Centre County Genealogy Records
Centre County genealogy records are maintained at the courthouse in Bellefonte and through a network of archives, libraries, and historical societies. The county was formed in 1800 from parts of Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, and Huntingdon Counties. Official records begin from 1800 and include land deeds, wills, marriage licenses, birth and death records, and naturalization files. The Centre County Library and Historical Museum in Bellefonte provides a Pennsylvania Room with deep genealogical collections. Together, the courthouse offices and local archives make Centre County one of the better-documented counties in central Pennsylvania.
Centre County Genealogy Quick Facts
Centre County Genealogy Records Overview
Centre County was formed on February 1, 1800, from parts of Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, and Huntingdon Counties. The county seat is Bellefonte. Official records date from 1800 at the county level. Before 1800, records for families in the Centre County area were kept in those four parent counties. Researchers should check all of them for ancestors who predate the county's formation.
The Centre County Records Management office provides a full range of records management services, including electronic imaging, records storage, and microfilm security storage. The Records Manager operates the County Records Center at the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte. The Historical Records Imaging Project, though the original link has changed, digitized naturalization records from 1802 to 1929 along with Revolutionary War declarations and slave records. These digitized materials provide free online access to some of Centre County's earliest records.
The county's records are well-organized across multiple offices. Birth certificates before 1906 are held by the Register of Wills. From 1906 onward they are held by the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records. Marriage licenses are at the Register of Wills. Estates go through the Register of Wills. Deeds are recorded by the Recorder of Deeds. Divorce records are with the Prothonotary. Naturalization records from 1802 to 1929 are held through the Historical Records Imaging Project.
Centre County Register of Wills and Recorder
The Centre County Register of Wills handles birth and death records before 1906, marriage licenses, and estate records. The phone number is (814) 355-6724. The Recorder of Deeds handles land records and can be reached at (814) 355-6801. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts at (814) 355-6796 handles divorce records and civil cases. All offices are located at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.
Researchers can visit in person during regular courthouse hours or submit mail requests. Including full names, approximate dates, and the type of record helps staff find the right documents. The Centre County government offers access to some records through WEBIA (Web Information Access), an online system for searching county records. Some wills and estate files accessible through WEBIA carry a per-click fee.
Estate records from 1800 onward include wills, inventories, and administration files that are open to the public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. Section 67.101. Original Centre County wills and estate files from 1800 to 1990 are also held at the Centre County Library and Historical Museum in Bellefonte.
| Register of Wills |
Centre County Courthouse Bellefonte, PA 16823 Phone: (814) 355-6724 |
|---|---|
| Recorder of Deeds |
Centre County Courthouse Bellefonte, PA 16823 Phone: (814) 355-6801 |
| Prothonotary |
Centre County Courthouse Bellefonte, PA 16823 Phone: (814) 355-6796 |
| Website | centrecountypa.gov |
Centre County Library and Historical Museum
The Centre County Library and Historical Museum at 203 N. Allegheny Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823, is the most important genealogy research center in the county outside the courthouse. The Pennsylvania Room provides extensive research services. The contact for the Pennsylvania Room is Erin Hicks at ehicks@centrecountylibrary.org or by phone at (814) 355-1516 extension 214. The general email is paroom@centrecountylibrary.org.
The library offers preliminary research of 30 minutes to one hour at no cost to determine what materials are available. Deep search rates are $20 per hour, including scanning and emailing documents. A two-hour minimum of $40 applies for new genealogical projects. Resources in the Pennsylvania Room include the Library Edition of Ancestry.com, FamilySearch access, and WEBIA for digital Centre County records. Cemetery records, Orphan's Court records, road petitions, and civil and criminal court records are all part of the collection.
Original Centre County wills and estate files from 1800 to 1990 are held at the library. An index to these files is available in the Pennsylvania Room. The comprehensive index to Centre County marriages from 1764 to 2005 is available on CD through the Centre County Genealogical Society, PO Box 1135, State College, PA 16804.
The library's collection is one of the strongest in central Pennsylvania for genealogy. Researchers who cannot visit in person can work remotely with the Pennsylvania Room staff for a fee. The deep search service is particularly useful for those researching from out of state.
Note: The Centre County Library charges for deep search services beyond the initial 30-minute free assessment. Contact the Pennsylvania Room before your visit to confirm current rates and availability.
Birth, Death, and Marriage Records in Centre County
Centre County birth and death records before 1906 are held at the Register of Wills. From 1906 forward, the Pennsylvania Division of Vital Records at (1-844-228-3516) holds those records. Marriage licenses are maintained at the Register of Wills. The Pennsylvania Room at the Centre County Library holds a comprehensive marriage index covering 1764 to 2005, which extends well before civil marriage registration began.
Pennsylvania's statewide vital records program, governed by 35 P.S. Section 450.801, began in 1906. Birth certificates from that year forward are restricted until 105 years after the birth. Death certificates can be requested by qualifying family members. The standard fee is $20 per certified copy. Orders may be placed online through the official state vendor, by mail, or at a branch office.
Church records are particularly important for Centre County genealogy before 1893. The county was settled by a mix of German, Scots-Irish, and English families in the early 1800s. Lutheran, Reformed, Presbyterian, and Methodist congregations all kept their own vital records. Some of these church records have been transcribed and are available through the USGenWeb Archives or the Centre County Library's Pennsylvania Room.
Land and Probate Records in Centre County
Centre County land records at the Recorder of Deeds date from 1800. Before 1800, land transactions in the Centre County area were recorded in Lycoming, Mifflin, Northumberland, or Huntingdon County. Searching the grantor and grantee indexes by name helps trace property ownership across generations. Early Centre County deeds often describe large tracts carved from the wilderness by first-generation settlers.
Probate records at the Register of Wills include wills, inventories, and administration files from 1800. The original wills and estate files from 1800 to 1990 are also held at the Centre County Library, making them accessible to researchers who prefer a library setting. The Centre County PAGenWeb wills page notes that estate records for the Centre County area before 1800 are found in Cumberland, Huntingdon, Lycoming, Mifflin, or Northumberland Counties depending on the date and location.
Naturalization records from 1802 to 1929 are among the most unusual holdings in Centre County. The Historical Records Imaging Project digitized these records, making them accessible online. These naturalization files identify immigrants' home countries and can be the key to cross-border genealogy research.
Pennsylvania Archives and Centre County Research
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds collections covering all of Pennsylvania including Centre County. Military records, land warrant applications, and statewide naturalization records are among the key resources at the state level. Penn State University Libraries in State College also provide extensive genealogy resources at (814) 865-1014. Penn State holds unique collections related to Centre County and Pennsylvania history that may include records relevant to local family research.
The Centre County Historical Society at 1001 E College Ave, State College, PA 16801 (Centre Furnace Mansion) provides genealogy resources, the Heritage Journal Index, and access to the Centre County Encyclopedia of History and Culture. The society publishes resources on Iron Making in Centre County and holds the Civilian Conservation Corps records. These materials add depth to Centre County research beyond what the courthouse and library provide.
FamilySearch and Ancestry.com hold digitized Centre County records including census images and vital records indexes. The State Library of Pennsylvania offers genealogy research guides covering central Pennsylvania. Together these resources make Centre County one of the more comprehensively documented counties in the region.
Cities in Centre County
Centre County includes Bellefonte, State College, Philipsburg, and several other communities. For a complete list of Pennsylvania cities with genealogy pages, visit our cities directory.
Nearby Counties
Centre County borders six counties in central Pennsylvania. Records for pre-1800 families in this area may be found in any of the parent counties that Centre County was carved from.