Allentown Ancestry Records
Allentown genealogy records are held across several offices in Lehigh County, where the city serves as the county seat. Researchers searching Allentown family history will find marriage licenses, birth and death records, deeds, and court documents at the Lehigh County Courthouse and at key repositories like the Allentown Public Library. Statewide vital records from 1906 onward are available through the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Whether your search begins with a known address in Allentown or a family name common to the Lehigh Valley, this guide points you to the right records and offices.
Allentown Genealogy Quick Facts
Where to Find Allentown Genealogy Records
Allentown sits at the center of Lehigh County, and the Lehigh County Courthouse at 455 West Hamilton Street is the main source for genealogy records in the city. Several departments share this address. The Clerk of Judicial Records is at Room 455 West Hamilton Street, phone (610) 782-3150, open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Register of Wills is in Room 123 at the same address, phone (610) 782-3170. These offices handle wills, estates, and older vital records for Allentown families.
The Lehigh County Recorder of Deeds is at 17 South 7th Street, Suite 210, Allentown, PA 18101, phone (610) 782-3162, open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. This office maintains land records for Allentown and all of Lehigh County. Standard photocopies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee of $1.00 to $5.00 per document. Cash, check, or money order is accepted; some departments also accept credit cards.
For older Allentown records from before 1970, the Lehigh County Historical Records Center at 17 South 7th Street, Allentown, PA 18101, phone (610) 782-3280, is the place to go. This center handles genealogical requests for early court, vital, and land records not yet transferred to current county offices.
Allentown Vital Records
Marriage records for Allentown are held at the Lehigh County Marriage License Office, 455 West Hamilton Street, Room 123.5, Allentown, PA 18101. Lehigh County has recorded marriages continuously from 1885. Certified copies cost $10 plus $9.65 for priority mail delivery. Requests can be submitted in person or by regular mail. An online search is available through the Odyssey Public Access system. Under Pennsylvania law and consistent with 35 P.S. §450.801, marriage records are public, though Social Security numbers are restricted from view.
Birth and death records for Allentown before 1906 were kept at the county level. Lehigh County birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are held at the Register of Wills. Records from the 1852 to 1854 period, an earlier attempt at statewide registration, are also available for Lehigh County. Statewide registration began January 1, 1906, and from that date forward, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records at pa.gov/agencies/health/programs/vital-records/ maintains all birth and death certificates. Certified copies cost $20 each.
Divorce records for Allentown are held at the Lehigh County Clerk of Courts, 455 West Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101, phone 610-782-3550. A name search costs $20.00, copies cost $0.50 per page, and certified copies of divorce decrees cost $10.00 per document plus copy fees. Divorce verification certificates are available through the PA Department of Health for divorces after 1968.
Note: Requests for Allentown genealogy records may be submitted in person, by mail, or through the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal, depending on the record type and the office you contact.
Historical Genealogy Resources in Allentown
The Allentown Public Library maintains a dedicated genealogy collection that supports researchers tracing Lehigh Valley family history. The library offers access to local newspapers, city directories, and reference materials specific to Allentown and the surrounding region. Staff can assist researchers in identifying which sources best match their family's timeline and location within the city.
The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania maintains resources that include Lehigh County church records, land patents, and compiled family histories. Many Allentown-area church records from the 18th and 19th centuries have been transcribed and indexed. German Lutheran and Reformed congregations were among the most common in the Lehigh Valley, and their records often predate civil registration by a century or more.
The State Library of Pennsylvania holds federal census records for Pennsylvania from 1790 to 1930 on microfilm. Allentown families can be traced through these censuses with supplemental help from the library's city directory and county history collections. On-site access to Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest, and Fold3 is available to all visitors at the State Library in Harrisburg.
Land and Property Records in Allentown
Lehigh County land records are maintained at the Recorder of Deeds office at 17 South 7th Street, Suite 210, Allentown. These records track property ownership in Allentown from the county's formation forward. The Pennsylvania State Archives holds Land Warrant Registers from 1733 to 1957, organized by county, and these digitized images are available online. Lehigh County was formed in 1812 from Northampton County, so earlier Allentown land records may appear under Northampton County in the State Archives.
The land record process in Pennsylvania moved through four steps: application, warrant, survey, and patent. Each step generated a document, and the full set can trace an Allentown property back to its first private owner. For records from the 1980s and onward, the Recorder of Deeds maintains an online search portal accessible through the county's website. Older deed books require in-person research or a formal records request.
Searching Allentown Records Online
Pennsylvania's digitization partnership with Ancestry.com makes many Allentown-area records searchable online. Death certificates from 1906 to 1972 and birth certificates from 1906 to 1919 held at the Pennsylvania State Archives are available on Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania residents access these records free through the state's arrangement with Ancestry. The ARIAS database at the State Archives provides free online access to military records, including Civil War Veterans' Card files and Revolutionary War abstract cards relevant to Lehigh County families.
The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. §§ 67.101 covers access to public records held by Lehigh County offices. Researchers who need documents not available through standard request channels can file a formal Right-to-Know request. Prepayment is required when fees are expected to exceed $100, and fee waivers may be granted for requests that serve the public interest.
The Allentown Public Library genealogy collection is a key local resource for researchers studying Lehigh Valley family history, with materials covering Allentown's history from its earliest settlement.
Lehigh County Genealogy Records
Allentown is the county seat of Lehigh County, and county offices hold the most complete set of genealogy records for the city and surrounding townships. Wills, deeds, marriage licenses, and court records all fall under Lehigh County administration. Visit the Lehigh County genealogy records page for a full overview of county-level resources and access points.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Allentown is surrounded by cities with strong genealogy resources. Explore records in the following areas to trace family lines across the Lehigh Valley and beyond.