Washington County, Florida Genealogy
Guide to Washington 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 for George Washington.[2] The county is located in the northwest area of the state.[3]
County Courthouse
Washington County Courthouse
711 3rd Street
Chipley, FL 32428
Phone: 850-638-6200
Washington County Website
Clerk Circuit Court has marriage, divorce, probate, land and court records from 1890[4]
Washington 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 |
| 1899 | 1890 | 1899 | 1890 | 1890 | 1890 | 1830 |
Record Loss
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Washington County had a Record Loss of unknown causes and extent.
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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:[7]
| Cities | ||
| Towns | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
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History Timeline
Resources
Bible Records
- Washington County, Florida Bible Records at USGenWeb Archives
Biographies
Business, Commerce, and Occupations
Cemeteries
Census Records
| Historical populations | ||
|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± |
| 1830 | 978 | — |
| 1840 | 859 | −12.2% |
| 1850 | 1,950 | 127.0% |
| 1860 | 2,154 | 10.5% |
| 1870 | 2,302 | 6.9% |
| 1880 | 4,089 | 77.6% |
| 1890 | 6,426 | 57.2% |
| 1900 | 10,154 | 58.0% |
| 1910 | 16,403 | 61.5% |
| 1920 | 11,828 | −27.9% |
| 1930 | 12,180 | 3.0% |
| 1940 | 12,302 | 1.0% |
| 1950 | 11,888 | −3.4% |
| 1960 | 11,249 | −5.4% |
| 1970 | 11,453 | 1.8% |
| 1980 | 14,509 | 26.7% |
| 1990 | 16,919 | 16.6% |
| 2000 | 20,973 | 24.0% |
| 2010 | 24,896 | 18.7% |
| 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
- 1903-1953 Miscellaneous Records, 1903-1953(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
Directories
- 1902 Medical Directory for Chipley 1902 at USGenWeb Archives Project
- 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 American
- USGenWeb Florida African American Griots Project
Funeral Homes
- Brown Funeral Home in Chipley
- Cooper Funeral Home in Chipley
- Obert Funeral Home in Chipley
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
- Davis Federal Land Records, Washington County USGenWeb Archives Project
- Florida Territorial Land Records USGenWeb Archives Project
- 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.
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
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 ($)
- Florida Digital Newspaper Library at George A. Smathers Libraries
- Early Florida Newspapers Florida State Library
Obituaries
- USGenWeb Obituaries Project Obituary transcriptions from Florida counties
Other Records
Voting Records
- 1845 - Voters in First Florida Election 1845 USGenWeb Archives Project
Periodicals
Probate Records
Online Probate Indexes and Records
- 1784-1990 Florida Probate Records, 1784-1990(*) at FamilySearch — How to Use this Collection; images
- 1827-1950 Florida, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1827-1950 at Ancestry ($)
- 1857-1885 Probate Records of Estates, 1857-1885(*); Probate Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1903-1953 Miscellaneous Records, 1903-1953(*); Circuit Court at FamilySearch Catalog — index & images
- 1909-1945 Record of Wills, v. A, 1909-1945(*); County 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 ($)
- 1830-1957 Florida, County Marriages, 1830-1957 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1830-1993 Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1837-1974 Florida, Marriages, 1837-1974 at FamilySearch - How to Use this Collection
- 1970 - 1999 Florida, Marriages, 1970 - 1999 at MyHeritage - index ($))
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 ($)
Research Facilities
Archives
Listed below are archives in Washington 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 Washington County. For state-wide library facilities, see Florida Archives and Libraries.
West Florida Genealogical Society/The West Florida Genealogy Library
5740 N 9th Avenue
Pensacola, Florida 32502
Phone: 850-494-7373
Email genealogy@mywfpl.com
Website
Facebook
- This library houses a non-circulating collection of local history and genealogical resources.
Museums
Societies
Listed below are societies in Washington County. For state-wide genealogical societies, see Florida Societies.
Vernon Historical Society
PO Box 33
Vernon, Florida 32462
Email: historicalsociety@vernonfl.com
Website
Washington County Historical Preservation Society
685 7th Street
Chipley, Florida 32428
Phone: 850-638-0358
E-Mail:wchistorical@gmail.com
Website
Facebook
West Florida Genealogical Society
PO Box 10217
Pensacola, FL 32524-0217
Phone: 850-494-7373
Email info@wfgsi.org
Website
Facebook
Websites
- Washington County, FLGenWeb Project, Inc.
- USGenWeb
- USGenWeb Archives Florida Project
- State of Florida
- Washington County, Florida Genealogy and Family History (Linkpendium)
- 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.
- ↑ Genealogy Trails History Group, “Washington County, Florida Genealogy and History”, genealogy trails accessed 04/27/2017.
- ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Washington County," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia 04/27/2017.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 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 contributors, "Chipley, Florida," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, wikipedia accessed 18 February 2019.