Vigo County, Indiana Genealogy
Guide to Vigo County, Indiana ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Vigo County was named for Francis Vigo, an Italian tradesman who was instrumental in the capture of Fort Vincennes by George Rogers Clark, and assistance both in financing Clark's expedition and American Revolutionary War efforts, and in service as an agent obtaining military information for Clark against British campaigns on the then frontier. Francis Vigo was of Italian heritage but a citizen of Spain due to residence in St. Louis.[2]The county is located in the west-central part of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Vigo County Courthouse
333 Wabash Avenue
PO Box 8449
Terre Haute, IN 47808
Phone: 812-462-3214
County Website
Vigo County Health Department
147 Oak Street
Terre Haute, IN 47807
Health Officer: Darren Brucken, MD
Phone: 812-462-3428
Fax: 812-231-6242
Email: joni.wise@vigocounty.in.gov
Health Department
County Clerk has marriage, probate and court records from from 1818 and divorce records from 1825.[4]
Health Department has birth records and death records. Copies may be obtained from the county health department or the Indiana State Division of Vital Records.
Vigo County, Indiana 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 |
| 1812 | 1818 | 1882 | 1818 | 1816 | 1818 | 1807 |
Record Loss
|
There is no known history of courthouse disasters in this county. |
Boundary Changes
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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]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Census-designated places | ||
| Townships | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Hayward Family Bible Records at Indiana State Library Digital Collections
Biographies
- Indiana Biography Index at Indiana State Library
- Curtis Gilbert Biography (Vigo County Public Library)
- Noah S. Grindle Diary, 1875 (Wabash Valley Genealogy Society)
- Oakey, C.C. Greater Terre Haute and Vigo County, Vol. 2 (Biographies). Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co., 1908. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive
- Vigo County, Indiana Biographies Project
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
- Inventories to Collections: Businesses (Vigo County Public Library)
Cemeteries
- Vigo County Cemeteries (Vigo County Public Library)
- Bethesda Cemetery, West Terre Haute, Vigo County, Indiana
- Roberts Cemetery: Robbins, Coy D. Roberts Cemetery Burials: Lost Creek Settlement, Vigo County, Indiana, 1866-1911. Bloomington, IN: Self-published, 1996. WorldCat
Census Records
For tips on accessing Vigo County census records online, see: Indiana Census.
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1820 | 3,390 | — |
| 1830 | 5,766 | 70.1% |
| 1840 | 12,076 | 109.4% |
| 1850 | 15,289 | 26.6% |
| 1860 | 22,517 | 47.3% |
| 1870 | 33,549 | 49.0% |
| 1880 | 45,658 | 36.1% |
| 1890 | 50,195 | 9.9% |
| 1900 | 62,035 | 23.6% |
| 1910 | 87,930 | 41.7% |
| 1920 | 100,212 | 14.0% |
| 1930 | 98,861 | −1.3% |
| 1940 | 99,709 | 0.9% |
| 1950 | 105,160 | 5.5% |
| 1960 | 108,458 | 3.1% |
| 1970 | 114,528 | 5.6% |
| 1980 | 112,385 | −1.9% |
| 1990 | 106,107 | −5.6% |
| 2000 | 105,848 | −0.2% |
| 2010 | 107,848 | 1.9% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
- Vigo County Census (INGenWeb)
- Index to Defective, Dependent & Delinquent Census for Vigo County, Indiana (1880) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
Church Records
Most church records are held by individual churches. For contact information, check a phone directory, such as SearchBug or Dex Knows. Some denominations are gathering their records into a central repository.
For more information about these major repositories, see Indiana Church Records.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
- Inventories to Collections: Churches (Vigo County Public Library)
Court Records
- 1818-1954 Indiana Court Cases at MyHeritage — index ($)
- 1818-1921 Civil Order Boks, Circuit Court, Vigo County, Indiana, 1818-1921(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1919-1921 Civil Order Books, Superior Court No. 2, Vigo County, Indiana, 1919-1921(*); Superior Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1820 Genealogical and Historical Sketches of Vigo County : With a List of Monuments in Old Burying Grounds and Court Records up to 1820(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1823-1904 Complete Civil Order Books, Circuit Court, Vigo County, Indiana, 1823-1904(*);Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1853-1873 Order Books, Court of Common Pleas, Vigo County, Indiana, 1853-1873(*); Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1853-1884 Complete Records, Court of Common Pleas, Vigo County, Indiana, 1853-1884(*); Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1881-1921 Civil Order Books, Superior Court, Vigo County, Indiana, 1881-1921(*); Superior 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
- Terre Haute (Vigo County) City Directory : Including West Terre Haute and Taylorville, and a Complete Classified Business Directory Also a Valuable Householder's Directory Arranged by Street and Number(*) at FamilySearch Catalog — images
Emigration and Immigration
Ethnic, Political, and Religious Groups
African-Americans
- Inventories to Collections: African-American (Vigo County Public Library)
Funeral Homes
- Callahan and Hughes Funeral Home in Terre Haute.
- DeBaun Funeral Homes and Crematory in Terre Haute.
- Fitzpatrick Funeral Home in West Terre Haute.
- Greiner Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Terre Haute.
- Mattox-Wood Funeral Home in Terre Haute.
- Roselawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park in Terre Haute.
- Samaritan Affordable Funeral and Cremation Services in Terre Haute.
Genealogies
- Brown, Mrs. Herbert E. Vigo County, Indiana Family Records. [n.p.], 1966. WorldCat
- Dorrel, Ruth. Vigo County, Indiana Index of Names of Persons and of Firms. Indianapolis: County History Indexing Project, Indiana Historical Society, 1982. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Farwell, Bonnie. Genealogical and Historical Sketches of Vigo County, Indiana. Terre Haute, IN: Daughters of the American Revolution, 1929. WorldCat
- Inventories to Collections: Manuscript Collections (Vigo County Public Library)
- Vigo County, Indiana Family Records. Terre Haute, IN: Ft. Harrison Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, 1945. WorldCat
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 Indiana Land and Property for additional information about early Indiana land grants and patents.
After land was transferred from the government to private ownership, subsequent transactions were recorded at the Vigo County courthouse, 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 Vigo County. County histories may include biographies; church, school and government histories; and military information. For more information about local histories, see Indiana Local Histories.
- Greater Terre Haute and Vigo County. 2 volumes. 1908. By C.C. Oakey. Chicago: Lewis Publishing Co. Online at: Vol. 1 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Internet Archive; Vols. 1 & 2 - Hathitrust; At various libraries (WorldCat). Vol. 1 contains Vigo County history.
- History of Indiana from its Exploration to 1922 : also An Account of Vigo County from its Organization. 3 volumes. 1922. By Logan Esarey ; edited by William F. Cronin. Dayton, Ohio : Dayton Historical Pub. Co. Online at: Vol. 3 - FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust; At various libraries (WorldCat). Vol. 3 contains Vigo County history.
- History of Vigo and Parke Counties Together with Historic Notes on the Wabash Valley. 1880. By Hiram Williams Beckwith. Chicago: H.H. Hill and N. Iddings. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
- History of Vigo County, Indiana, with Biographical Selections. 1891. By Henry C. Bradsby. Chicago: S.B. Nelson & Co. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library, Hathitrust, Internet Archive, Ancestry ($); At various libraries (WorldCat).
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Old Antique Atlases & Maps of Indiana
- 1914 Vigo County Map (GenWeb)
- Andreas, A.T. Atlas Map of Vigo County, Indiana. Chicago: A.T. Andreas, 1874. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- Standard Atlas of Vigo County, Indiana. Terre Haute, IN: Vigo Atlas Map Co., 1907. WorldCat
- Historical Maps of Indiana, Vigo County (Historic Mapworks)
- Vigo County Township Maps GoogleDocs
- Historic Indiana Maps at IUPUI University Library
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
General
- Fort Harrison Centennial Association. Fort Harrison on the Banks of the Wabash 1812-1912. Terre Haute, IN: Moore-Langen Printing Co. for John Morton Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, 1912. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive
- Inventories to Collections: Wars & Military Records (Vigo County Public Library)
- List of Pensioners on the Roll January 1, 1883 Vigo County, Indiana (Internet Archive)
- Indiana Military (INGenWeb)
- Indiana Military (USGenWeb)
- African American Veterans in Vigo County, Indiana (1890) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Military Record Series Index at Indiana Digital Archives
Revolutionary War
Mexican War
- Inventories to Collections: Mexican War (Vigo County Public Library)
Civil War
Civil War service men from Vigo 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 Vigo County.
- 1st Regiment, Indiana Heavy Artillery, Company C
- 1st Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Companies I, and M
- 3rd Battery, Indiana Light Artillery
- 6th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Companies B, and M
- 7th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Companies G, K, and I
- 8th Battery, Indiana Light Artillery
- 11th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company D
- 11th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies C, D, and Reorganized Companies C, D, and K
- 13th Regiment, Indiana Cavalry, Company K
- 13th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Companies E, F, G, I, and K:
- 14th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
- 16th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company I
- 18th Battery, Indiana Light Artillery
- 20th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Reorganized Company B
- 22nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company F
- 31st Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies C, E, and K
- 32nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company E
- 35th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company B
- 40th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company C
- 43rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company D
- 52nd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company I
- 59th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company G
- 84th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company B
- 85th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies C, E, F, and G
- 115th Regiment, Indiana Infantry (6 months, 1863-4), Company K
- Enlisted Men, Company K, 115th Regiment (U.S. GenWeb Archives)
- 123rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company C
- 129th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Company K
- 133rd Regiment, Indiana Infantry (100 days, 1864), Companies C, D, E, H, and I
- 149th Regiment, Indiana Infantry, Companies A, B, C, F, H, and K
- 28th US Colored Troops, Companies D, G, and Addition Recruits for Colored Troops
Civil War Books:
- Chapter 30: War. Bradsby, Henry C. History of Vigo County, Indiana, with Biographical Selections. Chicago: S.B. Nelson & Co., 1891. Reprint edition, Evansville, IN: Unigraphic, 1969. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library; Internet Archive
- Inventories to Collections: Civil War (Vigo County Public Library)
Spanish-American War
- Inventories to Collections: Spanish-American War (Vigo County Public Library)
World War I
- 1919 Indiana, World War I, Enrollment Cards, 1919 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- Inventory to Collections: World War I (Vigo County Public Library)
- Vigo County, Indiana: A Record of Men and Women Who Died in the Service of the United States and the Allied Nations in the World War, 1914-1918 (Genealogy Trails)
World War II
- Inventory to Collections: World War II (Vigo County Public Library)
Korean War
- Inventories to Collections: Korean War (Vigo County Public Library)
Vietnam War
- Inventories to Collections: Vietnam War (Vigo County Public Library)
Naturalization and Citizenship
- Index to Declarations of Intention. Terre Haute, IN: Wabash Valley Genealogical Society, [1980?]. WorldCat
- Naturalization Record Series (for this county) at Indiana Digital Archives. Search by names.
Newspapers
Indiana newspapers may contain genealogical value including obituaries, births, marriages, deaths, anniversaries, family gatherings, family travel, achievements, business notices, engagement information, and probate court proceedings.
For more Indiana newspaper information see the wiki page Indiana Newspapers.
- 1800s-Current Indiana, 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 ($)
- 1804-2010 Hoosier State Chronicles 1804-2011
Obituaries
- Vigo County Obituaries (INGenWeb)
- Vigo County Obituaries (USGenWeb)
- Wabash Valley Obituary Index (Vigo County Public Library)
Other Records
- Jerse, Dorothy W., and John R. Becker III. Terre Haute & Vigo County in Vintage Postcards (Postcard History series). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing, 2001. Google Books
Periodicals
Probate Records
In most counties in Indiana, probate records have been kept by the county clerk of the circuit court. They include wills, fee books, claim registers, legacy records, inheritance records, probate ticklers, and dockets. The records are available at the Vigo County courthouse. For more information, see Indiana Probate Records.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1798-1999 Indiana Wills and Probate Records 1798-1999 at Ancestry ($)
- 1818-1921 Will Records, 1818-1921(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1818-1935 Indiana, Vigo County Probate Records, 1818-1935(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1818-1936 Indiana, Vigo County, Wills, 1818-1936(*); County Clerk at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1818-1950 Indiana, Vigo County, Probate Records, 1818-1950(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1819-1927 Index to Estates and Guardianships, 1819-1927, Probate Court, Common Pleas Court and Circuit Court(*); Clerk of the Circuit Court, Circuit and Probate Court, and Court of Common Pleas at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1829-1864 Complete Probate Order Book, 1829-1864(*); Clerk of the Circuit Court and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1833-1918 Probate Order Books, 1833-1918d(*); Clerk of the Circuit Court and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1897-1921 Guardianship and Administrators Final Reports(*); Clerk of the Circuit Court and Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Vigo County Wills at INGenWeb
- Full-Text Search - Wills and Probate Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
School Records
- Students of Garfield High School, Terre Haute (1936-1939) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Teachers of Garfield High School, Terre Haute (1936) at Indiana Genealogical Society ($)
- Inventories to Collections: Colleges and Universities (Vigo County Public Library)
- Inventories to Collections: Schools (Vigo County Public Library)
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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Indiana tax records complement land records and can be used in place of censuses or to supplement the years between censuses. Because only persons who owned taxable property were listed, many residents were not included in tax lists. There may also be gaps of several years in the tax records of some counties. For more information see the wiki page Indiana Taxation.
Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Indiana law in 1882 required registration of births and deaths in counties. The Indiana Department of Health has birth records filed after October 1907 and death records filed after January 1900 for deaths. Copies may be obtained from the county health department or the Indiana State Division of Vital Records.
Birth
- 1882-1920 - Index to birth records, Vigo County, 1882-1920. Works Progress Administration. Indianapolis: Indiana State Library, 1983. FS Catalog 1380337
Marriage
- 1780-1992 Indiana Marriages, 1780-1992 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; Also at: MyHeritage ($)
- 1800-2007 Indiana, United States Marriages at Findmypast ($)
- 1802-1892 Indiana, Compiled Marriages, 1802-1892 at Ancestry ($)
- 1811-1959 Indiana, Marriages, 1811-1959 at MyHeritage - index & images ($)
- 1811-2007 Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1818-1850 Lansaw, Simona. Marriages, Vigo County, Indiana, 1818-1850. Utica, Kentucky: McDowell Publications FS Catalog 977.245 V22L
- 1818-1951 Vigo County Marriage Index: 1818-1951 (Vigo County Library)
- 1818-1958 Indiana, Vigo County Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1840-1920 Works Progress Administration.Index to marriage records, Vigo County, 1840-1920. Indianapolis: Indiana State Library, 1983. FS Catalog 1380338
- 1880-1920 Works Progress Administration.Index to supplemental record, marriage transcript, Vigo County, 1880-1920. Indianapolis: Indiana State Library, 1983. FS Catalog 1380339
Death
- Pre-1882 WEB: Indiana, Deaths, Pre-1882 at Ancestry - index, (Free collection)
- 1750-1993 Indiana Deaths and Burials, 1750-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1882-1920 Works Progress Administration. Index to death records, Vigo County, 1882-1920.Indianapolis: Indiana State Library, 1983. FS Catalog 1380337
- 1882-1920 Indiana, Death Index, 1882-1920 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1899-2011 Indiana, Death Certificates, 1899-2011 at Ancestry ($); images
Divorce
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Vigo County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Indiana 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
- Linton Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Terre Haute Indiana FamilySearch Center
- Marshall Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Putnam County Public Library - an affiliate library.
- Vigo County Public Library - an affiliate library.
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Vigo County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Indiana Archives and Libraries.
Vigo County Public Library
One Library Square
Terre Haute, IN 47807
Phone: 812-232-1113
Website
Museums
Vigo County History Center
929 Wabash Ave
Terre Haute, IN 47807
Phone: 812-235-9717
Email: info@vchsmuseum.org
Facebook
Website
Societies
Listed below are societies in Vigo County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Indiana Societies.
Vigo County History Center
929 Wabash Ave
Terre Haute, IN 47807
Phone: 812-235-9717
Facebook
Website
Websites
- Vigo County, Indiana Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Indiana Digital Archives Search by name in all records or specific collections
- Indiana Historical Society Digital Collections Extensive - keyword searches suggested
- Indiana Memory Click the map or select a statewide collection
- List of indexes and databases at Indiana State Library
- Indiana Genealogical Society Databases Select a county
- Every Name Index.com Online indexes for county histories. Select a county
- Vigo County (USGenWeb Archives)
- Vigo County, Indiana GenWeb (INGenWeb)
- Wabash Valley Visions & Voices Digital Memory Project
- 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), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Vigo County, Indiana Genealogy and History”, http://genealogytrails.com/ind/vigo/ accessed 04/04/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Vigo County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigo_County,_Indiana accessed 04/04/2017.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Indiana.At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Vigo County, Indiana" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigo_County,_Indiana (accessed 10 May 2012).
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Vigo County, Indiana," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vigo_County,_Indiana, accessed 13 January 2020.