Butler County, Ohio Genealogy
Guide to Butler County, Ohio ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Butler County was named for General Richard Butler, who died in 1791 fighting Indians in northern Ohio. The county is located in the western area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Butler County Courthouse
101 High St.
Hamilton, Ohio 45011-2732
Phone: 513-887-3000
Butler County Website
County Health Department has birth and death records.
Probate Judge has marriage and probate records.
Court Clerk has divorce and court records.
County Auditor has land records.[4]
Butler County, Ohio Record Dates
Information for this chart was taken from various sources, often containing conflicting dates. This information should be taken as a guide and should be verified by contacting the county and/or the state government agency.
| Birth* | Marriage | Death* | Court | Land | Probate | Census |
| 1856 | 1803 | 1856 | 1803 | 1803 | 1851 | 1820 |
Record Loss
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1912 Although the Butler County Courthouse was reported to have been destroyed by fire on March 14, 1912, it was the original, four-tiered, domed tower which was capped with a statue of Justice that was destroyed. The courthouse still stands and is being used today by the Probate Court. County records were saved by spectators and courthouse employees who carried them out of the building.[6] For suggestions about research in places that suffered historic record losses, see:
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Boundary Changes
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Populated Places
Populated Places
For a complete list of populated places, including small neighborhoods and suburbs, visit Hometown Locator.
The following are the most historically and genealogically relevant populated places in this county:[8]
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| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
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History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
For an extensive list of resources for Bible Records see Ohio Bible Records.
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1810 | 11,150 | — |
| 1820 | 21,746 | 95.0% |
| 1830 | 27,142 | 24.8% |
| 1840 | 28,173 | 3.8% |
| 1850 | 30,789 | 9.3% |
| 1860 | 35,840 | 16.4% |
| 1870 | 39,912 | 11.4% |
| 1880 | 42,579 | 6.7% |
| 1890 | 48,597 | 14.1% |
| 1900 | 56,870 | 17.0% |
| 1910 | 70,271 | 23.6% |
| 1920 | 87,025 | 23.8% |
| 1930 | 114,084 | 31.1% |
| 1940 | 120,249 | 5.4% |
| 1950 | 147,203 | 22.4% |
| 1960 | 199,076 | 35.2% |
| 1970 | 226,207 | 13.6% |
| 1980 | 258,787 | 14.4% |
| 1990 | 291,479 | 12.6% |
| 2000 | 332,807 | 14.2% |
| 2010 | 368,130 | 10.6% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
Church Records
Church records and the information they provide vary significantly depending on the denomination and the record keeper. They may contain information about members of the congregation, such as age, date of baptism, christening, or birth; marriage information and maiden names; and death date. For general information about Ohio denominations, see Ohio Church Records.
- 1765-1947 Ohio, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1765-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Ward and Branch Records of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
- Hamilton
Court Records
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
- Rural Directory, Butler County, 1932-1934 at The Lane Libraries
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
Genealogies
Guardianship
- 1852-1960 Guardians Records and Testamentary Records 1852-1960(*); Probate Court, Butler County at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Land and Property Records
After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and are where records are currently housed. More information about why to use land records and what information land records includes can be found on the Ohio Land and Property Wiki page.
Online Land Indexes and Records
- 1790-1907 Bureau of Land Management index at OHGenWeb Archives
- 1836 Butler County 1836 land ownership maps at OHGenWeb
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for this county. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories, see Ohio Local Histories.
- A History and biographical cyclopaedia of Butler County, Ohio: with illustrations and sketches of its representative men and pioneers (Cincinnati, Ohio: Western Biographical Pub. Co., 1882) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
- Bartlow, Bert S., Centennial History of Butler County, Ohio ([Indianapolis, Ind.] B. F. Bowen & Co., 1905) Digital version at FamilySearch Digital Library
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Ohio (1788-1940) at MapofUS.org
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
- 1888-1919 Ohio Soldier Home Records, 1888-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- Butler County, Ohio Veteran Search at Soldiers, Sailors, and Pioneers Monument, Butler County
- Veteran Searches: Military Discharge (DD214) at Butler County Recorder
Spanish-American War
- Karl W. Heiser. Hamilton in the war of 98 : a complete history of Hamilton in the Spanish-American war : illustrated. Hamilton, Ohio : Republican Pub. Co., 1899. FamilySearch Digital Library
World War I
- 1914-1919 Ohio, World War I Statement of Service Cards, 1914-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1914-1918 Ohio, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1916-1920 Ohio, WWI Index and Return Cards, 1916-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
Naturalization and Citizenship
Online Naturalization Indexes and Records
- 1800-1977 Ohio, County Naturalization Records, 1800-1977 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
Newspapers
Butler County newspapers often contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.
- For more online Ohio newspapers index & images, see Ohio Newspapers.
- 1793-2009 Ohio Newspapers, 1793-2009 at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1800s-late 1900s Newspapers at Ohio History Connection — Select county.
- 1800s-Current Ohio, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- Butler County Newspaper Articles at OHGenWeb Archives
Obituaries
- 1657-Onward Ohio Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
From 1797 or the creation of the county, probate records were held by the Court of Common Pleas. After 1852, records are held by the Butler County Probate Court. See Ohio Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1786-1998 Ohio, Wills and Probate Records, 1786-1998 at Ancestry ($); index & images
- 1789-1996 Ohio Probate Records, 1789-1996 at FamilySearch.org — How to Use this Collection.
- 1811-1869 Wills at OHGenWeb Archives
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Ohio tax records complement land records and can be used in place of censuses before 1820 or to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties.
Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Marriages were usually recorded from the formation of the county and are held at the office of the County Probate Court. Divorce records are located with the county Clerk of Courts.
Any existing birth and death records from 1867 through December 19, 1908 are located at the County Probate Court. The Ohio Department of Health has birth records filed after December 20, 1908 and death records filed after January 1, 1954, while the Ohio History Connection houses death records from December 20, 1908 through December 31, 1953.
Birth
- 1800-1962 Ohio, Births and Christenings Index, 1800-1962 at Ancestry ($)
- 1821-1962 Ohio Births and Christenings, 1821-1962 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1841-2003 Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1908-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1998 at Ancestry ($); index
- 1918-1953 Ohio, Stillbirths, 1918-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1959-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1959-1998 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Marriage
- 1789-2013 Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1789-Onward Ohio Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1800-1958 Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1800-1942 Ohio Marriages, 1800-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1970-2003 Ohio, Marriages, 1970 - 2003 at MyHeritage ($); index
Death
- 1765-1947 Ohio, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1765-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
- 1833-1967 Ohio, Church and Civil Deaths, 1833-1967 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1840-2001 Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1854–1997 Ohio Deaths and Burials, 1854-1997 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1908–1953 Ohio Deaths, 1908-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1908–1932, 1938–1944, and 1958–2007 Ohio Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
- 1908-1932, 1938-2018 Ohio, Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018 at Ancestry ($); index & images
- 1913-1944, 1954-1963 Ohio Death Index, 1913-1944, 1954-1963 at MyHeritage ($); index
- 1913-1944, 1954-1963 Ohio Death Index at Ohio History Connection
- 1918-1953 Ohio, Stillbirths, 1918-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Divorce
- 1962-2007 Ohio, Divorce Abstracts, 1962-1963, 1967-1971, 1973-2007 at Ancestry ($)
Voting Records
- 1900-Onward Ohio, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Butler County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
Butler County Records Center and Archives
123 North Third St
Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: 513-887-3437
Website
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Fairfield/Hamilton Ohio FamilySearch Center
- Middletown Ohio FamilySearch Center
- Oxford Ohio FamilySearch Center
- West Chester Ohio FamilySearch Center
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Butler County. For state-wide library facilities, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
Hamilton Lane Library
300 North Third Street
Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: 513-894-7156
Website
Smith Library of Regional History
A Department of the Oxford Lane Public Library
441 S. Locust Street
Oxford, OH 45056
Phone: 513-523-3035
Website
MidPointe Library - Middletown
125 South Broad Street
Middletown, OH 45044
Phone: 513-424-1251
Website
Midpointe Library System Genealogy Collection
Museums
Middletown Historical Society Canal Museum
1605 North Verity Parkway
Middletown, OH
Phone: 513-422-7161
Website
- Located along the historic route of the Miami-Erie Canal, the Canal Museum, a relocated lock tenders house, offers Middletown and Miami-Erie Canal history through artifacts, photographs, and videos.
- Located along the historic route of the Miami-Erie Canal, the Canal Museum, a relocated lock tenders house, offers Middletown and Miami-Erie Canal history through artifacts, photographs, and videos.
Monroe Historical Society Museum
Main and Elm Streets
Monroe, OH 45050
Phone: 513-539-7310
Website
- The Museum houses many displays and artifacts depicting the history of Monroe, platted in 1817, and the surrounding area.
- The Museum houses many displays and artifacts depicting the history of Monroe, platted in 1817, and the surrounding area.
Trenton Historical Society Museum
17-A East State Street
Trenton, OH45067
Phone: 513-988-9634
- The Museum, located in the circa 1890 Adam Shafer house, displays exhibits relating to the development of Trenton, platted 1816, and the surrounding area.
- The Museum, located in the circa 1890 Adam Shafer house, displays exhibits relating to the development of Trenton, platted 1816, and the surrounding area.
Chrisholm Historic Farmstead
2070 Woodside Road
Hamilton, OH
Phone: 513-867-5835
Website
- This home was built in 1830 by Christian Augspurger, leader of the local Amish-Mennonite settlement. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1873 with the present brick farmhouse being built by Samuel Augspurger in 1874.
- This home was built in 1830 by Christian Augspurger, leader of the local Amish-Mennonite settlement. The original building was destroyed by fire in 1873 with the present brick farmhouse being built by Samuel Augspurger in 1874.
Butler County Historical Society
Benninghofen House
327 North Second Street
Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: 513-896-9930
Website
- This is the restored mansion of Hamilton industrialist, John Benninghofen. The Italianate style structure was the home of Benninghofen family members from 1874-1947. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
- This is the restored mansion of Hamilton industrialist, John Benninghofen. The Italianate style structure was the home of Benninghofen family members from 1874-1947. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
Societies
Listed below are societies in Butler County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Ohio Societies.
Butler County Chapter of the Ohio Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 13006
Hamilton, OH 45013
Email:BCOGS@butlercountyogs.org
Website
Butler County Historical Society
327 North Second Street
Hamilton, OH 45011
Phone: 513-896-9930
Email:bcomuseum@fuse.net
Website
Butler-Warren County African American Historical Society
4521 Poppy Drive
P.O. Box 715
Middletown, OH
Phone: 513-424-1791
Southwest Butler County Genealogical Society
P. O. Box 243
Hamilton, OH 45012
Website
Websites
- Custom Browse of Historical Collections at Ohio Memory — Use map or alpha bar to select county or place, then browse search options in left sidebar.
- Ohio Genealogical Society ($) - online databases
- Butler County OH Genealogy at LDS Genealogy
- Butler County Rootsweb site at Rootsweb
- Butler County GenWeb
- Butler County USGenWeb Archives
- FamilySearch Catalog – The FamilySearch catalog contains descriptions and access information for all genealogical materials (including books, online materials, microfilm, microfiche, and publications) in their collection. Use Historical Records to search for specific individuals in genealogical records.
Research Guides
References
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ http://genealogytrails.com/ohio/butler/ accessed 2/14/2017
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Hamilton, OH Butler County Courthouse Fire, Mar 1912 at GenDisasters: Events that Touched Our Ancestors' Lives (accessed 20 September 2012).
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Ohio.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Butler County, Ohio," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butler_County,_Ohio, accessed 4 November 2018.