Monroe County Genealogy and Family Records
Monroe County genealogy records document families in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains region going back to 1836. The county was formed from parts of Northampton and Pike Counties and its courthouse in Stroudsburg holds land records, probate files, birth and death records, marriage licenses, and court documents. The Eastern Monroe Public Library serves as a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, adding digital access to millions of records for Monroe County researchers.
Monroe County Quick Facts
Monroe County Recorder of Deeds
The Monroe County Recorder of Deeds is located at the Monroe County Courthouse, 610 Monroe Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360. Phone: 570-517-3969. Land records in Monroe County date from 1836 and include deeds, mortgages, liens, easements, and UCC filings. The courthouse provides in-person access during business hours, Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Monroe County uses the Landex system for online records access. Records from 1958 are available online, and the index runs from 1979 forward. A fee applies for viewing document images. eRecording is available for remote document submission. The county also offers a Record Alert service that notifies you when activity is recorded on a specific property, which is useful for ongoing research projects.
The Monroe County government website provides access to all county departments, including links to the Recorder of Deeds online portal and Clerk of Courts for searching Monroe County records.
Monroe County Birth, Marriage, and Court Records
The Monroe County Clerk of Courts and Orphans' Court holds birth records from 1892 to 1905, marriage records from 1885 forward, court records from 1845, divorce records from 1900, naturalization records, criminal and civil case records, and protection from abuse orders. Passport applications are processed at this office as well.
Birth and death records for Monroe County after 1906 are held by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Under 35 P.S. §450.801, the state issues certified copies to qualified applicants. For records before 1892, church registers are the main source, as county-level vital registration was not consistently maintained in Monroe County during the mid-1800s.
Marriage records from 1885 to the present are held at the county courthouse. Earlier marriages from 1836 to 1885 may appear in church records or court minutes. The Monroe County clerk can advise on what exists and where to look for older records.
Monroe County Library Genealogy Collections
The Eastern Monroe Public Library at Hughes Library, 1002 N Ninth St, Stroudsburg, PA 18360 (phone 570-421-0800) is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library. This status gives researchers access to restricted FamilySearch digital images that are not available to the public at home, including roughly 25 percent of the 1.5+ million digitized microfilm rolls in the FamilySearch collection.
The Local History and Genealogy Room on the second floor holds books on Monroe County history, newspapers, census records, cemetery indexes, church records, family histories, and other primary sources. Special collections include the Company G Club digital collection, the East Stroudsburg Tax Assessment of 1871, Memories of Monroe County, records of Monroe County hotels and boarding houses, and Stroudsburg Sesquicentennial 1965 materials. Ancestry Library Edition and HeritageQuest are available in-library.
Note: FamilySearch affiliate access at the library requires an in-person visit; you cannot access restricted images remotely even with a FamilySearch account.
State Archives and Online Monroe County Research
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds statewide collections that include Monroe County materials. Military service records, census records, and early land warrant applications are among the most useful for Monroe County researchers. The State Library of Pennsylvania maintains research guides for all 67 counties with tips specific to Monroe County genealogy.
FamilySearch.org holds collections for Monroe County including census data, church records, and some early vital records. Ancestry.com provides federal census access and newspaper archives. The Pennsylvania GenWeb project has free databases covering Monroe County wills, births, and other record types. Under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101, Monroe County records are public, and access information is available through the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Monroe County Land Records for Genealogy
Monroe County land records are rich for genealogy research. Deeds frequently name spouses, children, and other heirs. Mortgage records show financial relationships between community members. When an ancestor sold land, the deed often named all parties with an interest in the property, which can reveal siblings and in-laws that do not appear in other records.
The Landex system gives online access to Monroe County deed indexes from 1979 and images from 1958. Earlier records require an in-person visit or a written request to the Recorder of Deeds at 610 Monroe Street, Stroudsburg. The 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3 framework for preserving historical records means that Monroe County is committed to long-term retention of its land record collection; more detail is available at Justia Pennsylvania law.
Nearby Counties
Monroe County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. Families often moved between these areas, so neighboring county records can be key to completing your Monroe County research.