Montour County Genealogy Records
Montour County genealogy records begin in 1850, when the county was formed from Columbia County. The courthouse in Danville holds land records, probate files, marriage licenses, birth and death records, divorce records, and court documents. Montour is one of Pennsylvania's smaller counties, which means a tighter community and often well-preserved local records. Researchers searching for Montour County ancestry will find the courthouse staff helpful and the record collection thorough for its size.
Montour County Quick Facts
Montour County Recorder of Deeds Office
The Montour County Recorder of Deeds is located at the Montour County Courthouse, 29 Mill Street, Danville, PA 17821. Phone: 570-271-3042. Land records in Montour County begin in 1850. The office handles deeds, mortgages, marriage licenses, birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, wills, and estate records. eRecording is available for document submission without an in-person visit. Passport services are also offered at this location.
Online access to Montour County records is available through the InfoCon system. Copy fees are $0.50 per page. Certification costs $5.00. Recording fees vary by document type. The Recorder's office can also advise on which records fall under the Prothonotary's jurisdiction rather than the Recorder's, helping researchers find the right office on the first contact.
The Pennsylvania State Archives holds statewide collections that include Montour County materials, particularly military service records and colonial-era documents that predate the county's formation in 1850.
Montour County Court and Divorce Records
The Montour County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts is at 29 Mill Street, Danville, PA 17821. Phone: 570-271-3012. This office maintains civil case records, criminal case records, divorce records from 1850, and court records from 1850 forward. Naturalization records for Montour County immigrants, protection from abuse records, custody records, and restricted adoption records are also held here.
Divorce records from 1850 are a useful genealogy source. Each divorce file typically names both parties, gives dates of marriage and separation, lists children, and may describe property. Court records from the same period document civil disputes that often illuminate family relationships, property ownership, and community standing. Naturalization records are especially valuable for identifying immigrant ancestors, as they list the country of origin, port of arrival, and declaration date.
Note: Adoption records in Montour County are restricted and generally require a court order or legal process to access, even for genealogical research purposes.
Montour County Vital Records
Vital records in Montour County are split between the county courthouse and the state. County-level birth and death records cover 1893 to 1905, when Pennsylvania required county registration. Marriage licenses from 1885 to the present are held at the Recorder of Deeds in Danville. For records before 1885, church registers and Orphans' Court minutes are the primary sources.
For birth and death records after 1906, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health Division of Vital Records. Under 35 P.S. §450.801, the state issues certified copies to qualified applicants including genealogical researchers. The state database covers births and deaths from 1906 to the present and provides certified copies for a fee.
Pre-1850 Montour County Records in Columbia County
Montour County was formed from Columbia County in 1850. All records for families in the Danville area before that date are held in Columbia County. Researchers tracing Montour County lines back before 1850 must look to Columbia County for deed records, probate files, court documents, and other historical materials. The Columbia County courthouse in Bloomsburg is the starting point for that earlier research.
Church records in the Danville area can bridge the gap. Many congregations maintained registers before county record-keeping began, and some of these registers survive at local churches or at the Pennsylvania State Archives. FamilySearch.org holds digitized church registers for many central Pennsylvania denominations. The State Library of Pennsylvania offers research guides that can help you navigate Montour County's colonial and early American record base.
Under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law gives the public access to government records held by both Montour County and Columbia County offices.
Historical Resources for Montour County Genealogy
The Joseph Priestley House at montourco.org is a state historical site in the Danville area with connections to early regional history. While focused on the life of Joseph Priestley, the site has materials on early settlers and families in the area. Research materials on early Pennsylvania families in the Montour region are available for genealogical study.
The Pennsylvania Orphans' Court directory helps locate the right contact for probate and guardianship research in Montour County. The county's small size means the courthouse staff is often familiar with local records and can advise on where specific materials are held. The 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3 framework for preserving historical records, detailed at Justia, ensures Montour County records are maintained for long-term access.
Nearby Counties
Montour County is surrounded by several central Pennsylvania counties. Family lines in this area often cross county borders, so nearby records are worth checking when Montour County sources are thin.