Warren County, Kentucky Genealogy
Guide to Warren County, Kentucky ancestry, genealogy and family history, birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, and military records.
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County Information
Description
Warren County was named for General Joseph Warren. The county is located in the southwestern area of the state.[2]
County Courthouse
Warren County Courthouse
429 E 10th Street
Bowling Green, KY 42101-2250
Phone: 270-842-9416[3]
Warren County Website
Warren County, Kentucky 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 |
| 1797 | 1797 | 1852 | 1796 | 1797 | 1797 | 1810 |
Record Loss
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1864--A disaster destroyed most of the records.
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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:[6]
| Cities | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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| Census-designated places | ||
History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Kentucky Bible Archives at USGenWeb Archives
- Kentucky Bible Records at Access Genealogy
- Kentucky Bible Records at Kentucky Genealogy
- Warren County, Kentucky Bibles at USGenWeb Archives
- Warren County, Kentucky Family Bibles at Genealogy Trails
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
The following web sites have additional information on Warren county cemeteries.
- Interment.net,Kentucky cemetery records by county.
- Naming the Forgotten, The Eastern State Hospital Project
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1800 | 4,686 | — |
| 1810 | 11,937 | 154.7% |
| 1820 | 11,776 | −1.3% |
| 1830 | 10,949 | −7.0% |
| 1840 | 15,446 | 41.1% |
| 1850 | 15,123 | −2.1% |
| 1860 | 17,320 | 14.5% |
| 1870 | 21,742 | 25.5% |
| 1880 | 27,531 | 26.6% |
| 1890 | 30,158 | 9.5% |
| 1900 | 29,970 | −0.6% |
| 1910 | 30,579 | 2.0% |
| 1920 | 30,858 | 0.9% |
| 1930 | 33,676 | 9.1% |
| 1940 | 36,631 | 8.8% |
| 1950 | 42,758 | 16.7% |
| 1960 | 45,491 | 6.4% |
| 1970 | 57,432 | 26.2% |
| 1980 | 71,828 | 25.1% |
| 1990 | 76,673 | 6.7% |
| 2000 | 92,522 | 20.7% |
| 2010 | 113,792 | 23.0% |
| Source: "Wikipedia.org". | ||
1810, 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, and 1930 federal population schedules of Warren County are available online. For tips on accessing census records online, see Kentucky Census. If you're having trouble finding your ancestors in online indexes, try checking printed indexes. Created by local experts familiar with the area's families, these indexes are often transcribed more accurately than online nationwide indexes.
See Kentucky Population Schedule Indexes: Fiche, Film, or Book for more information about statewide printed indexes.
- Kentucky Census Transcriptions 1850-1930, USGenWeb
- Census Images, USGenWeb
- KY Census Online, Links to online census records
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 Kentucky denominations, view the Kentucky Church Records wiki page.
- Christian Church Directory for Kentucky at ChurchFinder
- Catholic Parishes in the Diocese of Lexington
- Catholic Parishes in the Archdiocese of Louisville
Baptist
- Beaver Dam. Church minutes (1817-1847) have been published: FS Library Book 976.9752 K29g.
List of Churches and Church Parishes
Court Records
- 1785-1792 Cases Heard Before the Supreme Court for the District of Kentucky 1785-1792 at KYKinFolk.com - index
- 1796-1860 Equity Judgements, 1796-1860(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1796-1877 Records, 1796-1877(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1796-1877 Register of Warren County, Kentucky Court Records, 1796-1877(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1796-1923 Common Law Suits of the Circuit Court and the Court of Common Pleas, About 1796-1923(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1797-1802 Common Law Suits, 1797-1802(*); Court of Quarter Sessions at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1797-1898 Marriage Records, 1797-1898(*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1797-1965 Marriage Records, 1797-1965(*); Clerk of the County Court and County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1798-1869 General Microfilm Index of Warren Circuit Court Defendants - Plaintiff's Suits, 1798-1869(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1800-1820 Miscellaneous Papers, 1800-1820(*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1802-1851 Warren County, Kentucky - Equity Court Cases (MSS 137) at Western Kentucky University - finding aid index, obtain originals from the university
- 1803-1865 Records, 1803-1865(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1804-1948 Indictments, Criminal Division, 1804-1948(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1860 Miscellaneous County Records for Warren County, Kentucky, Early to c1860(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1861-1945 Criminal Order Book, 1861-1945(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1868-1896 Record Books, 1868-1896(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1890-1916 Equity Suits, 1890-1916(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1895-1938 Order Books, 1895-1938(*); Fiscal Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1897-1925 Order Book, 1897-1925(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1916-1924 Equity Suits, 1916-1924(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- Kentucky Court of Justice at KYCourts.gov
- Record of Wills, Warren County, Kentucky : 1936. 1936. By Burns, Annie Walker. Warren County, Kentucky : Warren County, Kentucky. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Warren County, Kentucky Court Order Book I : January 27, 1851, September 15, 1858; Book 1, Pt. 1. By Carver, Gayle R. Warren County, Kentucky : Warren County, Kentucky. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
- Warren County, Kentucky Court Order Book I : January 27, 1851, September 15, 1858; Book 1, Pt. 2. By Carver, Gayle R. Warren County, Kentucky : Warren County, Kentucky. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library.
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
African Americans
More information about African American resources in Kentucky can be found on the Kentucky African Americans and the United States African Americans Wiki pages.
- African American Research (US) has more information about the kinds of records available
- The KY African American Griots Project
- Kentucky Minorities has information specific to Kentucky African Americans.
- Sandi Gorin's Tips, Hangings in Kentucky 1792-1900
Funeral Homes
- Cone Funeral Home in Bowling Green.
- Gatewood and Sons Funeral Chapel in Bowling Green.
- Hardy and Son Funeral Homes and Cremation in Bowling Green and Smiths Grove.
- J.C. Kirby and Son Funeral Chapels and Crematory in Bowling Green.
- Johnson-Vaughn-Phelps Funeral Home in Bowling Green.
Genealogies
- [Long] Buchanan, Paul C. and Susie M. Owens. "Henry Long and Some Descendants of Colonial Virginia," The Virginia Genealogist, Vol. 38, No. 2 (Apr.-Jun. 1994):115-126; Vol. 38, No. 3 (Jul.-Sep. 1994):190-200; Vol. 38, No. 4 (Oct.-Dec. 1994):263-273; Vol. 39, No. 1 (Jan.-Mar. 1995):27-31. Digital version at American Ancestors ($). FS Library Book 975.5 B2vg v. 38 (1994)-v. 39 (1995).
- [Moss] Moss, T.C. The David Moss Family: Green, Adair, Boyle, Barren, Hart, and Warren Co., Ky.; Williamson and Maury Co., Tenn.; Mississippi. Memphis, Tenn.: T.C. Moss, 1968. FS Library Book 929.273 M855mo
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 Kentucky Land and Property for additional information about early Kentucky 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
- The KY Land Office
- Full-Text Search - Land Records at FamilySearch - index & images; dates, records, and places vary; How to Search
Local Histories
Local histories are available for Warren County, Kentucky Genealogy. County histories may include biographies, church, school and government history, and military information. For more information about local histories see the wiki page section Kentucky Local Histories.
Maps and Gazetteers
for more resources
- Maps of Kentucky (1776-1939)
- KYGenWeb compiled list of maps
- Click on the county to go to the KYGenWeb site
- FamilySearch Places: Map of cities and towns in this county - How to Use FS Places
Migration
Military Records
- Military Resources, Revolutionary War through Civil War
Civil War
Online Records
- 1861-1865 Kentucky Civil War Service Records of Confederate Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1861-1865 Kentucky Civil War Service Records of Union Soldiers, 1861-1865 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1861-1865 U.S., Confederate Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry — index (free)
- 1861-1865 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 at Ancestry— index (free)
- 1912-1950 Kentucky Confederate Pension Applications 1912-1950 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
Regiments. Men in Warren County served in various regiments and companies. Those listed below were specifically formed in this county:
Confederate soldiers
- - 6th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, Company E
- - 9th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, Company E
Union soldiers
- - 2nd Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, Company B.
- - 2nd Regiment, Kentucky Infantry, Company B.
- - 2nd Regiment, Kentucky Veteran Cavalry, Company H.
- - 3rd Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, Company I.
- - 4th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, Companies A, B, C, D, F and G.
- - 8th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, Company I
- - 17th Regiment, Kentucky Cavalry, Companies A, B, E, F, G, H, I, K, L and M.
- - 26th Regiment, Kentucky Infantry, Companies F and H.
World War I
Korean War
- Korean War Memorial for Soldiers from KY, KYGenWeb
Naturalization and Citizenship
Newspapers
- 1800s-Current Kentucky, U.S., Newspapers.com™ Stories and Events Index, 1800's-Current at Ancestry — index & images ($)
- USNPL, Kentucky, Kentucky newspaper index with links
- World-Newspapers, Kentucky, Kentucky newspaper index with links
- Kentucky Newspapers on Microfilm
Additional newspapers abstracts can sometimes be found using search phrases such as Warren County, Kentucky Genealogy newspapers in online catalogs like:
- WorldCat (For instructions see WorldCat Online Catalog).
- Do a Warren County, Kentucky Genealogy Place-name search for these and other records in the FamilySearch Catalog (For instructions see FamilySearch Catalog Place-name Search).
Obituaries
- Kentucky Footsteps Archives, KYGenWeb
- Kentucky Obituary Sources, KYGenWeb
- Browning Genealogy Database, Compiled by Charles Browning.
- Kentucky Obituaries, USGenWeb
- Obituary Daily Times, Citations to over 15,000,000 obituaries including interactive search function
- Nashville Christian Advocate Death Abstracts
Other Records
- Kentucky Postcards, USGenWeb
Periodicals
Probate Records
Probate records are held by the Warren County, Kentucky Genealogy Clerk of Court and are housed at the Warren County, Kentucky Genealogy Courthouse. Microfilmed records can be found online at Kentucky, Probate Records, 1792-1977 for Caldwell, Henry, Hickman, Russell and Trimble counties. See the wiki page Kentucky Probate Records for information about how to use probate records.
Content: Probate Records may give the decedent's date of death, names of his or her spouse, children, parents, siblings, in-laws, neighbors, associates, relatives, and their place of residence.
Record types: Wills, estates, guardianships, naturalizations, and adoptions.
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1774-1989 Kentucky, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1774-1989 at Ancestry ($) — index & images
- 1796-1860 Equity Judgements, 1796-1860(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1796-1880 Loose Papers, 1796-1880(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1797-1985 Probate Records, 1797-1985(*); Clerk of the County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1798-1847 Record of Abstracts of Wills in Warren County, Kentucky. By Bell, Annie Walker Burns. Seat Pleasant, Maryland : A.W.B. Bell, 1936. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- 1798-1943 Will Books 1 to 8 (1798-1943) at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1800-1885 Estate Settlements, ca. 1800-1885(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — images
- 1821-1862 Warren County, Kentucky Will Books B and D, 1821-1862(*); at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1844-1878 Bonds, 1844-1878(*); County Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1852-1862 Warren County, Kentucky Wills. By Blacklock, Lillian Morgan. Bowling Green, Kentucky : Blacklock, Lillian Morgan, n.d. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- Wills for John M. Porter, Samuel Porter, and Benjamin Porter; Porter Settlements (Sun City, Arizona) - V. 17, No. 4 (Winter 1997). By Childress, Nancy. Sun City, Arizona : Childress, Nancy, 1997. Online at: FamilySearch Digital Library
- Wills, Probates, Land, Tax and Criminal at Ancestry ($)
- 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 ($) — index, click here for more information.
- 1936-2007 United States, Social Security Numerical Identification Files (NUMIDENT), 1936-2007 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
Tax Records
Taxes were levied on free white males over 21 and slaves aged 21 to 60. These persons are referred to as "polls." Tax listings, or digests, of a county generally list the taxable landowners and other polls and the amount of tax. The records for each county are divided by militia district. For more background information and state-wide resources see the wiki page Kentucky Taxation.
- 1800-1801 - 1800-1801 Tax Lists of Warren County, Kentucky Genealogy is included in Clift's Second Census of Kentucky 1800,[7] digitized by Ancestry ($).
- Search Tax, Criminal, Land and Wills Records, Ancestry ($)
Vital Records
Vital records consist of birth, death, marriage and divorce records. Although Kentucky enacted a statute in 1852-1862 requiring registration of births and deaths,many counties did not comply. A second law was written in 1874-1879, and 1892-1910 but, again, was not always followed. By 1911, the law was more clearly defined and kept by 1920. Any existing births 1852-1960 and death records 1852-1953 can be accessed online. See How to Find Kentucky Birth Records and How to Find Kentucky Death Records for links to indexes and images.
Original marriage records are held at the office of the Warren County Clerk, with divorce records 1849-1958 located with the Warren County Circuit Court. For more information see How to Find Kentucky Marriage Records. For Kentucky divorce records see the wiki page Kentucky Vital Records.
Birth
- 1839-1960 Kentucky Births and Christenings, 1839-1960 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1852-1860 - Warren County Birth Index 1852-1860. Batch C518041 at FamilySearch[8]
- 1874 - Warren County Birth Index 1874. Batch C518042 at FamilySearch
- 1875 - Warren County Birth Index 1875. Batch C518043 at FamilySearch
- 1911-1912 Searchable KY Birth Index
- 1911-1999 Kentucky Births, 1911-1999 at MyHeritage ($) — index
Marriage
- 1609-2016 Kentucky, United States Marriages at Findmypast — index $
- 1785-1979 Kentucky Marriages, 1785-1979 at FamilySearch- How to Use this Collection
- 1785-Onward Kentucky Marriages at MyHeritage — index & images ($)
- 1797-1954 Kentucky, County Marriages, 1797-1954 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index & images
- 1852-1862 - Warren County Marriage Index 1852-1862. Batch M518041 at FamilySearch
- 1876-1878 - Warren County Marriage Index 1876-1878. Batch M518044 at FamilySearch
- 1973-2000 Searchable KY Marriage Records
- 1973-2000 Kentucky Marriage Records 1973-2000
- 1960-1993 Kentucky Marriages, 1960-1993 at MyHeritage ($) — index
Death
- 1843-1970 Kentucky Deaths and Burials, 1843-1970 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection- index
- 1900-1999 Kentucky Deaths, 1900-1999 at MyHeritage ($) — index
- 1911-1965 Kentucky Death Records, 1911-1965 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection; index
- 1911-2000 Searchable KY Death Index
- The Social Security Death Index - How to Use this Collection
- The Kentucky Vital Records Project, Transcriptions and Images of Kentucky Death Certificates
Divorce
- 1962-2005 Kentucky, U.S., Divorce Records, 1962-2005 at Ancestry - index ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Warren County. For state-wide archival repositories, see Kentucky Archives and Libraries.
Archives of Appalachia
East Tennessee State University
Sherrod Library, Room 422
344 J L Seehorn Rd
Johnson City, TN 37614
Phone: 423-439-4338
Email: archives@etsu.edu
Facebook
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
- Bowling Green Kentucky FamilySearch Center
- Morgantown Kentucky FamilySearch Center
- Green County Public Library - an affiliate library.
Libraries
Listed below are libraries in Warren County. For state-wide library facilities, see Kentucky Archives and Libraries.
Warren County Public Library
1225 State St
Bowling Green, KY 42101
Phone: 270-781-4882
Email: refdesk@warrenpl.org
Facebook
Website
- Multiple locations.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Warren County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Kentucky Societies.
Websites
- Warren County KYGenWeb
- KYGenWeb project. Has maps, name indexes, history or other information for each county. Select the county.
- State of Kentucky Website
- USGenWeb Kentucky Archives
- Warren County, Kentucky Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- Warren County KY Genealogy (Kentucky Genealogy)
- FamilySearch Catalog . Free - 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), Kentucky. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Warren County, Kentucky" in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_County,_Kentucky."
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Kentucky. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Warren County, Kentucky. Page 268-276 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), 251-254.
- ↑ Handybook for Genealogists: United States of America, 10th ed. (Draper, Utah: Everton Pub., 2002), Kentucky. At various libraries (WorldCat); FS Library Book 973 D27e 2002.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Warren County, Kentucky," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_County,_Kentucky, accessed DATE.
- ↑ G. Glenn Clift, Second Census of Kentucky 1800: A Privately Compiled and Published Enumeration of Tax Payers Appearing in the 79 Manuscript Volumes Extant of Tax Lists of the 42 Counties of Kentucky in Existence in 1800 (1954; reprint, Baltimore, Md.: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 2005).
- ↑ Genealogical Society of Utah, Parish and Vital Records List (July 1998). Microfiche. Digital version at [[Media:Igikentuckymz.pdf|https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/img_auth.php/7/75/Igikentuckymz.pdf]].