Polk County, Florida Genealogy
Guide to Polk County, Florida ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
The county was named in honor of former US President James K. Polk, whose 1845 inauguration was on the day after Florida became a state. It is located in the central area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Polk County Courthouse
255 N Broadway Ave
Bartow, FL 33830-3912
Phone: 863-534-4540
Polk County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage, divorce, court, and land records from 1861. [3]
Polk County, Florida 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 |
| 1892 | 1861 | 1899 | 1861 | 1861 | 1861 | 1830 |
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:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Villages | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1870 | 3,169 | — |
| 1880 | 3,181 | 0.4% |
| 1890 | 7,905 | 148.5% |
| 1900 | 12,472 | 57.8% |
| 1910 | 24,148 | 93.6% |
| 1920 | 38,661 | 60.1% |
| 1930 | 72,291 | 87.0% |
| 1940 | 86,665 | 19.9% |
| 1950 | 123,997 | 43.1% |
| 1960 | 195,139 | 57.4% |
| 1970 | 227,222 | 16.4% |
| 1980 | 321,652 | 41.6% |
| 1990 | 405,382 | 26.0% |
| 2000 | 483,924 | 19.4% |
| 2010 | 602,095 | 24.4% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
For tips on accessing census records online, see: Florida Census.
- 1783 Spanish Census USGenWeb
- 1821 Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb
- 1823 Census/Tax List Index USGenWeb
- 1880 Census African Born Blacks and Mulattos USGenWeb
- 1885 Florida State Population Census includes sex, age, relationship, occupation, place of birth of each family member and parents. Also census for agriculture, manufacture and mortality. - How to Use this Collection
- 1935 1935 Florida State Census at MyHeritage - index ($))
- Federal Census Information from National Archives USGenWeb
- State Census Information from Florida State Archives USGenWeb
- Census of Pensioners Revolutionary Military Service USGenWeb
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 Florida denominations, view the Florida Church Records wiki page.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
- 1893-1922 Minutes, 1893-1916; Index to Judgements, 1893-1922(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1897-1926 General Index to Chancery Docket, 1897-1926(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Directories
- 1970-2024 United States, Residence Database, 1970-2024 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index, coverage may vary
Emigration and Immigration
- NARA Ships Passenger Lists - These passenger lists cover:
- 1834-1897 - Immigration of Russians to the United States
- 1/12/1846-12/31/1851 - Irish Famine
- 1850-1897 - Germans to the United States
- 1855-1900 - Italians to the United States
- 1834-1897 - Immigration of Russians to the United States
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African-Americans
- USGenWeb Florida African American Griots Project
Funeral Homes
- Alexander Funeral Home in Winter Haven
- Cannon Funeral Home LLC in Lakeland
- Coney Funeral Home in Lakeland
- Cremation Services of Polk County, LLC in Winter Haven
- David Russell Funeral Home in Lakeland
- Epps Memorial Funeral Home in Lake Wales
- Gause Funeral Home in Bartow
- Gentry Morrison Funeral Homes in Lakeland
- Heath Funeral Chapel and Crematory in Lakeland
- Holmes Funeral Directors in Haines City
- Johnell Caver Your Home for Funerals, Inc. in Lake Wales
- Johnson-Nelson-Gill Funeral Home and Crematory in Lake Wales
- Kersey Funeral Home in Auburndale
- Lakeland Funeral Home in Lakeland
- Lanier Funeral and Cremation Services in Lakeland
- Marion Nelson Funeral Homes and Crematory in Lake Wales
- Oak Ridge Funeral Care in Haines City and Winter Haven
- Ott-Laughlin Funeral Home in Winter Haven
- Richard Funeral Services in Haines City
- Seigler Funeral Home. Inc. in Mulberry
- Steele's Family Funeral Services in Winter Haven
- Whidden-McLean Funeral Home and Crematory in Bartow
- Williams Funeral Home in Bartow
Genealogies
Guardianship
Land and Property Records
Land and property records can place an ancestor in a particular location, provide economic information, and reveal family relationships. Land records include: deeds, abstracts and indexes, mortgages, leases, grants and land patents.
See Florida Land and Property for additional information about early Florida land grants. After land was transferred to private ownership, subsequent transactions were usually recorded at the county courthouse and where records are currently housed.
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 most counties. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Florida Local Histories.
- M. F. HETHERINGTON (1928). History Of Polk County, Florida (The Record Company Printers, Saint Augustine, FL) hosted at Digital Collections. digital library
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- 1821-1997 Maps of Florida
- 1870 Gray's Atlas Panhandle Portion of StateUSGenWeb
- 1882 Rand McNally Panhandle Portion of StateUSGenWeb
- Exploring Florida, FCIT Maps University of South Florida
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
- Florida State Military Files USGenWeb
- Florida state pension records from various wars Pension Transcriptions USGenWeb
- 1812-1813 1812-1813 Residents of East Florida Patriots or Loyalists at Genealogy Trails - index
Civil War
- 1861-1865 Florida Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 Florida Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry (free)
- 1885-1955 Florida Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Applications, 1885-1955 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War I
- 1917-1920 Florida, World War I Navy Card Roster, 1917-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
World War II
- 1940-1945 Florida, World War II Draft Registration Cards,1940-1945 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Korean War
- Florida Casualties in the Korean Conflict distantcousin.com
Vietnam War
- Distantcousin.com Florida Casualties in the Vietnam War
Naturalization and Citizenship
- 1862-1960 Florida, United States Naturalization Records, 1862-1960 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection, Inventory; index & images, coverage may vary
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Florida, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- 1800s-1999 U.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 at Ancestry - index ($)
- Florida Digital Newspaper Library at George A. Smathers Libraries
- Early Florida Newspapers at the Florida State Library USGenWeb
Obituaries
- USGenWeb Obituaries Project Obituary transcriptions from Florida counties
Other Records
Periodicals
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1784-1990 Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1827-1950 Florida, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1827-1950 at Ancestry ($)
- 1854-1899 Probate Packets, 1854-1899 approx(*); County Judge's Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1860-1877 Probate Record, 1860-1877, Marriage Licenses, book A(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1861-1936 Probate Records, 1861-1936(*); County Judge's Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1861-1975 Probate Docket, 1861-1929; Index, 1861-1975(*); County Judge's Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 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
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more information see the wiki page Florida Taxation.
Vital Records
Vital Records consist of births, adoptions, marriages, divorces, and deaths recorded on registers, certificates, and documents. A copy or an extract of most original records can be purchased from the Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Florida State Archives, or the County Clerk's office of the county where the event occurred.
Birth
- 1880-1935 Florida, Births and Christenings, 1880-1935 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Marriage
- 1802-1998 Florida, United States Marriages at Findmypast $
- 1822-1875 and 1927 - 2001 Florida, Marriage Index, 1822-1875 and 1927-2001 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1823-Onward Florida Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1830-1957 Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1993 Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1837-1974 Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1862-1881 Marriages 1862-1881 at Southeasterngenealogy.com $
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Marriages, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))
Death
- 1877-1939 Florida, Deaths, 1877-1939 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1877-1998 Florida, Death Index, 1877-1998 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1900-1921 Florida, Deaths and Burials, 1900-1921 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
Divorce
- 1927-1950 Florida Divorce, 1927-1950 at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1927-2001 Florida, Divorce Index, 1927-2001 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Divorces, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))
Voting Records
- 1867-1868 Web: Florida, U.S., Voter Registration Rolls, 1867-1868 at Ancestry - index ($)
- 1880-Onward Florida, Voter Registrations at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Polk County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Florida 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
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Polk County. For state-wide library facilities, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
Polk County Library Cooperative
2150 South Broadway Avenue
Bartow, Florida 33830
Phone: 863-519-7958
Website
Facebook
- There are thirteen Libraries throughout the county. Please check the website for locations and address.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Polk County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Florida Societies.
Imperial Polk Genealogical Society
PO Box 2274
Bartow, Florida 33831
Email: ipgs1981@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Polk County Historical Association
PO Box 2749
Bartow, Florida 33831-2749
Phone: 863-534-4386
Email: polkcountyhistoricalassoc@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
Websites
- Polk County, Florida Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- FLGenWeb
- 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), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia, “Polk County, Florida Genealogy and History”, [1] accessed 01/15/2020.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Florida.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ WorldCat 50140092 FS Library Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed.] (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002)
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Polk County County, Florida," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia accessed Feb 1 2018.