Lackawanna County Ancestry Records
Lackawanna County genealogy records document a region shaped by coal mining, immigration, and industrial growth in northeastern Pennsylvania. The county was carved out of Luzerne County in 1878, and its records begin with that date. Researchers searching Lackawanna County family lines will find a rich set of resources at the county courthouse in Scranton, the Lackawanna Historical Society, and the Lackawanna County Library System. The Register of Wills holds probate and marriage records from 1878 forward. Multiple offices and archives across Scranton hold records for this densely settled northeastern Pennsylvania county.
Lackawanna County Quick Facts
Lackawanna County Genealogy Records
Lackawanna County was formed from part of Luzerne County on August 13, 1878. That date is important for every genealogical search in this region. All records before 1878 must be searched in Luzerne County. From 1878 forward, Lackawanna County records are held at the courthouse in Scranton. Probate records include wills from 1878 to the present and full estate files from that same starting point. Marriage licenses begin in October 1885. Birth and death records for most of the county outside Scranton cover 1893 to 1905.
The county courthouse at the Scranton Electric Building, 507 Linden St., Scranton, PA 18503 houses the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court. The phone number for this office is 570-963-6702. The Marriage Bureau can be reached at 570-963-6708. Deeds from 1878 forward are maintained by the Recorder of Deeds office at 570-963-6776. Naturalization records from 1878 to 1905 and from 1906 forward are at different offices, and the Clerk of Judicial Records handles divorce records from October 1885 forward.
The Lackawanna County Register of Wills website lists current offices and contact details for researchers. Under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101, most county records are public and accessible upon request.
Note: Births in Scranton city from 1878 to 1905 are held at the Scranton Public Library, not at the county courthouse.
Register of Wills and Vital Records
The Register of Wills at the Lackawanna County Courthouse is the primary office for genealogical research. This office holds wills and estate records from 1878, marriage licenses from October 1885, adoption records (which are sealed), guardianship records, and the county-level birth and death records for areas outside Scranton from 1893 to 1905. Intestate records for those who died without a will are also held here from 1878 forward.
For births and deaths in Scranton city from 1878 to 1905, contact the Reference Department at the Scranton Public Library at 570-348-3000 extension 3008. For births and deaths anywhere in Lackawanna County from 1906 forward, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health office at 100 Lackawanna Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503, phone 570-963-4595. The state Division of Vital Records in New Castle issues certified copies of birth and death records from 1906 to the present for a fee of $20 per copy.
Under 35 P.S. §450.801, access to vital records for genealogical research follows relaxed requirements. Researchers must provide proof of the subject's death and indicate that the intended use is genealogical research. Multi-year searches can be requested from the state office when exact dates are unknown.
| Office |
Scranton Electric Building 507 Linden St. Scranton, PA 18503 |
|---|---|
| Register of Wills | Phone: 570-963-6702 |
| Marriage Bureau | Phone: 570-963-6708 |
| Recorder of Deeds | Phone: 570-963-6776 |
Lackawanna Historical Society Library
The Lackawanna Historical Society is a key resource for county genealogy research. Their genealogy page outlines exactly where each type of record is held, which is helpful for first-time researchers. The society maintains a research library with collections on the history of Scranton and Lackawanna County. Holdings include photographs, newspaper collections, city directories, and local history publications that can help place ancestors in the context of their time and community.
The library holds resources on the coal mining era that defined Lackawanna County in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many immigrant families came to this area to work in the anthracite mines, and ethnic church records are especially valuable for tracing those lines. Naturalization records from 1854 to 1905 are held by the Clerk of Judicial Records at 570-963-6723. These records can help connect immigrant ancestors to their home countries and provide additional birth and family information not found in other record types.
Searching Lackawanna Records Online
The Lackawanna County PAGenWeb site is one of the most useful online resources for this county. It holds complete scans of the 1912 Scranton city directory, a census index with ward and enumeration district details, and a marriage license records index from 1885 to 1914. Naturalization records from 1851 to 1905 are indexed and searchable. Cemetery and undertaker records from Scranton businesses are available for 1870, 1902, and 1909. Wills and probate record indexes from 1878 to 1939 are also accessible through this site.
The Lackawanna County Library System provides genealogy resources including U.S. Population Census data on microfilm from 1790 to 1930 and access to Ancestry Library Edition at reference department computers. The Scranton Public Library holds microfilm records for Scranton births and deaths from 1878 to 1905. The Northeast Pennsylvania Genealogical Society serves Lackawanna and surrounding counties and has digitized many records including newspapers and church registers. The Pennsylvania State Archives holds additional microfilm collections for Lackawanna County, and the state's partnership with Ancestry.com has made many of those records searchable online.
FamilySearch.org holds Lackawanna County marriage license dockets and birth records for portions of the county. The Luzerne County records held at FamilySearch also cover the period before 1878 when this area was part of Luzerne County. Using both county collections together will give the most complete picture for families whose roots predate Lackawanna County's formation. Act 127 of 2016 governs adoption record access, and the Library of Congress guide to Pennsylvania vital records explains access rules in plain terms.
Note: All Lackawanna County newspapers from 1797 to 1950 held by the Luzerne County Historical Society have been digitized through Ancestry.com and are searchable on newspapers.com.
Lackawanna County Land and Deed Records
Deed records in Lackawanna County start from 1878. The Recorder of Deeds office holds all land transfer records from the county's founding. Deeds are essential for genealogical research because they document property ownership and often name family relationships in transfer documents. Neighboring properties and the names of witnesses can also help build out a family network. For land records before 1878 in this region, Luzerne County is the place to search.
The 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3 statute ensures that older public records remain accessible to researchers. The Pennsylvania State Archives holds Land Warrant Registers organized by county for the period from 1733 to 1957. These registers can help trace property in the coal regions of northeastern Pennsylvania back to the earliest land patents and warrant grants. The Orphans' Court also handles certain property matters that arise in probate and guardianship proceedings.
Cities in Lackawanna County
Scranton is the county seat and largest city in Lackawanna County. It is also the location of the county courthouse and most government record offices. Researchers tracing Scranton families should note that city-level birth and death records from 1878 to 1905 are held separately at the Scranton Public Library.
Nearby Counties
Lackawanna County is surrounded by other northeastern Pennsylvania counties. Families in this region often moved between counties, so searching multiple courthouses may be needed for a complete genealogical picture.