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Elk County, Pennsylvania Genealogy

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Guide to Elk County, Pennsylvania ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.

County Facts
County seat: Ridgway
Organized: April 18, 1843
Parent County(s): Jefferson, McKean, Clearfield[1]
Neighboring Counties
McKean • Forest • Clearfield • Cameron • Warren • Jefferson
Courthouse
Elk County, Pennsylvania Courthouse.jpg
Location Map
Elk County PA Map.png

County Information

Description

The county was named for the Eastern elk that historically inhabited the region. The county is located in the northcentral area of the state.[2]

County Courthouse

Elk County Courthouse
250 Main Street P.O. Box 448
Ridgway, PA 15853
Phone: 814-776-1161
Clerk of Orphans' Court/Register of Wills/Recorder of Deeds Phone: 814-776-5349 Email: recorder@countyofelkpa.com
Prothonotary and Clerk of the Court Phone: 814-776-5343 Email: sschneider@countyofelkpa.com
Elk County Website

Register and Recorder has birth and death records 1893-1906, marriage records from 1895, probate records from 1847, land records from 1861
Prothonotary Office has divorce and court records from 1843[3]

Elk County, Pennsylvania 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.

Known Beginning Dates for Government County Records[4]
Birth* Marriage Death* Court Land Probate Census
1893 1895 1893 1843 1861 1847 1790
*Statewide registration for births and deaths began in 1906. General compliance by 1915.

Record Loss

There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county.

Boundary Changes

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:[7]

Cities
Boroughs
Unincorporated communities
  • Portland Mills
Census-designated places
Townships


History Timeline

Resources

Bible Records

Biographies

Business, Commerce, and Occupations

Cemeteries

Cemeteries of Elk County, Pennsylvania online and in print
Tombstone Transcriptions Online
Tombstone Transcriptions in Print (Often more complete)
List of Cemeteries in the County
See Pennsylvania Cemeteries for more information


Census Records

Federal Census

Historical populations
Census Pop. %±
1850 3,531 —
1860 5,915 67.5%
1870 8,488 43.5%
1880 12,800 50.8%
1890 22,239 73.7%
1900 32,903 48.0%
1910 35,871 9.0%
1920 34,981 −2.5%
1930 33,431 −4.4%
1940 34,443 3.0%
1950 34,503 0.2%
1960 37,328 8.2%
1970 37,770 1.2%
1980 38,338 1.5%
1990 34,878 −9.0%
2000 35,111 0.7%
2010 31,946 −9.0%
Source: "Wikipedia.org".

Church Records

Court Records

For information about records kept in the Orphan's court, Prothonotary Court, Court of Common Pleas, and other courts in counties of Pennsylvania, visit the Pennsylvania Court Records Wiki page.

Directories

Emigration and Immigration

For online resources, passenger lists, and specific groups coming to Pennsylvania, see Pennsylvania Emigration and Immigration.

Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups

For groups that came, see People section of the Pennsylvania Emigration page.

Funeral Homes

Genealogies

Guardianship

The Orphan's Court ensures the best interests of those not capable of handling their own affairs: minors, incapacitated persons, decedents' estates, and more.[8]

Land and Property Records

Land and property records can place an ancestor in a specific location and reveal family relationships. Records include: deeds, abstracts, indexes, mortgages, leases, grants, sheriff sales, land patents, maps and more. For more information, see Pennsylvania Land and Property.

Land records in Elk County began in 1844. These records are filed with the Register and Recorder office in Ridgway, Pennsylvania.

Online Land Indexes and Records

Local Histories

Maps and Gazetteers

Clearfield CountyJefferson CountyForest CountyWarren CountyMcKean CountyCameron CountyPA ELK.PNG
Click a neighboring county
for more resources

Maps

  • Maps of Pennsylvania (1673-1878)
  • Ancestor Tracks has posted downloadable images from the 1855 Map of Elk County. This wall map located in the Library of Congress shows major landowners and geographic sites at the date of publishing. While the physical maps are in the public domain, the images we have taken of the maps belong to us and are not to be used commercially. We hereby give permission to use them strictly for personal use; please attribute to Ancestor Tracks.
  • FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places

Migration

Military Records

See more databases at Pennsylvania Military Records and US Military Records.


Civil War

World War II

Naturalization and Citizenship

Naturalization records can contain information about immigration and nativity. Prior to 1906, it is rare to find the town of origin in naturalization records. For more information, see Pennsylvania Naturalization

Online Naturalization Indexes and Records

Newspapers

Newspapers may contain obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings. Newspapers are often found in local or university libraries, historical or genealogical societies, or state archives in the area where the newspaper was published. See Pennsylvania Newspapers for more information.

Newspapers of Elk County, Pennsylvania


Online Newspapers and Abstracts

To learn if there are newspapers online for a specific town or city in Pennsylvania, see news.google.com/newspapers and search for the town or the name of a newspaper.

Obituaries

Obituaries are generally found in local newspapers where the person died or where family members lived. Local libraries or societies may have indexes or other sources.

Online Obituaries Abstracts

Other Records

Periodicals

Probate Records

Probate matters in Elk County are handled by the Orphans' Court and start when the county was created.

In addition to wills and administrations, the Orphans' Court also handles: audits of accounts of executors, administrators, trustees, and guardians; distribution of estates; appointments of guardians; adoptions; appeals from the Register of Wills; inheritance tax appeals, and various petitions and motions.

Online Probate Indexes and Records

School Records

Social Security Records

Tax Records

Vital Records

Vital records are handled by the County Orphans' Court. Between the years 1852-1855 Pennsylvania made a failed attempt to record birth, marriage and death events at the county level. County marriage records were kept in earnest in 1885. Births and deaths, at the county level, were begun in 1893 and kept through 1905. For the most complete set of records, contact the County Orphans' Court.

Birth

Early births 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For more information, see Pennsylvania Vital Records. Beginning in 1906 Pennsylvania birth records are available through the Department of Health. Birth records become public after 105 years. A statewide index is available.

Marriage

Pennsylvania marriages were created by county officials. Contact Elk County Courthouse The county began recording marriages in October 1885. A few marriage records were created by the county in the 1853 -1854 time period.

Death

Early deaths 1893–1905 are located at the County Orphans' Court. For indexes and records, 1906 and later, see Pennsylvania Vital Records.

Elk County began recording deaths in 1893 although some were recorded from 1853 to 1854. These records as well as records from 1893 to 1906 are available at the County Courthouse in Ridgway.

Divorce

Divorce records are available through the office of the Prothonotary.

Research Facilities

Archives

Listed below are archives in Elk County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.

National Archives at Philadelphia
14700 Townsend Rd
Philadelphia, PA 19154-1096
Phone: 215-305-2044
Fax: 215-305-2052
Email: philadelphia.archives@nara.gov
Website
Facebook

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

Libraries

Listed below are libraries in Elk County. For state-wide library facilities, see Pennsylvania Archives and Libraries.

Museums

Societies

Listed below are societies in Elk County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Pennsylvania Societies.


Elk County Genealogical Society
PO Box 142
Johnsonburg, PA 15845
Website

Elk County Historical Society
109 Center St
PO Box 361
Ridgway, PA 15853
Phone: 814-776-1032
Email: elkcountyhistory@gmail.com
Website
Facebook

Websites

  • USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county. Select the state, then the county.
  • Elk County PA Genealogy
  • Encyclopedia listing for Elk County, Pennsylvania from Wikipedia
  • 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

  1. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  2. ↑ http://genealogytrails.com/sdak/ziebach/ accessed 2/1/2017
  3. ↑ The Handybook for Genealogists : United States of America, 10th ed., (Draper, UT: Everton Publishers, 2002) Elk County, Pennsylvania, p.589
  4. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Elk County, Pennsylvania. Page 588-593 At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002; Alice Eichholz, ed. Ancestry’s Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources, Third ed. (Provo, Utah: Ancestry, 2004), 579-581.
  5. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  6. ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Pennsylvania.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
  7. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Elk County, Pennsylvania," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elk_County,_Pennsylvania#Communities, accessed 20 January 2020.
  8. ↑ The Philadelphia Courts at Common Pleas accessed 10 July 2012
  9. ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/img_auth.php/2/23/Igipennsylvaniac.pdf.
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American Swedish Historical Museum · Bristol Public Library (Bristol, VA) · Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh · Citizens Library · Erie County Library · Evangelical and Reformed Historical Society · Franklin and Marshall College Library · Free Library of Philadelphia · Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania · German Society of Pennsylvania · Handley Regional Library (Winchester, VA) · Haverford College Library · Historical Society of Pennsylvania · Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania · Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Philadelphia · Lancaster Mennonite Historical Society · Library Company of Philadelphia · Library of Congress (Washington, DC) · Lutheran Archives Center at Philadelphia · Luzerne County Historical Society Bishop Library · National Archives at Philadelphia · New York Public Library (New York City, NY) · Pennsylvania Department of Health · Pennsylvania State Archives · Philadelphia City Archives · Presbyterian Historical Society · State Library of Pennsylvania · SUNY Fredonia Reed Library (Fredonia, NY) · Swarthmore College Friends Historical Library · Temple University Urban Archives · University of Pennsylvania Van Pelt-Dietrich Library Center · Western Reserve Historical Society (Cleveland, OH)
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