Warren County Genealogy Records
Warren County genealogy records are maintained at the courthouse in Warren, Pennsylvania, and at the Warren County Historical Society. The county's records extend back to 1800 and cover marriage licenses, birth and death documents, wills, land deeds, and court records. Researchers searching Warren County family history benefit from the historical society's extensive collection of over 150 binders of family genealogies, original vital records, and census materials. Warren County sits in the Allegheny National Forest region of northwestern Pennsylvania, and its families reflect the timber and petroleum industries that shaped this area.
Warren County Genealogy Quick Facts
Warren County Genealogy Records Overview
Warren County was formed from part of Allegheny County on March 12, 1800. The county borders New York State to the north along the Allegheny River valley. Warren, the county seat, became a commercial center in the 19th century and was connected to Pennsylvania's oil industry. Families came to Warren County from New England, New York, and other parts of Pennsylvania during the 19th century. German and other European immigrants also settled here, particularly around the time of the lumber and oil booms.
Key genealogy records for Warren County include marriage licenses from 1885 to the present, birth and death records from 1893 to 1905, wills and probate records from 1800 to the present, and land records from 1800 forward. The Warren County Historical Society holds original birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 as well as marriage and death records compiled from weekly newspapers from 1848 to 1880. The Warren County government website provides courthouse contact information.
The Warren County courthouse and the Warren County Historical Society are the two key sources for genealogy research in this northwestern Pennsylvania county.
Warren County Courthouse Records
The Office of Register and Recorder at the Warren County Courthouse maintains several important record series for Warren County genealogy. Orphans Court records date from 1844 to the present. Wills and deed records go back to 1819. Marriage licenses are on file from 1885 to the present. The Office of Prothonotary holds naturalization records from 1847 to 1969, which can identify immigrant ancestors who became citizens in Warren County and document their countries of origin.
Land records at the Recorder of Deeds span from 1819 and track property transfers across all of Warren County's townships. Grantor and grantee indexes enable name-based searches. Under Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, most court records are presumed public and accessible to any researcher. The Prothonotary also holds divorce decrees from 1819, which occasionally contain genealogically relevant information about family circumstances.
| Website | warrencountypa.gov |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Warren County Historical Society Genealogy
The Warren County Historical Society holds one of the most comprehensive genealogy collections in northwestern Pennsylvania. The society maintains over 150 binders of compiled family histories and a vital statistics card file. Census records covering Warren County from 1800 to 1870 are available for research. Cemetery records compiled in 1951 and again from 2010 to 2016 document burials across Warren County. Marriage and death records from 1848 to 1880, compiled from weekly newspapers by Joan McRae, fill the gap before civil marriage registration began in 1885.
The historical society also holds militia rolls from 1830 to 1865, war records from multiple conflicts, tax records from 1800 to 1879, church history records, yearbooks, and city and county directories from 1876 to the present. Photographic collections include the Bairstow Negatives, the Borg Photographic Collection from 1906 to 1980, and other visual archives documenting Warren County's past. Research requests may be submitted for a fee. Contact the society directly through their website for current fees and research procedures.
Note: The Warren County Historical Society's collection of original birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 duplicates some courthouse holdings and may be easier to access for remote researchers who submit requests.
Vital Records in Warren County
Vital records in Warren County split between county and state systems. Birth and death records from 1893 to 1905 are held both at the courthouse and at the Warren County Historical Society. For births and deaths after 1906, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Under 35 P.S. § 450.801, birth records are publicly available after 105 years and death records after 50 years from the event date. This means many Warren County early 20th-century vital records are now open for genealogy research.
Marriage licenses in Warren County date from 1885 at the courthouse. The historical society's compilation of newspaper marriage notices from 1848 to 1880 extends the available marriage record back before formal county registration. Church records in Warren County can supplement official records. The Pennsylvania Department of Health does not hold marriage records, which remain permanently at the county courthouse.
Pennsylvania Archives and Warren County Online Research
The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg holds statewide collections supplementing Warren County courthouse records. Military records in the ARIAS database cover Warren County residents in Pennsylvania units from the Revolution through World War II. Land Warrant Registers from 1733 to 1957 document early property grants in Warren County territory. Under 37 Pa.C.S. § 305.3, records more than 75 years old at the State Archives are open to public research. Many Warren County probate records through 1993 are accessible through the State Archives Ancestry.com partnership.
The State Library of Pennsylvania genealogy collection provides census records, county histories, and family genealogies for Warren County research. FamilySearch offers free online access to many Warren County records. Act 127 of 2016 expanded access to adoption records in Pennsylvania, which may be relevant to some Warren County genealogy searches.
Cities in Warren County
Warren is the county seat and largest city in Warren County. Explore Pennsylvania city genealogy resources below.
Nearby Counties
Warren County borders several northwestern Pennsylvania counties and New York State. Research may require checking records in neighboring counties.