Beaver County Family History Records
Beaver County genealogy records date back to 1800, when the county was formed from parts of Washington and Allegheny Counties. The county seat of Beaver holds the primary courthouse records including marriage licenses, wills, land deeds, and court documents. The Beaver County Genealogy and History Center at the Beaver Station Cultural Center provides additional family history resources including family files, cemetery records, and church records for anyone researching Beaver County ancestry.
Beaver County Quick Facts
Beaver County Genealogy Records
Beaver County was formed on March 12, 1800, from parts of Washington and Allegheny Counties. Its records begin from that date and cover more than two centuries of family history in western Pennsylvania. The county sits along the Ohio and Beaver Rivers, and its settlement history reflects the movement of families from the east into the western frontier of Pennsylvania in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Land records, probate files, and early church registers document these pioneer families.
The main genealogy records for Beaver County include marriage licenses from 1885 forward, birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, wills and probate records from 1800 to the present, and land deeds from 1800 forward. Naturalization records are also available for Beaver County, reflecting the waves of European immigrants who settled in the region during the industrial era. The Beaver County government website provides contact details for all courthouse offices. Online records search is available through the Landex system, though fees may apply.
Note: Beaver County naturalization records are available and can help trace immigrant ancestors who settled in western Pennsylvania during the late 1800s and early 1900s.
Beaver County Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds
The Register of Wills maintains marriage licenses from 1885 to the present for Beaver County. Birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are also held here. Wills and probate records date back to 1800. Probate files are a key genealogy source because they identify heirs including children, grandchildren, and surviving spouses. Estate inventories from the early 1800s can reveal details about the economic lives of Beaver County pioneer families. The Register can be reached at (724) 770-4407.
The Recorder of Deeds maintains land records from 1800 to the present. Records include deeds, mortgages, assignments, satisfactions, and other real estate documents. Grantee and grantor indexes help locate when ancestors bought or sold property in Beaver County. Some records are accessible online through the Landex system. The Recorder of Deeds office is at the Beaver County Courthouse, 810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009. Contact the Recorder at (724) 770-4480. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Office |
Beaver County Courthouse 810 Third Street Beaver, PA 15009 |
|---|---|
| Phone | Register of Wills: (724) 770-4407 Recorder of Deeds: (724) 770-4480 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | beavercountypa.gov |
Beaver County Genealogy and History Center
The Beaver County Genealogy and History Center is run by the Beaver County Historical Research and Landmarks Foundation. It is located in the Beaver Station Cultural and Event Center at 250 East End Avenue, Beaver, PA 15009. The center's collection includes family files, cemetery records, church records, and newspapers that document Beaver County's past. Access to Ancestry.com and other genealogy databases is available on-site for researchers. Staff and volunteers provide research assistance during open hours.
This genealogy center is especially valuable for researchers who need help locating records or who want to consult local resources not available elsewhere. The collection at the center includes materials that may not be found in courthouse records or at the State Archives. Family files often contain compiled research from previous genealogists, which can save time and point you toward original sources. Contact the center at (724) 774-7237 or genealogy@beavercountyhistory.org for current research hours and to plan your visit.
Vital Records in Beaver County
Beaver County birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are held at the Register of Wills. These pre-statewide registration records are not always complete. For events after January 1906, the Pennsylvania Department of Health maintains centralized records. Under 35 P.S. § 450.801, birth records are restricted for 105 years and death records for 50 years. Birth records through 1913 and death records through 1968 are now publicly available at the Pennsylvania State Archives.
Marriage records for Beaver County begin in 1885 at the Register of Wills. For marriages before 1885, church records are the primary source. The Beaver County Genealogy and History Center holds church records from some local congregations. The Clerk of the Orphans Court at the Beaver County Courthouse handles adoption matters. Under Act 127 of 2016, eligible adoptees and their lineal descendants may request original birth certificate information from the Department of Health.
Land and Probate Records in Beaver County
Beaver County land records at the Recorder of Deeds go back to 1800. These records document land transfers across more than two centuries in the Ohio River valley region of western Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania State Archives holds Land Warrant Registers covering Beaver County territory from 1733, predating county formation. These registers provide an alphabetical index to warrant, survey, and patent records and are available as digitized images through the State Archives land records portal.
Probate records at the Beaver County Register of Wills span from 1800 to the present. Wills and estate administrations identify heirs and family relationships. Many probate records for Beaver County are available through the PHMC Ancestry.com partnership covering Pennsylvania wills and probate records from 1683 to 1993. Under 65 P.S. § 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law presuming public access to government records supports researcher access to Beaver County probate and land records. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, State Archives records more than 75 years old are generally open without restriction.
Pennsylvania Archives and Online Resources
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds state-level records relevant to Beaver County genealogy research. The ARIAS database provides free access to military records including Revolutionary War and Civil War materials documenting Beaver County soldiers. The State Archives also maintains microfilm copies of county records from across the state. The State Library of Pennsylvania genealogy collection has census records from 1790 to 1930, county histories, and family histories relevant to Beaver County research. On-site access to Ancestry.com Library Edition, HeritageQuest, and Fold3 is available at the State Library in Harrisburg.
Nearby Counties
Beaver County sits in the far western corner of Pennsylvania, bordering both Allegheny County and the Ohio state line. Families in this area frequently moved between neighboring Pennsylvania counties and into Ohio and West Virginia.