancaster counties.

Tax records are typically found in the county tax assessment offices but may also be in the county commissioners' office or with the prothonotary. The state archives has microfilms for some of these records (1715–1930s). Some assessment records have found their way into manuscript collections of county historical societies and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania as well as at the Philadelphia City Archives.

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

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County Birth, Marriage, Divorce and Death Records

See Also Vital Records in Pennsylvania

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

Birth & Death Certificates before 1906: Pennsylvania birth & death records prior to 1906 can be accessed through the York County courthouse. The Division of Vital Records does not keep this information. Please write or call to 28 East Market Street, York, PA 17401; (717) 771-9675. Courthouse has Birth records from ?, Death Records from ?

Vital Records, State Dept of Health, P.O. Box 1528, 101 South Mercer Street, New Castle, PA 16101; (724) 656-3100, Fax: (724) 652-8951, Please allow up to approximately 4-6 weeks for processing of all type of certificates when ordered through the mail. They have the following records:

  • Birth & Death Certificates: Birth records maintained by Pennsylvania Vital Records since Jan 1906 through the present.
  • Marriage & Divorce Certificates: Marriage & Divorce records are not available from the Division of Vital Records. They are usually obtained from the York County Courthouse (If they were issued there).
  • Ordering Vital Records - You can also order
  • Order Electronically Online or You can download an application for Birth, Marriage, Divorce or Death Certificates to mail.

Cost: Include $10.00 fee per copy, $17.00 (by fax) for Birth records and Include $9.00 fee per copy, $16.00 (by fax) for Death Records. Please do not send cash. Make check or money order payable to “Vital Records." Please do not send cash in the mail.
Order In Person:You may apply in person at one of our six public offices in Erie, Harrisburg, New Castle, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh or Scranton
Order By Mail: Mail a check or money order (no cash) payable to the "Vital Records " along with the necessary information to the following address:Vital Records, State Dept of Health, P.O. Box 1528, 101 South Mercer Street, New Castle, PA 16101. Birth Certificate by Mail Order Form , Death Certificate by Mail Order Form
Order On-Line: To obtain a certified copy of a vital record by on-line purchase with a credit card, please link to VitalChek
Processing Time: 4-6 weeks when ordered by mail or 2-5 Days when you order ELECTRONICALLY Online!

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

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County Census Records

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

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 York County, Pennsylvania are 1790, 1800, 1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1890 (fragment, see below), 1900, 1910, 1910, 1920 and 1940. There are three indexes for the 1800 census and two for 1810. The 1850 census also has two indexes, one arranged by county. For the 1910 Miracode, Philadelphia County is indexed apart from the rest of the commonwealth. After it was filmed by the National Archives, the 1880 census was sent to the University of Pittsburgh. The state copies of the 1840–70 censuses are no longer extant, but a few county copies are known to exist. Other Federal Schedules to look at when researching your family tree in York County, Pennsylvania areIndustry and Agriculture Schedules availible for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Slave Schedules exist for 1850 & 1860. The Mortality Schedules for the years 1850, 1860, 1870 and 1880. Union Veterans Schedules were conducted in 1890.

There are free downloadable and printable Census forms to help with your research. These include U.S. Census Extraction Forms & U.K. Census Extraction Forms

State Schedules: Pennsylvania took no state censuses, but an enumeration of taxpayers compiled every seven years from 1779 through 1863 is commonly called the Septennial Census. These records have only survived in small numbers and are available at the state archives.

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

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County Maps & Atlases

See Also Research In State Map Collections

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

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County Military Records

See Also Research In Military Records or Military Records in Pennsylvania

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

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County Cemeteries & Graveyards

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

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

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

 

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Family Trees & Genealogy Tidbits

 

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

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