Levittown Genealogy Records
Levittown genealogy research presents a distinctive challenge and opportunity. As one of the first planned post-World War II communities in the United States, Levittown was developed beginning in 1952 on farmland in Falls Township and Bristol Township, Bucks County. Most families who moved to Levittown came from Philadelphia, other parts of Pennsylvania, and nearby states, meaning their earlier vital records are found in those locations. However, Bucks County records stretching back to 1684 document the earlier families who owned and farmed the land before Levittown was built. The Bucks County Register of Wills Lower Bucks County Government Service Center at 7321 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA 19055 provides local access to county records for Levittown area residents. Bucks County property records from 1684, birth and death records from 1893, and marriage licenses from 1885 are all accessible through this system.
Levittown Genealogy Quick Facts
Bucks County Records for Levittown Genealogy
The Bucks County Register of Wills Lower Bucks County Government Service Center at 7321 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA 19055 (phone: 267-580-3585) serves as a local access point for Bucks County records. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Certified marriage certificates cost $25 per record, and certified birth and death records from 1893 to 1906 cost $25 per certified copy. Birth and death records from 1907 to the present are available only from the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
The Bucks County Recorder of Deeds at the Bucks County Courthouse, 55 E Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 (phone: 215-348-6209) maintains property records from 1684. Copies cost $1 per page, and an online deed search is available through the county website. Levittown properties from the 1950s development era are documented in the deed books, and the chain of title for any Levittown property can trace back through previous owners to the original land grants. Falls Township and Bristol Township records are maintained at the county level. Under 65 P.S. § 67.101, most Bucks County courthouse records are presumed public.
Bucks County property records from 1684 document the full ownership chain for Levittown area land, from early colonial settlers through the 1950s development era.
Levittown Public Library and Bucks County Genealogical Society
The Levittown Public Library provides access to genealogical resources for Levittown area researchers. The library's collections include reference materials, local history resources, and access to online genealogy databases. Because Levittown's residents came from many different places, the library's general genealogy resources can help trace family lines back to Philadelphia and other points of origin before families settled in the community.
The Bucks County Genealogical Society maintains an Archive Research Center on the third floor of the Bucks County Courthouse. The society holds church records, cemetery records, and published family histories for the area predating Levittown's development. Pennsylvania German records in the society's special collections document earlier Bucks County families whose land was incorporated into the Levittown development. Birth and baptismal records, marriage records, and death records are all searchable at the Archive Research Center. The Prothonotary's office handles civil records and naturalizations, the Recorder of Deeds handles property records, and the Register of Wills handles estate records and wills from 1684.
Note: Delayed birth records from 1941 to 1976 for Bucks County are available through FamilySearch, which is especially relevant for Levittown residents who were born in this era and may be seeking their own early vital records.
Pennsylvania State Archives and Levittown Online Research
The Pennsylvania State Archives supplements local Levittown records with statewide collections including military records in the ARIAS database covering Bucks County residents in Pennsylvania units from the Revolution through World War II. Land Warrant Registers from 1684 document the original grants in what is now Levittown's territory. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, records more than 75 years old at the State Archives are open for public research.
For births and deaths after 1906, the Pennsylvania Department of Health holds statewide vital records. Under 35 P.S. § 450.801, birth records are publicly accessible after 105 years and death records after 50 years. The State Library of Pennsylvania holds census records for Bucks County from 1790 through 1940, county histories, and family genealogies. FamilySearch provides free access to many Bucks County records. Act 127 of 2016 expanded access to adoption records in Pennsylvania, which may apply to some Levittown genealogy searches. The FamilySearch Bucks County genealogy guide provides a complete overview of available online records.
Bucks County Genealogy Records
Levittown is located in Bucks County, and the Bucks County Archive Research Center holds the official genealogy records for the area dating back to 1684. For a full overview of county-level resources available to Levittown researchers, including the complete range of vital records, deeds, and estate files, visit the Bucks County genealogy records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Researchers tracing families across Bucks County and the greater Philadelphia region can explore genealogy resources in nearby cities.