Find Mifflin County Family Records
Mifflin County genealogy records reach back to 1789, when the county was carved from parts of Cumberland and Northumberland Counties. Researchers tracing Mifflin County ancestry will find land deeds, probate files, marriage licenses, birth and death records, naturalization documents, and court records at the Mifflin County Courthouse in Lewistown. The Mifflin County Historical Society and state repositories add further depth for those searching deeper into the past.
Mifflin County Quick Facts
Mifflin County Recorder of Deeds
The Mifflin County Recorder of Deeds is at the Mifflin County Courthouse, 20 N. Wayne St., Lewistown, PA 17044. Phone: 717-242-1449. Land records in Mifflin County date from 1789, covering deeds, mortgages, releases, easements, agreements, subdivision plans, and plats. The office records by grantor and grantee name as well as book and page and recording date.
No online search tool is currently available for Mifflin County deed records. Access is in person during business hours or by mail request. Copy fees are $0.50 per page, with certification adding further fees. Three separate checks are required when recording documents: one for state tax, one for local tax, and one for the recording fee itself. Mail requests should include full names, approximate years, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
The Mifflin County government website provides contact information for all county offices and can help you reach the right department for your research needs.
Mifflin County Birth, Death, and Probate Records
The Mifflin County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court holds an exceptionally detailed set of records. Birth records in Mifflin County cover 1853, 1854, and then 1893 to 1905, followed by delayed birth registrations from 1941 to 1969. Death records cover 1852 to 1855 and again 1896 to 1905. These date ranges reflect early registration efforts that predate statewide vital records programs.
Marriage records run from 1852 to 1853 and then 1885 to the present. Probate records date from 1789 to 1899 in this office, with will books and estate inventories available throughout. Land records from 1789 to 1953 overlap somewhat with the Recorder of Deeds collection and serve as a cross-reference. Naturalization records from 1803 to 1906 document immigrant residents who became citizens through the Mifflin County courts. Court records from 1792 to 1809 and 1826 to 1834 round out the collection.
Note: For vital records after 1906, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health, which maintains statewide birth and death records under 35 P.S. §450.801.
Mifflin County Historical Society Collections
The Mifflin County Historical Society serves as a key resource for local family research. The Society has published marriage records from 1822 to 1885, filling the gap between early county records and the modern licensing system. Naturalization records from 1803 to 1906 have also been published, making them more accessible to researchers. Cemetery records, church records transcripts, and family genealogy files are all held in the Society's collection.
Research assistance is available through the Society. Staff and volunteers can help guide you through the collection and suggest sources you may not have considered. Educational programs focus on local history and genealogy. Archives access is available to those doing serious research on Mifflin County families.
Researching Mifflin County Land and Property
Land records are often the backbone of genealogy research in Mifflin County. Deed books show who owned property, what they paid, and who their neighbors were. Grantee indexes let you find when an ancestor first acquired land. Grantor indexes show when they sold. These entry and exit points help trace migration into and out of Mifflin County across multiple generations.
The InfoCon County Access system provides a digital interface for some Mifflin County records. Older records are indexed manually. Under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law provides the public access to government records, including land records held by county offices. Most Mifflin County deed records are public and accessible during business hours.
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds older land warrant applications and other colonial-era documents that predate Mifflin County's formation. These may help researchers trace families that moved into the area from earlier settled regions of the state.
Online Genealogy Resources for Mifflin County
FamilySearch.org holds collections relevant to Mifflin County including census records from 1790 forward, early vital records, and church registers from denominations active in the area. Ancestry.com has federal census records and some state collections. The Pennsylvania GenWeb project maintains free indexes for Mifflin County that can help identify what records exist and where they are held.
The State Library of Pennsylvania provides research guides covering all 67 counties, with tips on locating Mifflin County records both online and in person. The Pennsylvania Orphans' Court Clerks directory helps locate the right court contact for probate and estate matters. Act 127 of 2016 and Pennsylvania's records access framework mean that most Mifflin County records are available to the public; more guidance is at the Library of Congress Pennsylvania genealogy guide.
Nearby Counties
Mifflin County sits in central Pennsylvania. Many families in the region crossed county lines, so records in neighboring counties can fill gaps in Mifflin County research.