Highland County, Ohio Genealogy
Guide to Highland 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
Highland County was named for the topography which is hilly and divides the watersheds of the Little Miami and Scioto Rivers. The county is located in the southwestern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Highland County Courthouse
105 N High St # 1
Hillsboro, OH 45133
Phone: 937-393-9957
Highland County Website
Probate Court has marriage and death records 1867-1909, birth records to 1905 and probate records;
County Health Department has birth, marriage and death records from 1909;
Clerk Court has divorce and court records from 1832, some naturalization and adoption records;
County Recorder has land records[3]
Highland 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 |
| 1867 | 1805 | 1867 | 1832 | 1804 | 1809 | 1820 |
Record Loss
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There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
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: [6]
| Cities | ||
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| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
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 | 5,766 | — |
| 1820 | 12,308 | 113.5% |
| 1830 | 16,345 | 32.8% |
| 1840 | 22,269 | 36.2% |
| 1850 | 25,781 | 15.8% |
| 1860 | 27,773 | 7.7% |
| 1870 | 29,133 | 4.9% |
| 1880 | 30,281 | 3.9% |
| 1890 | 29,048 | −4.1% |
| 1900 | 30,982 | 6.7% |
| 1910 | 28,711 | −7.3% |
| 1920 | 27,610 | −3.8% |
| 1930 | 25,416 | −7.9% |
| 1940 | 27,099 | 6.6% |
| 1950 | 28,188 | 4.0% |
| 1960 | 29,716 | 5.4% |
| 1970 | 28,996 | −2.4% |
| 1980 | 33,477 | 15.5% |
| 1990 | 35,728 | 6.7% |
| 2000 | 40,875 | 14.4% |
| 2010 | 43,589 | 6.6% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- 1787-1940 Ohio Federal Census at USGenWeb Free Census Report
- 1820 1820 United States Census at Ancestry ($)
- 1830 1830 United States Census at Ancestry ($)
- 1840 1840 United States Census at Ancestry ($)
- 1850 United States Census, 1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection
- 1860 United States Census 1860 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1870 United States Census 1870 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1880 United States Census 1880 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1890 1890 Veterans Schedule at Ancestry ($)
- 1898-1914 U.S. Native American Enrollment Cards for the Five Civilized Tribes, 1898-1914 at Ancestry ($)
- 1900 United States Census 1900 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1910 United States Census 1910 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1920 United States Census 1920 - at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1930 1930 United States Census at Ancestry ($)
- 1930 1930 Census of Merchant Seaman at Ancestry ($)
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
- Galbraith, Jr., D.D., Rev. R.C.; The History of the Chillicothe Presbytery, from its organization in 1799 to 1889. (Chillicothe, Ohio: Scioto Gazette Book and Job Office, 1889) Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Archive
- Highland County, Ohio Churches at OH HometownLocator
- Highland, County, Ohio Church Records at FamilySearch Catalog
Court Records
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
Funeral Homes
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Genealogies
Guardianship
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
- 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.
- Klise, J.W.; The County of Highland: A History of Highland County, Ohio, from the Earliest Days, (Madison, Wisconsin: Northwestern Historical Association, 1902). Online at Google Books Internet Archive FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Klise, J.W.; State Centennial History of Highland County, Ohio, (Owensboro, Kentucky: Cook and McDowell Publications, 1980). FS Catalog book 977.1845 H2k
- History of Ross and Highland Counties, Ohio: With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches, (Cleveland, Ohio: Williams Brothers, 1880). Online at FamilySearch Digital Library, FS Library film 915745 Item 2; book 977.18 H2h
- Scott, Daniel; A History of the Early Settlement of Highland County, Ohio, (The Gazette, 1890). Online at Google Books FamilySearch Digital Library
- Folklore of Highland County, Ohio at The Gene Pool
- Howe, Henry; Historical Collections of Ohio (Cincinnati, Ohio: C.J.Krehbiel & Co., Printers and Binders, 1888) Volume 1 online at: FamilySearch Digital Library Vol 1; Internet Archives
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Ohio (1788-1940) at MapofUS.org
- Ohio Maps 1866-1875 at Alabama Maps
- Outline Map of Highland County Ohio at Ancestry ($)
- 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.
- History of MIlitary Service of the U. S., and the State of Ohio at Ohio Genealogy Express
- Ohio Military Records at Access Genealogy - scroll down to Ohio Military Records
Revolutionary War
Civil War
Civil War service men from Highland County served in various regiments. Men often joined a company (within a regiment) that originated in their county. Listed below are companies that were specifically formed in Highland County.
- - 1st Regiment, Ohio Cavalry, Company C, also known as "Pope's Escort" and "Shield's Body Guard", and Company H, which had many men from Hillsboro
World War I
- 1914-1918 Ohio, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1914-1918 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1914-1919 Ohio, World War I Statement of Service Cards, 1914-1919 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1916-1920 Ohio, WWI Index and Return Cards, 1916-1920 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1917-1918 U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 at Ancestry ($)
World War II
- 1938-1946 U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 at Ancestry ($)
- 1942 United States World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 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
Highland 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 ($)
- 1800s-late 1900s Newspapers at Ohio History Connection — Select county.
- 1800s-Current Ohio, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1857-1886 The Highland Weekly News at Library of Congress
- 1886-1914 The News-Herald at Library of Congress - free
- Highland County Newspapers at Ancestry ($)
- Newspaper Abstracts at Newspaper Abstracts
Obituaries
- 1657-Onward Ohio Obituaries at MyHeritage — index ($)
- Obituaries and Death Notices at Genealogy Trails
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 Highland 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 ($) — index & images.
- 1789-1996 Ohio Probate Records 1789-1996 at FamilySearch.org — How to Use this Collection.
- Wills at OHGenWeb Archives
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
Social Security Records
- 1935-2014 United States Social Security Death Index at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index. Also at Ancestry, findmypast, Fold3, GenealogyBank, MyHeritage, and Steve Morse. Click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 at Ancestry ($) — 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.
Online Tax Indexes and Records
- 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1800-1850 Ohio Tax Records, 1800-1850 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- 1810 Index Tax List Ohio 1810, Highland County at Ancestry ($)
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
- 1841-2003 Ohio, County Births, 1841-2003 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1908-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1908-1998 at Ancestry ($) — Index
- Birth Records at USGenNet and OhioGenWeb
- 1918-1953 Ohio, Stillbirths, 1918-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1959-1998 Ohio, Birth Index, 1959-1998 at MyHeritage - index ($)
Marriage
- 1789-2013 Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1789-Onward Ohio Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1800-1942 Ohio Marriages, 1800-1942 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1800-1958 Ohio Marriages, 1800-1958 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1803-1900 Ohio, Compiled Marriage Index, 1803-1900 at Ancestry ($) — Index.
- 1970-2003 Ohio, Marriages, 1970 - 2003 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- Marriages at USGenNet and OhioGenWeb
Death
- 1765-1947 Ohio, Church and Civil Births and Baptisms, 1765-1947 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images; selected counties, incomplete; includes, death, church, and cemetery records
- 1833-1967 Ohio, Church and Civil Deaths, 1833-1967 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index
- 1840-2001 Ohio, County Death Records, 1840-2001 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection.
- 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007 Ohio Death Index, 1908-1932, 1938-1944, and 1958-2007 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; Index provided by Ancestry.
- 1908-1932, 1938-2018 Ohio, Death Records, 1908-1932, 1938-2018 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
- 1913-1944, 1954-1963 Ohio Death Index, 1913-1944, 1954-1963 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- Death Information at USGenNet and OhioGenWeb
- 1918-1953 Ohio, Stillbirths, 1918-1953 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
Divorce
- 1962-2007 Ohio, Divorce Abstracts, 1962-1963, 1967-1971, 1973-2007 at Ancestry ($)
Voting Records
- 1900-Onward Ohio, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Highland County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
FamilySearch Centers
FamilySearch Center and Affiliate Library Locator map - search for local FamilySearch Centers or Affiliate Libraries
- FamilySearch Centers provide one-on-one assistance, free access to center-only databases, and to premium genealogical websites.
- FamilySearch Affiliate Libraries have access to most center-only databases, but may not always have full services normally provided by a FamilySearch center.
Local Centers and Affiliate Libraries
- Adams Ohio FamilySearch Center
- Clermont County Public library - an affiliate library
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Highland County. For state-wide library facilities, see Ohio Archives and Libraries.
Highland County Public Libraries
Main Library
10 Willettsville Pike
Hillsboro, OH 45133
937-393-3114
Website
Museums
Highland County Historical Society
151 E Main St
Hillsboro, OH 45133
937-393-3392
Email:hchistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Website Facebook
Societies
Listed below are societies in Highland County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Ohio Societies.
Southern Ohio Genealogical Society of Highland County, Ohio
P.O. Box 414
Hillsboro, OH 45133
Email:SOGS414@sbcglobal.net
Website
Highland County Historical Society
151 E Main St
Hillsboro, OH 45133
937-393-3392
Email:hchistoricalsociety@gmail.com
Website Facebook
Greenfield Historical Society
Travellers Rest
P.O. Box 266
Greenfield, OH 45123
937-981-7890
Website
Websites
- Custom Browse of Historical Collections at Ohio Memory — Use map or alpha bar to select county or place, then browse search options in left sidebar.
- Ohio Genealogical Society ($) — online databases
- USGenWeb project. May have maps, name indexes, history or other information for this county.
- USGW Archives Ohio
- Highland County at Genealogy Trails
- Highland County OH Genealogy at LDS Genealogy
- Ohio Genealogy Express, Highland County, Ohio
- Cyndi's List
- 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.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Highland County, Ohio Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ohio/highland/ accessed 2/17/2017.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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, "Highland County, Ohio," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highland_County,_Ohio, accessed 16 December 2018.