West Virginia Tax Records
This entry was originally written by Johni Cerny, in Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
Virginia counties, including those counties that now belong to West Virginia, collected taxes from as early as 1624. See the section Virginia Tax Records for a comprehensive discussion of the laws governing taxes, the types of taxes paid, and where to find early tax lists.
West Virginia has land tax records for all counties covering the years 1782 through 1936, and for some counties through 1959. Those records can be found at the Archives and History Library in Charleston. Most county clerks have duplicate copies in their offices. The Library of Virginia has the personal property tax records from 1782 through 1863, when West Virginia became a separate state.
