Michigan County Resources
This entry was originally written by Arleigh P. Helfer, Jr. and Carol L. Maki for Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources.
Records at the county level are the responsibility of different offices. The office of the county clerk has birth, death, and marriage records. The register of deeds has land records, and the office of the probate judge has probate files. Circuit court offices or office of the county clerk: circuit court records.
Callard's Sourcebook... (see Background Sources for Michigan) provides a bibliography of relevant titles for each of the eighty-three Michigan counties. It is available for $6 from the Department of Management and Budget, Office Services Division Publications, State Secondary Complex, 7481 Crowner Dr., P.O. Box 30026, Lansing, MI 48909.
For some counties on the chart, there are two years listed for 'Date Formed.' The first is the year the county was created, the second is the year it was fully organized, if it differs from the creation year. Under the heading 'Parent County/ies,' the name/s listed may be the county or counties from which the respective county was formed, or it may be names by which the county was originally known. 'Unorganized' denotes that it was formed from non-county lands. A county name in parentheses is the county to which the unorganized land may have been attached at that time. An asterisk (*) under 'Parent County' indicates those locations in which you may also find records for the listed county. The * county may have been 'attached' to the listed county for some period of time. The date listed for each category of record is the earliest record known to exist in that county. It does not indicate that there are numerous records for that year and certainly does not indicate that all such events that year were actually registered.
Callard (1987) and McGinnis (1987), described in Background Sources, and more recent online resources, were used for the following guide to county information.
Each county has its own policies regarding the number of genealogists allowed to conduct research concurrently and whether or not children are permitted in the records area. It would be wise to check these rules with the county office in advance of an on-site visit.
Some Michigan counties provide Internet search capability for selected vital records. Such availability can be determined by checking the county's website, a list of which can be found at www.michigan.gov/emi. Look for the 'About Michigan' section of the 'Michigan Government' tab.
Map | County | County Address | Date Formed | Parent County(ies) | Birth | Marriage | Death | Land | Probate | Court |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aischum | 1840 (renamed Lake, 1843) | Mackinac/*Ottawa | ||||||||
F7 | Alcona | 106 5th St., P.O. Box 308 | 1840 (1869) | (as Negwegon; renamed 1843) *Mackinac/ *Alpena/ *Cheboygan/ *Iosco | 1869 | 1869 | 1869 | 1869 | 1869 | 1872 |
C4 | Alger | 101 Court St., Munising 49862-1103 | 1885 | Schoolcraft | 1884 | 1887 | 1884 | 1884 | 1889 | 1885 |
J5 | Allegan | 113 Chestnut St., Allegan 49010-1332 | 1831 (1835) | Barry/unorganized | 1867 | 1836 | 1867 | 1835 | 1839 | 1837 |
E7 | Alpena | 720 W. Chisholm St., Alpena 49707-2453 | 1840 (1857) | (as Anamickee; renamed 1843) Mackinac/*Cheboygan | 1869 | 1871 | 1871 | 1858 | 1858 | 1871 |
Anamickee | 1840 (renamed Alpena, 1843) | Mackinac/unorganized (Saginaw) | ||||||||
E5 | Antrim | 208 E. Cayuga St., P.O. Box 520, Bellaire 49615-0520 | 1840 (1863) | (as Meegisee; renamed 1843) Mackinac *Grand Traverse | 1866 | 1866 | 1867 | 1867 | 1863 | 1867 |
G7 | Arenac | 120 N. Grove St., Standish 48658-0747 | 1831 (1883) | unorganized land *Saginaw | 1883 | 1883 | 1883 | 1882 | 1883 | 1883 |
Arenac was eliminated in 1857 and recreated 1883 from Bay County. | ||||||||||
B2 | Baraga | 16 N. Third St., L'Anse 49946-1002 | 1875 | Houghton | 1875 | 1875 | 1875 | 1875 | 1876 | 1875 |
J5 | Barry | 220 W. State St., Hastings 49058-1849 | 1829 (1839) | unorganized land *St. Joseph/*Kalamazoo | 1867 | 1839 | 1867 | 1834 | 1862 | 1850 |
G7 | Bay | 515 Center Ave., Bay City 48708-5125 | 1857 | Midland/Saginaw/Arenac | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1835? | 1857 | 1883 |
F4 | Benzie | 448 Court Place, P.O. Box 398, Beulah 49617-0398 | 1863 (1869) | Leelanau *Grand Traverse | 1868 | 1869 | 1868 | 1854 | 1870 | 1869 |
K4 | Berrien | 811 Port St. (Mail) or 701 Main St. (Walk-in), St. Joseph 49085-1183 | 1829 (1831) | unorganized land *Cass | 1867 | 1831 | 1867 | 1831 | 1834 | 1833 |
Bleeker | 1861 (renamed Menominee, 1863) | unorganized | ||||||||
K6 | Branch | 31 Division St., Coldwater 49036-1904 | 1829 (1833) | unorganized * St. Joseph | 1867 | 1833 | 1867 | 1833 | 1833 | 1833 |
Brown | 1818 | unorganized land | ||||||||
Became part of Wisconsin Territory in 1836; now Wisconsin. | ||||||||||
J6 | Calhoun | 315 W. Green St., Marshall 49068-1518 | 1829 (1833) | unorganized *St. Joseph/ *Kalamazoo | 1867 | 1833 | 1867 | 1833 | 1835 | 1867 |
K5 | Cass | 120 N. Broadway, P.O. Box 355, Cassopolis 49031-1302 | 1829 (1829) | unorganized | 1867 | 1830 | 1867 | 1829 | 1829 | 1831 |
Charlevoix (old) | 1840 | (as Keskkauko; renamed 1843; became part of Emmet, 1853) | ||||||||
E6 | Charlevoix (present) | 203 Antrim St., Charlevoix 49720-1368 | 1869 | Antrim/Emmet/Otsego | 1868 | 1868 | 1868 | 1869 | 1881 | 1869 |
D6 | Cheboygan | 870 S. Main St. , P.O. Box 70, Cheboygan 49721-0070 | 1840 (1853) | Mackinac | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1854 | 1854 | 1854 |
Cheonoquet | 1840 (renamed Montmorency, 1843) | Mackinac/unorganized | ||||||||
C6 | Chippewa | 319 Court St., Sault Ste. Marie 49783-2183 | 1826 | Michilimackinac | 1869 | 1827 | 1869 | 1826 | 1828 | 1860? |
G6 | Clare | 225 W. Main St., P.O. Box 438, Harrison 48625-8336 | 1840 (1871) | (as Kayakee; renamed 1843) Mackinac *Midland/*Isabella/*Mecosta | 1871 | 1871 | 1871 | 1865 | 1872 | 1871 |
H6 | Clinton | 100 E. State St., P.O. Box 69, St. Johns 48879-1582 | 1831 (1839) | unorganized land *Kent | 1867 | 1839 | 1867 | 1837 | 1840 | 1860? |
Crawford | 1818 (Michigan Territory) | unorganized land | ||||||||
Became part of Wisconsin Territory in 1836; now Wisconsin. | ||||||||||
F6 | Crawford | 200 W. Michigan Ave., Grayling 49738-1746 | 1840 (1879) (as Shawono; renamed 1843) | Mackinac *Cheboygan/ *Iosco/ *Antrim/ *Kalkasa | 1873 | 1873 | 1873 | 1863 | 1881 | 1881 |
D4 | Delta | 310 Ludington St., Escanaba 49829-4057 | 1843 (1861) | Mackinac/unorganized land | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1843 | 1843 | 1843 |
Des Moines | 1834 | unorganized | ||||||||
Became part of Wisconsin Territory in 1836; now Iowa. | ||||||||||
C3 | Dickinson | 705 S. Stephenson Ave., P.O. Box 609, Iron Mountain 49801 | 1891 | Iron/Marquette/Menominee | 1891 | 1891 | 1891 | 1891 | 1891 | 1891 |
Dubuque | 1834 | unorganized | ||||||||
Became part of Wisconsin Territory in 1836; now Iowa. | ||||||||||
J6 | Eaton | 1045 Independence Blvd., Charlotte 48813-1033 | 1837 | unorganized *Kalamazoo/*St. Joseph | 1867 | 1838 | 1867 | 1835 | 1835 | 1832 |
D6 | Emmet | 200 Division St., Petoskey 49770-2486 | 1840 (1853) | (as Tonedagana; renamed 1843) Mackinac | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1853 | 1867 | 1867 |
Forest | 1913 (abolished) | Cheboygan/Presque Isle | ||||||||
H7 | Genesee | 900 S. Saginaw St., Flint 48502-1428 | 1835 (1836) | Lapeer/Saginaw/Shiawassee *Oakland | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1819 | 1836 | 1835 |
G6 | Gladwin | 401 West Cedar Ave., Gladwin 48624-2058 | 1831 (1875) | unorganized *Saginaw/*Midland | 1875 | 1875 | 1875 | 1886 | 1889 | 1880 |
C1 | Gogebic | 200 N. Moore St., Bessemer 49911-1052 | 1881 | Ontonagon | 1887 | 1887 | 1887 | 1887 | 1887 | 1887 |
E5 | Grand Traverse | 400 Boardman Ave., Traverse City 49684-2542 | 1851 | Omeena | 1856 | 1853 | 1867 | 1853 | 1875 | 1882 |
H6 | Gratiot | 214 E. Center St., Ithaca 48847-0437 | 1831 (1855) | unorganized *Saginaw/*Clinton | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1847 | 1867 | 1867 |
K6 | Hillsdale | 29 N. Howell St., Hillsdale 49242 | 1829 (1835) | unorganized *Lenawee | 1867 | 1835 | 1867 | 1835 | 1835 | 1846 |
B2 | Houghton | 401 E. Houghton Ave., Houghton 49931-2016 | 1845 | Marquette/ Ontonagon/ Schoolcraft | 1867 | 1855 | 1867 | 1848 | 1872 | 1848 |
G8 | Huron | 250 E. Huron Ave., Bad Axe 48413-1139 | 1840 (1859) | Sanilac *St. Clair/*Tuscola | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1837 | 1861 | 1867 |
J7 | Ingham | 341 S. Jefferson St., Mason 48854-1652 | 1829 (1838) | Shiawassee/Washtenaw | 1867 | 1837 | 1867 | 1835 | 1835 | 1839 |
H6 | Ionia | 100 W. Main St., Ionia 48846-1651 | 1831 (1837) | Michilimackinac *Kent | 1867 | 1837 | 1867 | 1836 | 1835 | 1845 |
F7 | Iosco | 422 Lake St., P.O. Box 778 | 1840 (1857) | unorganized *Cheboygan/*Saginaw | 1867 | 1858 | 1867 | 1840 | 1859 | 1859 |
Iowa | 1830 | Crawford | ||||||||
Became part of Wisconsin Territory in 1836; now Wisconsin. | ||||||||||
C2 | Iron | 2 S. Sixth St., Crystal Falls 49920-1435 | 1885 | Marquette/Menominee | 1895 | 1895 | 1895 | 1855 | 1886 | 1895 |
G6 | Isabella | 200 N. Main St., Mount Pleasant 48858-2390 | 1831 (1859) | unorganized/Michilimackinac *Saginaw/*Ionia/*Midland | 1867 | 1859 | 1867 | 1838 | 1859 | 1880 |
Isle Royale | 1875 | (attached to Houghton, 1885; Abolished, became part of Keweenaw, 1897) Keweenaw | ||||||||
Disbanded 1885, attached to Houghton; Eliminated in 1897; absorbed by Keweenaw. | ||||||||||
J6 | Jackson | 312 S. Jackson St., Jackson 49201-1338 | 1829 (1832) | Washtenaw/unorganized | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1830 | 1834 | 1830? |
J5 | Kalamazoo | 201 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Kalamazoo 49007-3726 | 1829 (1830) | unorganized *St. Joseph | 1867 | 1831 | 1867 | 1824 | 1830 | 1847 |
F6 | Kalkaska | 605 N. Birch St., Kalkaska 49646-0780 | 1840 (1871) | (as Wabassee; renamed 1843) *Grand Traverse/*Antrim | 1871 | 1871 | 1871 | 1853 | 1874 | 1871 |
Kanotin | 1840 | (renamed Iosco, 1843) unorganized *Mackinac | ||||||||
Kautawaubet (Kautawbet) | 1840 | (renamed Wexford, 1843) Mackinac | ||||||||
Kayakee (Kaykakee) | 1840 | (renamed Clare, 1843) Mackinac/unorganized *Saginaw | ||||||||
H5 | Kent | 300 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids 49503-2206 | 1831 (1836) | Michilimackinac (as Wabassee; renamed 1843) *Grand Traverse/*Antrim | 1867 | 1845 | 1867 | 1860 | 1898 | 1854 |
Keskkauko (Keshkauko,Reshkauko) | 1840 | (renamed Charlevoix,1843) Mackinac | ||||||||
A3 | Keweenaw | HC1, Box 607, Eagle River 49924-9700 | 1861 | Houghton | 1869 | 1869 | 1869 | 1861 | 1866 | 1861 |
G5 | Lake | 800 Tenth St., Baldwin 49304-7970 | 1840 (1871) | Mackinac *Mason/*Newaygo | 1870 | 1870 | 1870 | 1872 | 1872 | 1871 |
H8 | Lapeer | 255 Clay St., Lapeer 48446-2205 | 1822 (1835) | Oakland/St. Clair/unorganized | 1867 | 1831 | 1867 | 1835 | 1838 | 1835 |
E5 | Leelanau | 301 E. Cedar St., Leland 49654-1107 | 1840 (1863) | Mackinac *Grand Traverse | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1851 | 1882 | 1879 |
K7 | Lenawee | 425 N. Main St., Adrian 49221-2103 | 1822 (1826) | Monroe | 1867 | 1853 | 1867 | 1827 | 1827 | 1870 |
J7 | Livingston | 200 E. Grand River Ave., Howell 48843-7041 | 1833 (1836) | Shiawassee/Washtenaw/ *Oakland | 1867 | 1836 | 1867 | 1834 | 1837 | 1837 |
C5 | Luce | 407 W. Harrie St., Newberry 49868 | 1887 | Chippewa/Mackinac | 1887 | 1887 | 1887 | 1887 | 1888 | 1887 |
C6 | Mackinac | 100 N. Marley St., St. Ignace 49781-1457 | 1818 | Wayne | 1873 | 1867 | 1873 | 1785 | 1851 | 1808 |
J8 | Macomb | 40 N. Main St., Mt. Clemens 48043-2306 | 1818 | Wayne | 1867 | 1819 | 1867 | 1818 | 1849 | 1818 |
F5 | Manistee | 415 Third St., Manistee 49660-1606 | 1840 (1855) | Mackinac *Ottawa/*Grand Traverse | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1868 | 1881 | 1855 |
Manitou | 1855 | (abolished 1895) Emmet/Leelanau | ||||||||
In 1861 the county government was disorganized, and Manitou was attached to Mackinac. In 1865 it was attached to Leelanau, then again attached to Mackinac in 1869. Finally, in 1895, Manitou was abolished and was absorbed by Charlevoix and Leelanau counties. | ||||||||||
C3 | Marquette | 234 W. Baraga Ave., Marquette 49855-4751 | 1843 (1848) | Chippewa/Houghton *Houghton | 1867 | 1850 | 1867 | 1851 | 1854 | 1852 |
G4 | Mason | 304 E. Ludington Ave., Ludington 49431-2121 | 1840 (1855) | (as Notipekago; renamed 1843)Mackinac *Ottawa | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1840 | 1855 | 1867 |
G5 | Mecosta | 400 Elm St., Big Rapids 49307-1849 | 1840 (1859) | Mackinac/Oceana *Kent/*Newaygo | 1867 | 1859 | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1859 |
Meegisee | 1840 | (renamed Antrim, 1843) Mackinac | ||||||||
D3 | Menominee | 839 Tenth Ave., Menominee 49858-3000 | 1861 | (as Bleeker; renamed 1863) unorganized | 1863 | 1867 | 1860 | 1850 | 1868 | 1861 |
Michilmackinac | 1818 | (renamed Mackinac, 1837) Wayne | ||||||||
G6 | Midland | 220 W. Ellsworth St., Midland 48640-5194 | 1831 (1850) | Saginaw/unorganized | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1855 | 1856 | 1839 |
Mikenauk | 1840 | (renamed Roscommon, 1843)Mackinac/unorganized | ||||||||
Milwaukee | 1834 (1835) | Brown | ||||||||
Became part of Wisconsin Territory in 1836; now in Wisconsin. | ||||||||||
F6 | Missaukee | 111 S. Canal St., P.O. Box 800, Lake City 49651-0800 | 1840 (1871) | Mackinac *Manistee/*Grand Traverse/*Wexford | 1870 | 1871 | 1870 | 1871 | 1871 | 1872 |
K7 | Monroe | 106 E. First St., Monroe 48161-2115 | 1817 | Wayne | 1874 | 1818 | 1867 | 1806 | 1817 | 1805 |
H6 | Montcalm | 211 W. Main St., P.O. Box 368, Stanton 48888-0368 | 1831 (1850) | Michilimackinac/unorganized *Ionia | 1867 | 1867 | 1867 | 1838 | 1855 | 1860? |
E7 | Montmorency | P.O. Box 789, Atlanta 49709-0789 | 1840 (1881) | (as Cheonoquet; renamed 1843) Mackinac/unorganized | 1881 | 1881 | 1881 | 1943 | 1943 | 1940 |